The Incredible Thing 1 Jewish Community Did After a Muslim Mosque Was Destroyed

On Saturday, Jan. 28., one day after Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban refugees and travelers from seven other countries of predominantly Muslim faith, a Muslim mosque in Victoria, TX, was burned down. Authorities say the exact cause of the fire at The Victoria Islamic Center is currently being investigated. After learning of the tragic news, the nearby Jewish community decided to step up and offer their temple so that the displaced Muslims could have a place to worship.

"Everyone knows everybody, I know several members of the mosque, and we felt for them," Robert Loeb, president of Temple B'nai Israel, told Forward. "When a calamity like this happens, we have to stand together."

The kind gesture comes after a GoFundMe campaign was started by Omar Rachid to help raise money to rebuild the mosque. The campaign has raised over $900,000 so far. "Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the tremendous support we've received," Rachid wrote. "The outpouring of love, kind words, hugs, helping hands and the financial contributions are examples of the true American spirit."