Source: JTA

http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=13643&intcategoryid=#

On January 11, 2004 JTA reported, "Ottawa’s Jewish Family Services is helping improve Muslim-Jewish relations in Canada’s capital by mentoring a Somali community organization. The partnership — which recently won an award from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation — also is helping shape Ottawa’s emerging ethnic mosaic. 'North America is changing rapidly,' says Mark Zarecki, director of JFS. 'It’s becoming more multiethnic, and one of the most important and fastest growing groups is Muslims.' Zarecki says Jewish communities are uniquely positioned to assist immigrants in their integration and community building. 'We were immigrants once, too. Our experiences and knowledge are very valuable to newcomers,' he says. 'We can play the role of the bridge between new and established communities.'"