Finding common ground

I very much appreciate Jeffrey Robbins’ column and his embrace of Roxbury’s Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (“Islamic center reflects U.S. values,” April 24). Robbins represented some of the parties that challenged the center and its leadership in bitter lawsuits that were ended 10 years ago. I and the Boston Workmen’s Circle, a Jewish cultural and social justice group I’m affiliated with, were actively engaged in seeking a mediated resolution of the lawsuits — toward the goal of building bridges between Boston’s Muslim and Jewish communities.

As Robbins suggests, it is past time that our communities put to rest the acrimony the lawsuits spawned. Indeed, much bridgebuilding has already been done, and more is warranted, especially as in recent days we face increased stigmatization by hate groups promoting anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment.

Further still, it’s time our respective communities, and their leaders, began to speak seriously with one another about a particularly charged topic but one that — absent respectful sharing of perspectives — will doubtless continue to drive a wedge between us: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

— Michael Felsen, Jamaica Plain