Only in New York: Mosque on weekdays, Synagogue on Shabbos

Only in New York - it could happen: Synagogue Beit Menachem in the Bronx is located in an active mosque.

The initiative was born five years ago, after the local Jewish community, which has decreased significantly with time, remained without a place for prayer, following the closure of the synagogue, Young Israel in the neighborhood.

Local Imam, a native of Gambia, Sheikh Musa Drama, offered to give Jews a place to pray - in the Muslim center - used as a mosque, Al - Iman and a school for the Muslim community of Forchester which consists largely of immigrants of African descent.

Thus, the oldest building serves as a synagogue for a few remaining Jews in the Bronx every Shabbos, and is located just inside ... a Mosque, whilst the synagogue hall is used during the week to study the Koran, and on Shabbos and Jewish holidays is turned into a synagogue.
In rare cooperation between Muslims, Christians and Jews the synagogue - mosque is now being co-funded and renovated. Last weekend students Jewish, Christians and Muslims came to restore and renovate the complex somewhat neglected.

Bob Kaplan, a leader of the Jewish community, said that it was decided that the effort to rehabilitate the place will be "cross-religion". It was decided to bring students from Riverdale synagogue itself, from the mosque and from Manhattan College, so that together - Christians, Jews and Muslims - they will make the place of prayer more beautiful for the people who come here."

Renovation project was funded in part by a special grant which was transferred from the City of New York.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!