Times Editorial : A blessed day
Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/58361/
Winter 2006 was a long time ago — a lot
longer than it seems.
Fayetteville Alderman Nancy Allen was still a member of the Fayetteville Planning Commission. That January, she was among the majority who approved a conditional-use permit to allow the E. Fay Jones Butterfly House on Rockwood Trail to be used as a synagogue for Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas. Commissioner Allen felt the relatively small Jewish congregation would be a good neighbor. So did we. As we wrote at the time, it didn’t take long before several members of the Rockwood Trail community — home to some of Fayetteville’s wealthiest and most notable residents — voiced their “ complete and total disdain for the project. ” That February, on the same day the issue came before the Fayetteville City Council, 49 neighbors of the Butterfly House attached their names to a full-page advertisement in that day’s edition of this newspaper. “ Neighborhood Protection Is Important ! ” the ad shouted. City staff felt the request was compatible with the area; neighbors cited a proposed parking lot, increased traffic and the possibility of diminished property values among the reasons they were right to fight.
That April, a majority of the congregation voted to give up its efforts to convert the Butterfly House into a synagogue. “ Temple Shalom was not told they couldn’t go there, ” Mayor Dan Coody was quoted as saying. That’s true. City government never actually said no. But by then the congregation could see the neighborhood didn’t want them. Members had grown tired of fighting the community... to be a part of the community. Can you blame them ?
Suffice to say, it was not an especially auspicious time for progressive, open-minded Fayetteville.
Flash-forward to October 2007.
Beneath a gush of sunshine last Sunday, Northwest Arkansas residents from all walks of life gathered at 699 N. Sang Ave. to bless the ground members of the Temple Shalom congregation will one day call home. With ground already broken on the $ 2. 2 million synagogue, it’s been said that construction could be completed within the next 12 months.
Because the congregation has gone without a permanent home since its creation in 1981, it makes this recent news all the more gratifying. But what makes this story truly remarkable is that Fadil Bayyari, a Muslim from Palestine who works as a general contractor in Springdale, has offered to perform the general contracting work free of charge.
If you’ve ever met Bayyari, then you already know that you’re dealing with the sort of individual who genuinely believes in building bridges. Although this financial act of goodwill may pale in comparison to what the region’s billionaires give away annually, Bayyari’s contribution is inspiring. His single act deserves applause for helping to bring this community together.
And wasn’t it impressive to see members of so many different faiths celebrate the occasion ? Jew and Muslim. Episcopalian and Unitarian. Baptist and Catholic. Even a couple Tibetan monks showed up. Some might have found this odd, but we thought it uniquely Fayetteville. It was the icing on the cake of a day those in attendance will recall years from now. We already can’t wait for the day the group’s synagogue finally opens, which will hopefully be yet another occasion to celebrate faith — and each other.
Just last April it seemed as if what took place last Sunday would never happen. And yet now it has, which is why its worth reminding ourselves of the long, strange trip this story has taken to reach this point. That Fayetteville’s Jewish congregation has reason to celebrate these days, when last year they were being chased out of a different neighborhood across town, is a testament to the strangeness of this life.
Word of this especially happy ending also serves as a reminder that things happen for a reason. Sure, the winter and spring of 2006 was a painful time for the Jewish congregation. But ultimately things worked out in the best possible terms for everyone. And just think — we have one unwelcoming neighborhood and a Muslim to thank for it.
Go figure.