By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
LOWER MANHATTAN — A group of Jewish religious leaders rallied Thursday in support of a proposed mosque and community center near Ground Zero.
Representatives from various local and regional Jewish organizations joined with the project’s co-founder to urge tolerance by accepting Cordoba House, the planned $100 million project, which received a go-ahead this week from the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
“It’s true that in each of our traditions there are streaks of blood,” said Rabbi Arthur Waskow, founder and head of the Philadelphia-based Shalom Center, which co-hosted the rally. “But each of those traditions has tried to go beyond those streaks of blood.”
Waskow was joined by leaders from Jewish congregations in Westchester and Brooklyn to spread a message of unity to help offset the divisiveness that has colored much of the debate.
“Islam did not attack our country on 9/11,” said Richard Jacobs, senior rabbi of the Scarsdale-based Westchester Reform Temple, noting that hundreds of his congregants work in lower Manhattan near the proposed mosque.
“We need this Islamic center to preach love and respect. I look forward to the day when I can take my students to this center to study Islam.”
The city Landmarks commission voted Tuesday not to landmark the building at 45-47 Park Place, clearing the way for construction of the 13-story project called Park51.
The project’s co-founder, Daisy Khan, said that support from members of the Jewish community “remains a testament to the enduring success of our continuing dialogue” and called the moment a “monumental step” in the process.
“As John Lennon said, let’s give salam, shalom — or peace — a chance.”
Representatives at the rally also expressed their distress at the Anti-Defamation League’s opposition to the mosque, saying they were “stunned” by the Jewish civil rights organization’s stance on the project.
“Some people take positions that I think are disgusting,” Waskow said, addressing the anti-Muslim rhetoric that’s surrounded much of the debate. “We hope they change their minds.”
The rabbi added that the mosque would ultimately go a long way toward healing the wounds left by the attacks of 9/11.
“It’s an antidote to the poison," he said following the rally. "The value of this Cordoba House will be exactly that.”
