The Boulder Islamic Center held a huge and successful open house Sunday afternoon, hosting hundreds of visitors.  Among the speakers addressing a full auditorium and a full over-flow room were Imams from several Denver-area mosques, Rabbi Marc Soloway of Congregation Bonai Shalom, Stuart Feinhor, representing Boulder’s Congressman Jared Polis, and representatives from several other faith communities in Boulder.

Imam ShemsAdeen Ben-Masaud, a Denver native from the Masjid Ikhlas center in Thornton, spoke eloquently about being Muslim in Colorado, and pointed out that the number of Muslims in the US and in Colorado are about the same as the respective Jewish populations, and that Muslims have been present in the United States since before its founding, many as slaves who were mostly denied the ability to practice their faith.  He also emphasized that Allah is the Arabic word for God, and that it is the same single God that the Jews and Christians also worship.

Many in the crowd were from the Boulder Jewish community, and the hosts and hostesses made all visitors feel welcome to the mosque.  We at the Boulder Jewish News wish our Muslim brothers and sisters peace, friendship and solidarity.