Outrage as Zionist synagogue invites Muslims to celebrate Ramadan... only for the Jewish temple to COVER photographs of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas before their guests' arrival

A Los Angeles-based synagogue that leased its space to Muslims for Ramadan was shunned by its longtime congregants after it covered up a display featuring photographs of Israeli hostages.   

The display featured in the lobby honoring Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in its attack had been covered ahead of the Muslims' arrival.

In an effort to offer a model of interfaith outreach, Rabbis Stewart Vogel and Richard Camras, who represent the conservative synagogue Hamakom, wanted their temple to be a place where L.A. Jews and Muslims could gather in mutual understanding, appreciation and peace. 

The rabbis had formed a connection with the Imam at the Islamic Society of West Valley, whose house of worship was too small to accommodate its growing faith community.

'There is more that unites us than divides us,' the rabbis wrote in an email, announcing their plan to rent out the synagogue.

A Jewish synagogue that leased its space to Muslims for Ramadan was shunned by its longtime congregants after it covered up a display of photographs of Israeli hostages

The display featured in the lobby honoring Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in its attack had been covered ahead of the Muslims' arrival

30,000 have lost their lives in a conflict that began with Hamas' offensive on southern Israel on October 7

Strongly Zionist, Hamakom holds that Israel is entitled to self-defense and self-determination. When many members of the congregation saw the rabbis' email, they were taken aback.

But just before Muslim worshippers were expected to arrive at the synagogue, a picture started making its way around social media that would ultimately end the partnership. 

A display featured in the lobby honoring Israelis taken hostage by Hamas in its October 7 attack had been covered ahead of the Muslims' arrival.

Many in the Hamakom congregation felt that the Israeli hostages' covering went too far and that it was an unwarranted yield to political enemies and the erasure of Israeli suffering. 

'It reminded me of World War II when Jews turned in Jews,' Ronald Freeman, 69, a longtime synagogue member told the LA Times. 'You want to use the word 'traitor' — I don't know — or 'collaborator.' But that was so damn offensive to me.'

Hamakom canceled the lease after one night. In a statement on Wednesday, the synagogue's leadership team revealed that 'our co-presidents [Ellen Cervantes and Debbie Strom] have tendered their resignations from their positions.'

Pictured: Shaykih Suhail Mulla, the leader of the Islamic Society of West Valley

Rabbi Richard Camras is the co-senior Rabbi of Hamakom along with Rabbi Stewart Vogel. Hamakom was the vision of both Rabbis

The lease was terminated after news had circulated about the synagogue's actions

'It's sad to see a lot of effort and time and energy and hope that's put into formulating partnerships quickly — I don't want to say dissolve — but it took some steps backward,' Shaykh Suhail Mulla, the mosque's leader since 2017, said in an interview with Forward.com.

The conflict occurs amid an especially difficult Ramadan due to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are starving to death and 30,000 have lost their lives in a conflict that began with Hamas' offensive on southern Israel on October 7. 

Many interfaith relationships have collapsed or become strained in recent months.