My Shabbat Dinner with Muslims

by Audra Gamble for newvoices.org

My grandmother tells this story about how a relative of hers who lived in Israel asked her, quite intensely, whether she was an American or a Jew. She didn’t know what to say; why couldn’t she be both?

For many American Jews, including me, this question is ridiculous. I have no problems with the intersecting parts of my identity. I can identify as Jewish, as American, as a college student, as a Cleveland Indians fan, and a whole host of other things without any problem.

But for those who fight for their identities and the validation of them, it is not so easy. When your life is full of uncertainty and fear, it makes sense to desperately cling to the identifying factor that you are fighting for. That thing begins to define every aspect of you.

So, the question posed to my grandmother by a man who lived in a place rife with conflict was not so preposterous for him.

It is impossible for Jews anywhere in the world to ignore events in Israel, and it is foolish to turn a blind eye on the violence – from both sides – of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is a deep and rich history of conflict, and thus hatred, between Muslims and Jews.

But that hatred is not inherent. Each and every Muslim and Jew has the ability to love rather than hate. Each and every Muslim and Jew has the ability to hug rather than hit. Each and every Muslim and Jew has the ability to chat and laugh rather than yell and fume.

And the decision to love and laugh is exactly what happened at Grand Valley State University. On March 14, the GVSU Hillel hosted its second annual Shabbat dinner welcoming the Muslim Student Association (MSA) in honor of Avi Schaefer, a young advocate for peace between Israel and Palestine who was killed by a drunk driver in 2010. Though West Michigan might not be known for its religious diversity, the GVSU students decided to put aside any differences, perceived or real, for an evening to come together for conversation and a meal.

The evening began like any other Shabbat dinner, with Shabbat prayers recited by those who knew them. We all shared some grape juice and challah, and then we grabbed plates of Mediterranean food and sat down at the same table.

Continue reading.