Crescent and Star of David

Cross-cultural Cooperation - This reminiscence is dedicated to my buddy Jack and all his fellow soldiers in Iraq. May God keep them safe and bring them home safe. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Crescent and Star of David

W. was my Chief Flight Nurse a while back. He's an interesting mix of history and characteristics. He served in the US Army Airborne, went to nursing school after discharge, got his ACNP, worked as a flight nurse and then as our Chief. Eventually, he returned to the military full-time and is presently stationed in overseas. W. is also a convert to Islam.

Not too many down-home Southwest All-American boys choose to become Muslims. To this day, I still don't clearly understand what made him take this step a few years ago before we met. But the story gets stranger.

I am an Orthodox Jew. Most of my adult life has been spent working in religious education and community work. I work part-time as an RN and a paramedic. I am a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, where I served as an infantry soldier and combat medical specialist. Quite simply, much (though not all) of my contact with Muslims has been antagonistic, even violent and deadly. And now here we were, the two of us working together in close quarters, Chief and crew member.

The truth is that, despite clear religious differences, Islam and Judaism have many shared values. Both are Middle Eastern cultures with a strong emphasis on religious discipline, on devotion to God, on personal modesty. Both cultures expect their adherents to devote regular times each day to prayer and study, and to stick to a particular dietary code. Neither culture is really very well known or understood in most of America.

I don't know if W. was really all that strict about his adherence to the requirements of Islam. I can't tell, and it isn't for me to judge. But I admired his courage in choosing such a path, and I sympathized with the difficulties of staying such a course each day in a Southwestern city and workplace where almost no one could really identify with his challenges. So, in addition to becoming coworkers and friends, we started to look out for each other in little ways.

The Muslim diet is particular and absolutely forbids ingredients such as pork. Until fairly recently, Halal food for the Muslim diet was difficult to find or verify in many locales. But Muslims in America have in the past often bought kosher food marketed for observant Jews, knowing that it won't contain anything forbidden to them as well. I can remember as a young man that Muslims would order kosher airline meals when traveling. With this in mind, I would share my meals with W. I eat only kosher food and bring all my food from home as there are no kosher restaurants for hundreds of miles in any direction. Occasionally, my wife would send along a little something special 'extra'. When we would buy kosher meat, I would offer to get some for him.

Our company often flies long missions, ranging from places in Mexico or South America up into Canada. Since I never know what the availability of kosher food will be, I pack my own along the way. If we happen to land in a city with a large Jewish community, I'll try to get to a kosher restaurant for a meal. I also would try to grab a little something to bring back as a treat for my wife. Now, I added W. to the list.

Similarly, when our flights were extended missions, we sometimes flew back through our home base to get fuel or switch out pilots. W. would always be sure to check if I needed him to go into my stuff at the base and bring me food or maybe religious articles for the rest of the trip.

When we were at the base, W. always made his office available to me to have a quiet place to pray. Observant Jews pray three regular times a day. Muslims pray five. He understood my desire for an undisturbed place for a few minutes to fulfill my obligations at the appropriate times, and always offered it. (I have to say; on this score, I've always been fortunate. Today, in the ED, my best bud is a Baptist minister's wife. She will often offer, of her own volition, to watch my patients for a few minutes to allow me time for my evening prayers. Thanks, J!)

Beyond the technical or formalistic things like prayer or food where we helped each other, we provided a certain sympathy and encouragement to each other. Our need to stay the course of our religious paths, to strive for the faithful expression of our relationship with and obligations to God - all these sometimes need support. W. and I, the Muslim and the Jew, had common grounds to help and support each other in these aspirations.

Medic09

About Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P

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Medic09,

If only more Jews and Muslims were in dialogue (like you two) about their common Abrahamic roots and values and less occupied about differences and needs to be exclusively "right" about things.

Thanks for sharing one small spark of hope for interfaith dialogue. May others follow your example in the words of our President "to extend a hand and unclench a fist."

Shalom,

Alan

Specializes in Stepdown, ECF, Agency.

Wow, that is beautiful. Beautiful.

Shalom/Salaam,

As a caucasian convert to Islam myself this story is very touching. Through my work I've been trying to change the stereotypes of Muslims both in the USA and now in the Philippines. It ain't easy!

