In this op-ed for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Karen E. H. Skinazi (author of Women of Valor and professor at the University of Bristol) writes about moving to Coventry, England with her husband and young children, a place where, as she puts it, there was a “negligible Jewish population.” She continues, “I realized our children would have upbringings very different from our own, but in many ways I was excited about what that meant.” Indeed, she enrolled her children at King David Primary, the only Jewish school between London and Manchester, where 85% of the student body was… yes, Muslim.
She continues —
“Some Muslim families choose King David because it offers a good education. Others appreciate its kosher food, which many Muslims consider halal. And it is thought that a school that is intended for a religious minority is likely to be more sensitive to religious minorities.
“One Muslim friend of mine, whose sons are classmates of my children, told me about her family escaping the Bosnian genocide. I told her that my grandparents were Holocaust survivors. She said that our tragic history and sense of community — similar to her own — was part of what drew her to the school.
“At its core, Islam has very close ties to Judaism, and grassroots organizations are popping up around the globe to remind us of our connections. So why should I be surprised that our Muslim friends make up some of our greatest allies…?”
Be sure to CLICK and read the rest of this terrific op-ed!
