Two American Muslim activists raise funds to repair vandalised Jewish cemetery
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Two American Muslim activists started a fundraising campaign to repair a Jewish cemetery which was vandalised recently, reported the Washington Post.
“Through this campaign, we hope to send a united message from the Jewish and Muslim communities that there is no place for this type of hate, desecration, and violence in America,” said the fundraising page on the website LaunchingGood.
“We pray that this restores a sense of security and peace to the Jewish-American community who has undoubtedly been shaken by this event."
The goal of $20,000 was achieved with in a few hours of the request going online.
Tarek El-Messidi, who created the campaign with fellow activist Linda Sarsour said when he heard about the vandalism at the Jewish cemetery it reminded him of how Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stood up when a Jewish funeral was passing. When asked why, the Prophet said, “Is it not a human soul?”
“That story goes to show more than anything the humanity of the prophet. … We should bring the story to life here and show every person deserves to rest in peace,” El-Messidi said.
Through his nonprofit, Celebrate Mercy, El-Messidi’s mission is to not only educate people about the prophet’s teachings but also to rally Muslims to respond to evil with good.
El-Messidi is a national Muslim leader in Knoxville, and has helped launch a Muslim-led fundraiser for the victims of the San Bernardino terrorist attack in 2015 which raised more than $215,000.
"Since the rise of hate crime incidents after the November election, both Muslim and Jewish communities in the United States have been targeted, their institutions are threatened, their people bullied. It’s a shared experience that is bringing them together in solidarity," the Muslim leader said.
