Members of Toronto鈥檚 Jewish community are planning to gather at several mosques around the city on Friday for a 鈥渞ing of peace,鈥� as mourners grieve following the deadly shooting in New Zealand.
Last week, a gunman entered a pair of mosques in Christchurch, N.Z., killing 50 worshippers and injuring dozens more.
During Friday afternoon prayer tomorrow, several Jewish groups are planning to show their solidarity with the city鈥檚 Muslim community by circling several mosques in a gesture of support for those who grieve.
鈥淭his is very much from the heart,鈥� Rabbi Cory Weiss, a rabbi with the Temple Har Zion in Thornhill, Ont., told CTV News Channel on Thursday. 鈥淲e鈥檙e paying respect and we鈥檙e grieving together. We understand the pain the community is feeling and we want them to know that we鈥檙e there with them.鈥�
Daryoush Kari, chair of the board of trustees for the Imam Mahdi Mosque in Markham, Ont., said the support is certainly welcome.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy because at this moment it shows it鈥檚 important to be Canadian and I鈥檓 so grateful for that,鈥� he said. 鈥淩abbi Weiss has always supported our community and I鈥檓 happy that we鈥檙e going to see them tomorrow as well.鈥�
Toronto鈥檚 Muslim community created their own ring of peace around some Toronto synagogues in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh shooting back in October and there was a similar outpouring of support following the Quebec City mosque shooting in 2017.
Weiss and Kari鈥檚 religious groups have made a point of working together toward various initiatives over the past 40 years, including co-sponsoring a pair of Syrian refugee families a couple years ago.
鈥淲e can be a great example for all other communities,鈥� said Kari. 鈥淥ur common elements are way more than our differences.鈥�
In New Zealand, several mosques across the country are expected to open their doors for Friday prayer while human chains will offer symbolic protection. Thousands of people are also expected to gather at a park near the mosque where the majority of the victims were killed.
The Muslim call to prayer will be broadcast on national television in New Zealand as well, followed by a two-minute moment of silence.
