The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding has been steadily building a Muslim Jewish programming platform over the past several years.  As ethnic demographics in the United States continue to shift and become increasingly diverse, the importance of building relations between the Muslim and Jewish communities has taken on paramount significance. 

In November, 2008, the Foundation successfully presented the first ever Weekend of Twinning^sm across North America.  The theme of the weekend was “Confronting Islamophobia and anti-Semitism Together” and 50 mosques and 50 synagogues as well as Muslim and Jewish student groups on university campuses joined together to discuss issues of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in their respective communities thereby implementing the resolution passed at our First Summit of Imams and Rabbis in November 2007.

The second Weekend of Twinning^sm, November 20-22, 2009, will highlight the theme “Building a Common Agenda.”  Twinned mosques and synagogues will devote time during the Weekend of Twinning^sm  to discuss issues of common concern including:  fighting poverty, immigration reform, saving the environment, expanding health care coverage, improving education in the communities, and combating hate crimes including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.  In addition, the synagogues and mosques will be encouraged to involve young people in their community in this year’s activities by bringing together students from Muslim and Jewish youth groups and day or supplementary schools.

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