Keep the peace.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Very well done!!! :up: I wish we could see each other as people and friends rather than enemies. Your story is a wonderful illustration of same. :)

I wish you two were leaders of countries.

Specializes in Education and oncology.

I agree with the previous poster- if only all nations' leaders put aside egos and adopted respect for others- all others- regardless of differences, we wouldn't need armies. Can we even imagine what improvements could be made if we weren't sending billions to the war in Irag? I can't even comprehend the magnitude of the cost (in lives, in rehabbing injured soldiers, in repairing the devastation we are causing, etc etc.)

Unfortunately since the beginning of time, there has been strife and wars. Read Genesis lately? It took not even 1 generation for there to be murder. (Cain and Abel...)

Specializes in Mental and Behavioral Health.

A Muslim and a Jew behaving in the way that Jesus commands Christians to behave! This simple testamony out-shines many a Sunday sermon. We could solve the world's problems by being good to one another in ways just like this. Why don't we all just do it?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Wow, I am touched. I am neither Muslim nor Jewish, but Catholic.

As a Catholic, we trace our roots to Jewish faith, with the obvious exceptions.

But it is great that you two get along professionally and personally like that. I wish more people could of all the faiths.

I am a combat veteran myself of this eras wars and certain trains of thought have been instilled into my head. I wish I could trust the way you trust, somoene who by all standards of their religion consider you the enemy even according to their own holy book. But Yea, that is great,

Great, thank you for sharing. One thing I have found is in many places people are people. You will always have people who for a variety of reasons make it their goal to spread hate and sorrow. However, I am finding that many people in this world will treat you with respect and dignity provided you do the same.

It amazes me the number of religions and ethnic backgrounds crammed into my current living space. In addition, it amazes me how little we (Americans) really understand other cultures and religions. I think, ultimately, I will be a better person because of my experiences.

I wish I could trust the way you trust, somoene who by all standards of their religion consider you the enemy even according to their own holy book. But Yea, that is great,

I just want to let you know that your statement is completely wrong.

As a Muslim, we are taught in the Qur'an that Jews and Christians are our brothers and sisters. We are taught to give them a special place in society which is Muslim dominant. We are commanded to respect them and their houses of worship.

This is why the "Golden Age" of the Jews was concurrent with the Andalusian Span which was ruled by the Muslims.

This is also why when Salahuddin re-captured Jerusalem from the Crusaders he ordered the churches and temples rebuilt.

If someone among the Christians says (as they are often doing today) that Muslims should be killed and uses some perverted scriptures to back it up, we do not say that the Bible is anti-Muslim.

Please, do your own research and look at the numerous Jews and Christian priests/preachers who have converted to Islam and what they have to say.

The phrase you have uttered above will only perpetuate misunderstanding and violence between cultures.

Peace.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I just want to let you know that your statement is completely wrong.

As a Muslim, we are taught in the Qur'an that Jews and Christians are our brothers and sisters. We are taught to give them a special place in society which is Muslim dominant. We are commanded to respect them and their houses of worship.

This is why the "Golden Age" of the Jews was concurrent with the Andalusian Span which was ruled by the Muslims.

This is also why when Salahuddin re-captured Jerusalem from the Crusaders he ordered the churches and temples rebuilt.

If someone among the Christians says (as they are often doing today) that Muslims should be killed and uses some perverted scriptures to back it up, we do not say that the Bible is anti-Muslim.

Please, do your own research and look at the numerous Jews and Christian priests/preachers who have converted to Islam and what they have to say.

The phrase you have uttered above will only perpetuate misunderstanding and violence between cultures.

Peace.

Yes, you are right, I agree it is great that people of different religions and beliefs can get along. Some people of some religions take everything in those religions literally. I wont get into a religious discussion with about about the second class status of non muslims in a muslim society, nor will I get into debate with you about those who have converted to your religion and why.

I will celebrate the fact that we can live as decent human beings and learn to appreciate the different cultures, religions, and way of life that each of live, if you can ? To be honest, a part of me is bitter and a part of me is healing. I want the healing part to take place more.