Finchley shul hosts Eid celebration for Somali community

Finchley United Synagogue hosted the Somali Bravanese community for an Eid celebration after their building was destroyed in an arson attack.

Millions of Muslims around Britain brought their month-long fast to an end this week by marking the festival with family gatherings, special meals and by making charitable donations.

Among the gatherings was a kosher-catered gathering at Finchley United, organised by Citizens UK and funded by the Church of England’s Near Neighbours Fund, for the Somali Bravanese Welfare Association whose Muswell Hill base was torched last June.

Philip Stockman, a Kinloss member and Holocaust survivor, said: “Their building was burnt down in a hate attack. Who more than the Jewish community should understand this? Who more than the Jewish community should host them after such a thing?”

Abubakar Ali, Chairman of the Somali Bravanese, said: “It shows us that working together as communities make a big difference. We hope our centre will be rebuilt to allow us to host Kinloss one day in a show of our appreciation.”

The welfare association is a charity built by the Somali Bravanese refugees – who suffered persecution in Somalia – that came to London in the 1990s.

Barnet Citizens – an alliance of 9 local schools, synagogues, youth groups and community centres – previously organised for Ramadan to be held in Finchley Reform Synagogue.

In May, the leaders of Barnet Council and the Leader of the Opposition in the borough pledged £1.1m towards rebuilding the community centre.

Efforts are underway to raise a further £1m needed for the project.

Andrew Jacobs, a member of the North London Citizens executive, said: “I’m proud of what North London Citizens has achieved in bringing together such diverse communities.

“This did not happen by accident or chance; this is a wonderful example of what can happen when communities are organized to work together for the common good.”