I’ve been lurking on their email list for years. I’m not from Arkansas, I’m not even Jewish, but I WISH I was a part of this congregation! What a great bunch of people, the world should have MORE folks like them!
Who could imagine a Palestinian general contractor donating his services to build a Jewish temple with two Christian architects? As the fund raising chair for the new building it has been extremely gratifying to see the support of not only our community and temple members but people throughout the USA who believe in what we are doing and support our faith-to-faith initiatives.
Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas is an extended family for all of its members. Like all families, we are diverse, but we love each other even if we don't always agree with each other. The outpouring of support for our construction project has been an overwhelming experience. Our congregation has about 60 member families and yet our donor list contains more than 750 names... I find this remarkable, especially in this economy.
To unite people of differing backrounds and faiths and to get them to see the universal connection is the goal of this worthy venture. I am a member and applaud the efforts to contribute to world peace is a very active way
This tiny congregation of 60 members in the heart of the Ozarks is building its first ever synagogue with the help of a Palestinian Muslim named Fadil Bayyari and the support of local Christian churches. Mr. Bayyari offered to build our synagogue at his cost as a way to bridge all differences between Muslims and Jews and to provide us with a beautiful house of worship. We have raised over $1.2 million to pay for the synagogue, money that has come from our membership and many community contributions. We worship under the leadership of a part-time rabbi and University of Arkansas Philosophy Professor Jacob Adler. Our congregation is quite representative of the diversity of our area, with Asian and Hispanic members and lots of folks who want to learn more about Judaism. We have held two "Faith to Faith" dinners at area churches which have raised almost $100,000 towards the remaining costs of completing our synagogue. I love beeing a part of a very small group of Jews who have become my family far from my roots in Boston. The involvement of Fadil Bayyari in our efforts to build a home for us is a seed of hope for a peaceful, loving future here in the Ozarks and throughout the world.