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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Related Issues Home page  back Print  Send To friend Rabbis help arson attack Muslims Mailed by Ben Gelblum London 9.6.13 It only takes one or two idiots to start a fire, to intimidate and hurt someone different to them or their property. But it’s how the rest of society responds that is the true measure of our humanity. And this week, in a moving show of solidarity, hundreds of locals of all ages and religions turned out to support the Somali Bravanese community of Barnet, North London, still in shock after a fire burnt down their meeting place, in a fire the police are investing as a potential anti-Islamic hate crime. Local schoolchildren had drawn messages of support, and hundreds of adults were keen to devote time and effort to make the victims of this suspected hate crime feel they belong again to a society that values neighbourliness and shared community over strife and terror. Among those who came to offer their moral support and practical help were rabbis from local Jewish communities. They arrived at the burnt out wreckage of the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association to offer support, fund-raising, space for education, meetings and prayer for the Somali community still reeling from the awful crime. The letters EDL were spotted on the wall of the centre by the first firefighters and police at the blaze that started around 3AM on Wednesday, before they were destroyed in the flames. EDL stands for the English Defence League, a far-right anti-Islamic street protest group that has been galvanizing protests against Muslim immigrants ever since a British soldier Lee Rigby was murdered in the street outside Woolwich Barracks by suspected Islamic radical terrorists on May 22. Faith Matters, a group which monitors anti-Muslim hatred, has reported a sharp increase in incidents, including attacks on 11 mosques, since Rigby was killed in Woolwich last month. The Somalian Bravanese community had been wary of attacks ever since the murder in Woolwich, South London. Abubakar Mohamed Ali, chairman of the community centre thanked the local community of all faiths for their support following the arson attack on Thursday, as hundreds turned up for a vigil to show support. Earlier three rabbis with synagogues nearby met Ali to offer space for his community to meet, as well as facilities. ‘We have had lots of offers from the Jewish community of space we can use,’ said Ali. ‘We are all in shock at the moment, but we will have a meeting with parents, teachers and members of the community to discuss where we can move while our centre is being rebuilt. ‘We need space for classes for Somali and other local children, - that is our main priority. We used this space for after-school education, Arabic classes, Koranic activities, teaching business and media skills, as well as weddings and funerals, Eid, Ramadan and other ceremonies. ‘We often do multi-faith events. The last one was last December when we celebrated Hanukah with Rabbi Jonathan, who was one of the rabbis to come and offer support. It is a tradition we’ve built up to celebrate and learn about our cultures.’ Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, A Masorti Rabbi from New North London Synagogue said: ‘It’s such a lovely community and we’ve done many activities with them in the past. The Jewish community here has been very shocked across the board – religious, non- synagogue-going, orthodox, reform, Masorti. Such fire attacks have serious connotations for Jews. ‘We have offered them space to meet, for their children to study, office space and computers, prayer space, as well as offers to collect money to rebuild their centre. There is a really strong feeling of community here. ‘We will take their lead. At the moment the Bravanese community is feeling very intimidated. It is a terrible attack on a community centre that has been home from home for a lot of people and this is a community that suffered a lot in Somalia and elsewhere,’ added Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, ‘The Christian community has rallied round too, everybody has. We do not want to see civic life destroyed like this.’ Rabbi David Mason of Muswell Hill Synagogue was keen to stress the support members of his synagogue felt for their Muslim neighbours: ‘We are acutely aware of our history and of how we have been affected by attacks on our property in the past. We have a keen sense of community and a desire to help those around us.’ He said he had been moved by how many locals of all faiths had turned up to offer their support. ‘It has brought out the best in our country,’ added Rabbi David Mason. The EDL have denied any connection to the fire. Kevin Carroll of the EDL said: ‘The EDL do not approve of any religious buildings being attacked.’ But the graffiti prompted local police to call in its counterterrorism officers to investigate the potential role of far-right activists amid concerns of a backlash against Muslims following the Woolwich terror attack. Jewish Board of Deputies president Vivian Wineman said: ‘Attacks of this nature are an affront not only to the Muslim community, not only to all minority groups, but to all decent people in this country.’ RY Links to the latest articles in this section Poll: Many Democrats want more US support for Palestinians Coalition scrambles for way to extend ban on Palestinian family reunification Families belong together!