'Great Together': Muslim and Jewish leaders join together for Love Actually spoof

Qari Asim and Rabbi Esther Hugenholtz hold up 'Great Together' signs Credit: Vimeo / Manish Verma

A new online video from a Leeds Imam and his neighbouring Rabbi aims to help build closer ties between the two communities by celebrating what they have in common.

The two faith leaders - Imam Qari Asim of Leeds Makkah Mosque and Rabbi Esther Hugenholtz of Sinai Synagogue in Leeds - share their love of “God’s own country” Yorkshire, their toddlers and of food – plus a mutual aversion to bacon sandwiches.

The films, using messages held up on cue cards, borrows from Richard Curtis’s film Love Actually, in which the character played by Andrew Lincoln uses the cards to declare his love for Keira Knightley.

The idea that we all have more in common than we might think takes its inspiration from the words of the late Jo Cox MP, who was tragically murdered one year ago this month: “we have more in common than that which divides us.”

Imam Qari Asim MBE, Imam of Leeds Makkah Mosque and independent member of the Government’s Anti-Muslim Hatred working group, said:

Rabbi Esther Hugenholtz of Leeds Sinai Synagogue said:

Another video, from Usman Ali from Wakefield, a Muslim, and Jewish Leeds students Harry Brackup and Ruby Cole, celebrates their shared love of Yorkshire, their work in youth social action and a good curry. Similar films have been posted from young Muslims and people of Jewish and Christian faith, all over the country, highlighting all that they have in common in the lead-up to The Great Get Together.

The videos, which end with the message ‘Great Together’, was inspired by The Great Get Together events taking place nationwide this weekend (17-18 June).