I was privileged to be one of many performers at "The Second Annual Dr. King Challenge" in Saratoga Springs, NY, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. I told the following story which will be one of the stories on my upcoming CD "Learning About Muslims".

Several years ago, Sharifa, a Muslim woman at my local Interfaith Story Circle, shared this story:

"I was a teacher and Vice Principal at an Islamic School in upstate New York when 9/11 happened. The school was closed for a week. During that week while I watched all the horofic details of 9/11 unfolding, I also dreaded returning to school, to my desk with the telephone on it.

When I finally returned to my office, as I had expected, I saw the telephone message light blinking. That's what I'd been dreading. I knew I would have to listen to the telephone messages. I expected that I'd be hearing hateful messages. I braced myself and pushed the button to listen.

The first message was, 'I'm the head of the men's group at a nearby synagogue. We're ready to come help protect your mosque. Please call me if you need our help.'

The second message was, 'I'm the head of the men's group at a nearby Christian church. We're ready to come help protect your mosque. Please call me if you need our help.'"

Sharifa ended her story by saying, "I was so relieved and grateful to hear those messages.”

When I asked Sharifa if I could tell her story, she said,

"Certainly you may tell it. It is an important story to share because it is a reminder of the importance of interfaith alliance and respect."