In a remarkable statement, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, an Orthodox Jewish leader, openly acknowledges the debt that the Jewish community owes to Muslims throughout history. His words challenge the modern narrative that pits these two faiths against each other and reveal a shared history of coexistence and mutual support.
When Muslims Saved the Jews
When Jews were expelled from Catholic Spain in 1492 and Catholic Portugal shortly after, it was Muslims who opened their doors and welcomed them in. The Jewish communities that still exist in Istanbul and across the former Ottoman Empire trace their roots directly to this act of Islamic mercy and hospitality.
“When we were kicked out of Catholic Spain in 1492, when we were kicked out of Catholic Portugal, it was the Muslims who took the Jews in. The Islamic community welcomed them, and they were never persecuted. There wasn’t a Holocaust in the Islamic world.”
More in Common Than We Think
Rabbi Boteach highlights several important truths that are often overlooked:
- Jews lived peacefully under Muslim rule for centuries, paying a modest poll tax but never facing persecution
- There was no Holocaust in the Islamic world, a powerful contrast to what occurred in Christian Europe
- Outside the Middle East political conflict, Jews and Muslims share deep commonalities
- Muslims in America deserve honor and respect for celebrating their faith, not suspicion
“The Jews and Muslims have so much in common. My first expression to Muslims is one of sympathy. I honor you for celebrating your faith.”
When honest voices from other faith communities acknowledge the truth about Islam’s history of tolerance and justice, it carries special weight. The historical record is clear: Muslims have been protectors and allies of oppressed people throughout the centuries.
