FAYETTEVILLE — Thousands
of miles from Mecca and
Jerusalem, a Muslim contractor is helping a Jewish congregation build a house of worship in the hills of Arkansas. Temple Shalom — its very name means peace in Hebrew — will be consecrated to the God of Abraham and committed to interfaith friendship. “By doing this we are creating an example for Muslims and Palestinians and Jews and Israelis to show we do get along in this country, why can’t they,” said Fadil Bayyari, an immigrant from the West Bank and the project’s general contractor. “It’s a gesture to bridge that gap. Someone has to do it. The hatred and violence has got to stop.” It’s an interfaith witness that is drawing international notice. The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune have written about the Muslim-Jewish teamwork. The interfaith partnership was unexpected.
Temple Shalom received approval from the Fayetteville Planning Commission last year to buy a house on Mount Sequoyah to convert into a synagogue. But vocal opposition from residents concerned about increased traffi c in the neighborhood led the congregation to abandon the idea and search for an alternative.
They bought land at Sang Avenue and Cleveland Street and began planning for their new home. That’s when Bayyari became involved. He talked with Ralph Nesson, a member of Temple Shalom, at a Rotary Club meeting and volunteered to help.
He’s donating his services for the $ 1. 2 million project, waiving the contractor’s fee — an amount customarily between 10 percent and 15 percent in Northwest Arkansas.
Jeremy Hess serves as the chairman of the congregation’s building committee. He has been a member of Temple Shalom since its establishment 26 years ago.
Hess said the opposition to the congregation’s purchase of the “Butterfl y House” was heartbreaking, “but if we hadn’t gone through that we would have never met Fadil,” he said. “I look back and that’s the way it had to happen.”
Hess and Bayyari got together late last year to discuss the project and formed an immediate bond.
“We hit it off from day one,” Hess said. “We’re like long-lost brothers.”
The two men recognized they had common roots in their respective religions, including their belief in one God.
“Abraham is our forefather,” Bayyari said. “We’re first cousins. How we got to hate each other is beyond me.”
Bayyari, who built the Islamic mosque in Fayetteville, felt a kinship with the Jewish congregation.
The Jews have been meeting at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville, and until the mosque was completed, the Muslim community also had no home to call their own. They worshipped in rented spaces and homes. Temple Shalom members have long hoped to build a synagogue, but until recently, the small congregation simply didn’t have the money.
Then the late Miriam Alford donated a substantial amount of money, $ 500, 000, to the congregation’s “Building a Dream” capital campaign with hopes of kick-starting the project.
Other members also pledged money for the project. With Bayyari waiving contractor fees and building the project at cost, the congregation’s dream is close to fruition.
Hess said the congregation has enough money for more than half of the project, and is relying on donations to reach its goal.
“We have faith,” he said.
In addition to funding construction, a portion of the money raised during the capital campaign will help support a program dedicated to interfaith understanding.
The temple will be roughly 6, 600 square feet. Hess said it’s large for the current 50 or 60 families of the congregation, but they wanted to be prepared for future growth.
“The way the area is growing, we anticipate growth, too,” he said.
The building will include a sanctuary, social hall, library, classrooms, offices, a kitchen and a meeting room for the Hillel student organization at the University of Arkansas. Plans also include an outdoor sacred garden.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the “temple of peace” will be at 2 p. m. Sunday at 699 Sang Ave. Clergy members from several faith traditions have been invited.
“We’re calling it a groundblessing ceremony,” Hess said.
Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders will offer blessings for the synagogue, and clergy from various denominations and faiths have been invited to attend.
City leaders, including Mayor Dan Coody, will attend. State Sen. Sue Madison and Rep. Lindsley Smith are also expected.
The public is welcome. The event will include music and refreshments.
Hess said the synagogue will be open to all.
“Even though it’s officially a Jewish house of worship, we want it to be considered a sacred space where anyone is welcome,” he said.
As for the unique interfaith relationship forged between Bayyari and the congregation, Hess said he has learned “you can’t judge anyone except by the character of who they are.”
“We all share a common humanity, and it doesn’t take a lot, just a few bold steps,” Hess said. “Do you choose to recognize we are all brothers and sisters at heart, or choose to see the difference ?”
The building campaign is called the Temple of Peace, and Hess and Bayyari hope others will be inspired by the cooperative project.
“That’s what we want this to be about, to show you can get along. It just takes the will to do it,” Hess said.
More information on the project is available online at
www. atempleofpeace. com.
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