When a New York mosque discovered that a fire had rendered their worship space unusable for Friday prayers, a neighboring Reform Jewish congregation jumped into action ― inviting the Muslims to pray inside their synagogue.

The spontaneous, last-minute invitation resulted in a profound moment of interfaith solidarity at New York City’s historic Central Synagogue, senior cantor Daniel Mutlu told HuffPost.

“We talk a lot about the unity of people and the unity of love and that was so apparent on that day,” Mutlu said.

Central Synagogue is a historic Reform Jewish congregation located in midtown Manhattan. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Mutlu said he and other clergy and members of Central Synagogue gathered outside the Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan last Friday afternoon to show support for local Muslims in light of New Zealand’s mosque massacres.

The March 15 shootings at two Christchurch mosques killed 50 people and injured dozens of others. The attacks, which occurred during weekly congregational prayer services, left many American Muslims anxious about security at their own mosques and Islamic institutions.

Congregants arrived at the Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan on Friday afternoon to participate in the weekly prayer service and grieve together on the one-week anniversary of the attacks. But a fire in a restaurant located underneath the mosque on Wednesday damaged the worship space, NBC 4 New York reported.

The congregation’s imam was hoping inspectors would determine it was safe enough for people to enter on Friday, Mutlu said. It soon became clear that they would not be able to worship in their usual building.

After realizing the swelling crowd of worshippers could be turned away, a rabbi from Central Synagogue told the imam that the Muslims were welcome to worship inside its building, about a block away, Mutlu said. The imam accepted the offer and the rabbis led the Muslim congregation down the street to doors of the synagogue.

A photo shows Muslims from the Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan worshipping inside Central Synagogue. (Photo: Central Synagogue)

Ultimately, Mutlu estimates close to 600 Muslims packed into the synagogue’s Pavilion event space to worship on Friday. The worshippers took their shoes off and sat in rows on the floor, facing Mecca, he said.

Story continues

In a sermon, which was posted online by the Forward, the Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan’s imam called it the “most blessed moment” in his life in New York. He thanked God that he and his congregants were able “to witness the love and the care of our neighbors.”

The imam later led his congregation in a call and response, in which members enthusiastically prayed for blessings on the synagogue and its rabbis.

Mutlu said it was an “incredible sight” that illustrated to him that even though there are differences in the ways that Jews and Muslims pray, there are many more things that unite these two religious groups.

“What it meant to us is that we need to lean into love and focus on what we share, focus on really taking care of each other,” he said about the service.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

(From left) Rabbi Ari Lorge, Rabbi Stephanie Kolin, Imam Ahmed Dewidar and Cantor Daniel Mutlu pose for a photograph at Central Synagogue. (Photo: Central Synagogue )

The cantor said that the mosque had asked to use the synagogue’s space again this coming Friday ― and that Central Synagogue is ready to “welcome them with open arms.”

“One person can cause a lot of damage and cause a lot of pain,” Mutlu said, referring to the New Zealand shooter. “But we can come together and we can heal.”

“These are the stories we should uplift, these are the moments where we truly find out who our neighbors are,” he said.

Also on HuffPost

Washington, D.C.

Demonstrators walk past the Newseum while marching from the White House to the Capitol Building on February 4, 2017 in Washington, DC. The demonstration was aimed at President Donald Trump's travel ban policy.

Illinois

Interfaith religious leaders join together in a show of support for the Muslim community outside the Mosque Foundation on February 3, 2017 in Bridgeview, Illinois. The demonstration was held to show religious unity following President Donald Trump's recent executive order.

Illinois

Demonstrators stand with signs during an interfaith solidarity protest against President Donald Trump's executive immigration ban outside the Downtown Islamic Center on February 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

Illinois

Interfaith religious leaders join together in a show of support for the Muslim community outside the Mosque Foundation on February 3, 2017 in Bridgeview, Illinois.

California

Demonstrators against President Donald Trump's Muslim Ban come together at Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 4, 2017.

