More in common than different

Recent vandalism at Jewish cemeteries and continuing bomb threats to Jewish Community Centers have brought Muslims, Jews and Christians together in the Cape Region to forge a common ground.

“We've found out we have a lot more in common than we are different,” said Sterling Green, a retired minister who is now a member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach.

Epworth and Seaside Jewish Community have held interfaith forums together with the Islamic Society of Central Delaware to bridge the three Abrahamic religions.

“It's incumbent for us to dig deeper and get to know people,” Green said.

About 200 people attended three forums held in November. “It far exceeded our expectation and showed the potential for relationships,” said George Beckerman, a forum organizer.

Usman Sandhu, president of the Islamic Society of Central Delaware, said he and his wife, Sobia Choudhri, were heartened by the number of people who showed up to learn more about Islam during the forums.

“Islam is about peace and love and humanity, not about killing,” he said.

He said violence that members of ISIS inflict on others does not represent Islam.

“We need awareness of real Islam,” Sandhu said. “We want people to know that we are supposed to love each other.”

Since the forums, the Jewish community has been shocked and unnerved by the destruction of headstones at Jewish cemeteries and bomb threats to Jewish Community Centers, including one in Wilmington.

Sandhu sent out a press release shortly after the attacks.

“As a religious group that has been a subject of recent attacks, threats, and bigotry, central Delaware Muslims would like to express our strong condemnation to the recent wave of vandalism and threats targeting Jewish centers,” he wrote. “The Islamic Society of Central Delaware members are saddened by these acts of anti-Semitism that should have no place in our society. We pray for the safety of all and offer our helping hands to our Jewish neighbors.”

Sandhu said there are about 500 members who attend a mosque in Dover. He knows of some Sussex County residents who attend Dover services; others travel to Salisbury, Md.

Sandhu said about 10 members plan to attend a screening of a film at the upcoming Rehoboth Beach Jewish Film Festival, Wednesday, March 22, to Sunday, March 26. Pre-festival events will be held Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17.

The film “Besa: The Promise” is sold out, but Sue Early, executive director of the film society, said they have a waiting list, and depending how many people sign onto it, may add another screening.

“Besa” is about an Albanian Muslim community that sheltered Jews fleeing from the Holocaust.

“It's a perfect story for today's environment,” Sandhu said.

Beckerman said the interfaith group intends to continue a dialogue about Islam and its connections to Chistianity and Judaism.

“We're working to build relationships between the three faiths,” he said.

For more information about the film festival, visit www.rehobothfilm.com.