Arab-American Thanks
Thanks so much for your September 9 editorial “Remember Who We Are.” I am an Arab-American (though not a Muslim one) and I really appreciated the thoughtful reminder that the Jewish and Muslim communities have much in common in terms of their liberal attitudes and eager participation in American life. We all must confront the well-financed and well-organized Islamophobia machine together as healthy-minded adult Americans whatever our backgrounds, and its good to keep in mind those values that we share.
A note of reassurance to your Jewish readers, if one might be welcome: Though, as you point out, there are a number of Jews prominent among the high-profile haters of Islam, I have not yet heard anyone suggest that there is any kind of Jewish conspiracy against Muslims. All thoughtful people recognize the participation of Jewish groups and individuals in defense of the rights of Muslims. As one Jewish friend of mine said, after attending a candlelight vigil in support of the Park51 Islamic Center, “It seemed that most of the people there were Jews.” Please know that such support does not go unnoticed and unappreciated by Arabs and Muslims.
Dave Hall
Brooklyn, N.Y.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30