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Keywords: religious discrimination, Muslim, Barack Obama, Jewish community, Muslim American Society, Rabbi Eric S. Gurvis, Ramadan, religion in the workplace                                                                                          

Boston's Muslim community is using Ramadan to heal religious wounds that have plagued the city for years, starting with an evening prayer led by the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center.

After more than 16 years of fundraising woes and litigation, land designated for use as a mosque is becoming a regular place of worship. Now the mosque has $15 million of the needed $15.5 million to open its doors and begin having services. "This is such a happy occasion for the Muslim community--this has been a project in the making for decades," Hossam Al Jabri, president of the Muslim American Society's Boston chapter, told The Boston Globe. "It's strange, but I'm thankful that we had to go through the difficulty, because it forced us to come out of an isolation that we were comfortable in, and helped us to see that we have a world out there that is interested to know who we are."

Leaders in the local Jewish community are making an assuaging effort. Rabbi Eric S. Gurvis, president of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis told The Boston Globe: "I know there are those who have concerns and fears about the funding of the mosque, and the activities that are going on, but I believe we need to build some bridges of understanding. To be sure, there are those in all communities who hold ideals and ideas that are different from the mainstream. But we live in the same community, and we want to build this community for the sake of our children. I think there's a lot more that we can do together, rather than raising suspicions, and I look forward to having the opportunity to visit there."

Click here to read the full story in The Boston Globe.

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