November 19, 2003

In Light of the Synagogue Bombings in Istanbul:
OU Rabbi’s Spirits Lifted Following Condolence Letter From Turkish Muslim

“There are some good people in the world,” declared Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator for the Orthodox Union Kashrut (Kosher) Division. The Rabbi was referring to a letter of condolence he received from Nuri Gurhan, a Turkish Muslim, following the two recent suicide bombings of synagogues in Istanbul. Mr. Gurhan had worked closely with Rabbi Safran in establishing OU certification for a plant in Turkey.

The text of Mr. Gurhan’s letter follows:

Dear Eliyahu:

I am sorry and upset to hear of mosaic friends’ death at the terrorist attack of the synagogues in Istanbul last Saturday. Your losses are shared by myself with my deepest sadness, as well as many people here in Turkey.

As I am Muslim, I have been praying for them and my heart goes out to you. I will keep you in my prayers.

I will be thinking of you and wishing you a quick return to better times.

The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 275,000 products manufactured in 68 countries around the globe.

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