California

Demonstrators support a ruling by a federal judge in Seattle that grants a nationwide temporary restraining order against the presidential order to ban travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries, at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on February 4, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

California

Demonstrators against President Donald Trump's Muslim Ban come together at Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 4, 2017.

California

Brothers Adam, left, and Noah Reich show their support if immigrants as they join opponents of Donald Trump's new immigration order at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

California

Demonstrators at Los Angeles International Airport protest against President Trump's executive order to ban entry into the US to travelers from seven Muslim countries. Los Angeles, California. January 31, 2017.

California

Demonstrators against President Donald Trump's Muslim Ban come together at Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California, United States on February 4, 2017.

Florida

Tristan Houghton joins with other protesters as they stand together at the Miami International Airport against the executive order that President Donald Trump signed clamping down on refugee admissions and temporarily restricting travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries on January 29, 2017 in Miami, Florida.

Texas

Protestors fill the street outside the NFL Experience at the George R. Brown Convention Center on January 29, 2017, in Houston, Texas.

Texas

Imam Omar Suleiman speaks flanked by Dr. Michael W. Watson, left, and Rabbi Nancy Kasten, all from Faith Forward, at a vigil for refugees on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 in Dallas, Texas at Thanksgiving Plaza.

Texas

Protesters gather to denounce President Donald Trump's executive order that bans certain immigration, at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on January 28, 2017 in Dallas, Texas.

Massachusetts

People gather at Copley Square January 29, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts to decry US President Donald Trump's sweeping executive order.

Massachusetts

A protestor holds up a sign that reads 'I Love My Muslim Neighbors' during a demonstration against the new ban on immigration issued by President Donald Trump at Logan International Airport on January 28, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Georgia

Japjee Singh of Dunwoody holds up a sign along with other activists during an Interfaith Rally for Muslims and Refugees at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer on February 4, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia

Thousands of people attend an anti-Donald Trump travel ban protest outside Hatfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia U.S., January 29, 2017.

New York

Supporters stand in the background as Muslims participate in a prayer in the parking lot of Terminal 4 at JFK International Airport on February 3, 2017.

New York

People march in lower Manhattan to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's new immigration policies on January 29, 2017 in New York City.

Colorado

Anyeli Arias (L) and Sara Fossum (R) gather with thousands of people at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado for the Protect Our Muslim Neighbors Rally on February 4, 2017.

Canada

Woman holding a sign saying 'I love my Muslim brothers and sisters' during a massive protest against President Trump's travel ban outside of the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 30, 2017.

Canada

Thousands of Canadians took part in a massive protest against President Trump's travel ban on Muslims during the National Day of Action against Islamophobia and White Supremacy in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on February 04, 2017.

Canada

Hindu woman holds a sign saying 'Hindus Against Islamophobia' as thousands of Canadians take part in a massive protest against President Trump's travel ban on Muslims during the National Day of Action against Islamophobia and White Supremacy in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on February 04, 2017.

Canada

Members of the Sikh community protest against Islamophobia and hate as thousands of Canadians took part in a massive protest against President Trump's travel ban on Muslims during the National Day of Action against Islamophobia and White Supremacy in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on February 04, 2017.

Canada

Woman holds a sign depicting a Muslim woman and a Canadian woman with the words 'solidarity' during a massive protest against President Trump's travel ban outside of the U.S. Consulate in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 30, 2017.

The United Kingdom

A young woman carries a sign of protest as she joins hundreds of people gathering together around Grey's Monument to protest against President Donald Trump and his policies, on January 30, 2017 in Newcastle, England. President Trump signed an executive order on Friday banning immigration to the USA from seven Muslim countries. This led to protests across America and the UK.

The United Kingdom

Demonstrators hold placards outside Downing Street during a march against U.S. President Donald Trump and his temporary ban on refugees and nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, in London, Britain, February 4, 2017.

The United Kingdom

People protest against the US travel and immigration ban from seven Muslim-majority countries and demand President Donald Trump's planned state visit to the UK to be cancelled outside Downing Street in London, England on January 30, 2017.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.