Many people believe that Muslims and Jews cannot coexist or live together. In India, there is a man named Thaha Ibrahim and his wife who live in Cochin. They are Muslims who want to keep this unique heritage of being Indian Muslims, while being able to live with Jews. The both of them would help and embrace the Jewish culture that not many people are a part of. In Cochin there is not much anti-semitism and has a dying group of Jews. Sarah Cohen is one of those rare people. Sarah Cohen was a big impact on Ibrahim not only on his interactions with people but him as a person. For Ibrahim and the Muslims of Cochin, the Jews are not an enemy. They are friends and family.
Today there are people in Israel that are Jews that friends and family with Muslims or vice versa. Today there is constant conflict with Muslims and Jews over land or general things. For me, I believe that we can coexist and learn to live together like Sarah and Ibrahim. Islam and Judaism have similar principles. In Islam there are the 5 Pillars: belief in one God, prayer 5 times a day, charity, Ramadan, and Pilgrimage to Mecca. In Judaism, we are supposed to believe in God, pray 3 times a day and give to/help the needy. Don't they seem similar to Islam's 5 Pillars? Both Islam and Judaism are not only a religion, but a culture. There are many similarities in these religions yet it is so interesting how there is still constant conflict that has lasted over 1000 years. Many people believe that Muslims and Jews can't live together in harmony, however I believe that we can achieve this through looking at the example of Thaha Ibrahim and Sarah Cohen.
I felt that the article could have done a better jog highlighting that in Cochin, like in most of India, both Jews and Muslims are minority. Beyond that, I agree with what you wrote about the similarities between Judaism and Islam. This article offered a glimmer of hope in a world too often consumed by hatred.
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