Yesterday in Oslo, Norway, something took place that could become the model for religious tolerance and cooperation between all faiths across the world.
Despite the apparent growing divide in recent months between Christians, Jews, and Muslims–especially in Europe–over 1000 young Muslims?formed a “ring of peace“ around Oslo’s main synagogue to show, as one of the organizers said, “…that Islam is about love and unity.”
Co-organizer Zeeshan Abdullah told the gathered crowd:
“There are many more peace-mongers than warmongers. There’s still hope for humanity, for peace and love, across religious differences and backgrounds.”
As the crowd held and hands and sang songs, they also chanted,?”No to anti-Semitism, no to Islamophobia.”
Norway has one of the smallest Jewish communities in all of Europe, numbering about 1,000. The Muslim community is estimated to be approximately 200,000, which is steadily rising through?immigration.
Organizers of the rally for peace said they did so in response to an attack on a synagogue in Denmark just last week.?Before the crowd dispersed, Norway’s Chief Rabbi,?Michael Melchior, sang a Jewish end of Sabbath song. One of the young Muslim men said it was the first time he had ever heard the song.
Standing there in the cold, united as one, connected as members of a shared humanity, this group of young people has now shown all of us what tolerance and understanding can accomplish in a troubled world. The only thing that truly keeps us apart is our own unwillingness to accept others for who they are, and to see beyond all of the labels society seems intent on applying.
Might this beautiful sight in Norway be the flowering of a new day for the world??We can certainly hope and pray so.
