(MENAFN- Morocco World News) When Moroccan Simo El Aissaoui arrived as an immigrant in the US eight years ago, he was surprised to find a divide between Muslims and Jews.

In his country, Muslims and Jews enjoyed a long harmonious history together and he wanted to show Americans that it could be that way here too.

El Aissaoui partnered with an advocate for NYC''s Jewish community and began to bring together Moroccan Muslims and American Jews in a social club in NYC.

''What’s amazing about it is that there’s no political agenda, El Aissaoui said. ''It’s nice to see people from different backgrounds get together and understand each other.''

Irina Tsuckerman, a human rights lawyer and advocate for the Jewish community in NYC, agrees on taking advantage of ''what is possible when people see the humanity in one another.''

''Nurturing warm ties between people who have historically lived together in harmony is important as an example for others to see what is possible when people see the humanity in one another,'' Tsuckerman said.

The monthly meetings began in January with only 12 attendants, according to El Aissaoui. But the most recent meetings have seen up to 24, which he says is a fairly even split between young Muslim and Jewish professionals. He stresses the meet-ups are meant to be social in nature so people can simply ''get to know each other.''

''Everybody has their own faith and everyone needs to respect,'' El Aissaoui said.