On Sunday 31 January a large group of over 35 women met up for conversation and refreshments. Nothing unusual about that…except that this group comprised of women and girls from the London Islamic Cultural Society at Wightman Road Mosque, and Muswell Hill Synagogue.

Arranged by Ruth Jampel and Bibi Kahn, this Nisa-Nashim event was an opportunity for both groups of women to visit each others’ places of worship, find out more about our faiths and cultures,and remind ourselves just how much we have in common.

The afternoon was a huge success, with positive feedback from all sides. The afternoon ended with coffee and cake and a desire to do more together.

Elisheva Mason, the wife of Rabbi David Mason of Muswell Hill Synagogue declared, “Thank you so much for the most inspiring afternoon – I think you have done brilliantly and it was really enriching for both communities.”

Ruth Jampel commented, “It’s so important in the current political climate to show the community at large how Jewish and Muslim women  have so much in common – a shared outlook on many things and a real desire to coexist happily.”

Future plans for the group include a cooking event for the soup kitchen in Muswell Hill for Sadaqa Day on March 20 as well as joint projects to help the refugee crisis.