Island religious communities have different needs

By Ryan Ross

The Island’s growing Muslim community needs its own gathering place, says the president of the Muslim Society of P.E.I.
Najam Chishti, the current president, moved to P.E.I. form Pakistan in 1979.
Chishti said the community needs a place where they can meet to discuss issues within the Muslim community.
“The main objective is to get a place of our own to meet regularly.”
Charlottetown does have a mosque in a renovated basement, but it is owned by one person, not the entire Muslim community, he said.
Chishti said P.E.I. is the only province without a permanent mosque and that’s one of the criteria for Muslim immigrants.
“It does affect, to a certain extent because it affects prayers.”
The Island’s Muslim community has grown to over 100 families since he moved to P.E.I., due mostly to immigration, and there is a need for new facilities, such as a Muslim cemetery, he said.
“As the community is growing the need is getting greater.”
Chishti said they need at least $500,000 to build an Islamic centre and cemetery and the community wants to pursue it.
“It is long overdue.”
But John Zarwan, a spokesman for the P.E.I. Jewish Community, said even though the number of Jewish families on the Island is also growing there aren’t enough people to support a formal gathering place.
There are about 80-90 families but there are not enough people or the financial support for a synagogue, similar to other Island churches, he said.
“There are lots of empty churches.”
Zarwan said there are members of the Jewish community who go to synagogues in other cities off-Island.
“There are members who are fairly observant.”
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in a part-time rabbi but there is a traveling rabbi who fills in when there is a death within the community, he said.
“We certainly couldn’t support a full-time rabbi.”
Zarwan, who is not originally from P.E.I., said since he moved here seven years ago, changes to the P.E.I. Jewish Community’s board members and philosophy have increased attendance at community events.
The number of Jewish residents has also increased, he said.
“Mostly through in-migration.”
Zarwan said there is always an interest within the Jewish community to have a formal structure.
“There are some people who would like to have it.”