The first Muslim ever to be elected to Congress emerged from this past Election Day. Keith Ellison, 43, a Democrat from Minnesota's 5th District, won the election on a "populist platform", citing common ground, calling for "peace in Iraq, for greater US reliance on renewable fuels and for a universal, government-paid health care system."

His rallying cry? "We need to care about the common good."

Of course, as a Jew, I should be concerned no? A Muslim in the house can't be good, right? How does he feel about Jews? Will it be good for the JEWS!?!

Republican rival Alan Fine ran campaign ads emphasizing Ellison’s past association with Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam group, seeking to use it as a sign of anti-Semitism. Ellison, who said he converted from Catholicism to Islam in college, insists his involvement with Farrakhan was limited to helping organize a 1995 march on Washington aimed at encouraging black men to improve their communities.

He was supported by the National Jewish Democratic Council as well as a prominent Minneapolis Jewish newspaper, which endorsed him over his Republican rival Fine, who is Jewish.

He stressed commonality and apologetically noted that he did not previously realize that Farrakhan was, and is, anti-Semitic. He stressed unity.

So now, in Congress, it seems as if Jewish-Muslim unity has a voice. Ken yirbu.

May unity be allowed to bring the ends of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia speedily in our days.