"One of the things we have in common is peace and the preservation of human life on this planet," said Imam Oliver Mohammed of the As-Salaam Islamic Center.
Muslims from the Islamic Center spent Sunday morning with Jews at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh.
The National Leader of the American Society of Muslims addressed the group. Omam Earl Mohammed first visited the Temple in November 2002.
"Much of what the faithful in Judaism hold dear is also held dear by Muslims," he said.
Sunday's participants spent most of their time speaking to each other.
"This is one of the few places on the planet where true religious pluralism can be played out, and it is one of the places where there is the maximum level of interfaith mutuality and respect," Rabbi Raachel Jurovics of Temple Beth Or said.
"As opposed to following the terrible trends that we see in the world of Muslims and Jews fighting and people of faith in general, that some sanity needs to be dropped into the picture," Imam Oliver Mohammed said.
Leaders of both faiths say the constant unrest in the Middle East makes it hard for people to understand they are religions of peace and say extremists exist on both sides. They know their meeting will not end years of conflict, but it is a start.
"We weren't just gathering to hear a speech, but gathering to create some opportunities for collaboration in our communities," Jurovics said.
Communities these people of different faiths hope they can improve by working together.
The congregations plan to work together on issues they want addressed in public schools and plan to get their children together.
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