Philadelphia Synagogue Leases Space to Muslim School

January 3, 2004

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20040103muslimschoollocal7p7.asp

On January 3, 2004 The Associated Press reported on Congregation Beth T'Fillah of Overbrook Park, a synagogue currently leasing out its classroom space to NSA Educational Learning Center, a small Muslim school for pre-kindergartners through eighth graders in its second year of operation. "The partnership between the school and synagogue, perhaps a model of inter-religion tolerance, actually originated as something less idyllic: a pure business deal. The school was looking to expand its enrollment and services; the synagogue was searching for a new tenant after a public school that rented its classrooms for 30 years pulled its students out. Since the school operates independent of the synagogue, there has been little interaction between the two, said Rabbi Robert Rubin, the congregation's spiritual leader. But he didn't rule out the chance to intermingle more in the future. Last week, for instance, he gave NSA students a presentation on Hannukah, the Jewish holiday. He said Beth T'Fillah does not get involved in the school's curriculum and respects NSA's rights as a private religious institution."

See also: Islam, Judaism, Schools