Rumi Forum

Scriptural Reasoning: "Abraham`s Journey"
2021-01-14 18:30 - 19:45 UTC | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
You can find this month’s themed text pack here.
We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use www.scripturalreasoning.org content.

Resisting Injustice Peacefully: Jewish and Muslim Perspectives
2021-01-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
“Few are guilty, but all are responsible.” So said Abraham Joshua Heschel, reminding us of one the key teachings of our Abrahamic Prophets. We are indeed all responsible for confronting and resisting injustice. But how do we do this wisely, effectively, and morally? Rumi Forum and JIDS will bring in two diverse experts to provide insights on this question.
Dr. Sophia Pandya is currently a full professor and department chair at California State University at Long Beach, in the Department of Religious Studies. She has written extensively on the topic of resistance efforts in the Muslim world. Rabbi Michael Pollack is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and now serves as the Executive Director of March on Harrisburg. It is our hope that by having an interfaith dialogue led by an esteemed academic and a community activist who fights injustice in the trenches, we can truly honor the spirit of Dr. King in addressing such a hallowed topic.

Saints, Sultans and Spies: The Extraordinary History of the Humble Coffee Bean
2021-01-28 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
“From the secretive circles of Yemen’s ancient Sufi mystics to the Constantinople court of the Ottoman Sultans to the backstreets of Mercantile London, coffee has changed every society that fell under its heady sway. Abdul-Rehman Malik has spent a lifetime searching for the soul of coffee. Join us as we explore the culture, politics, spirituality and the extraordinary history of the world’s most second traded commodity – and learned how a humble bean – quite literally – changed the world.”
Speaker:

Abdul-Rehman Malik is an award winning journalist, educator and cultural organizer. A Lecturer and Associate Research Scholar at the Yale Divinity School, he also serves at the Program Coordinator at Yale University’s Council on Middle East Studies, and is responsible for developing curricula and partnerships with public schools to promote better cultural, language and religious literacy about the Middle East to educators and students alike. Abdul-Rehman also serves as Director of the Muslim Leadership Lab, an innovative student leadership program being incubated at the Dwight Hall Center of Social Justice at Yale. His work has spanned the UK, United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Mali, Morocco, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia and beyond.
Full Bio: https://divinity.yale.edu/faculty-and-research/yds-faculty/abdul-rehman-malik

In the Name of Human Fraternity
2021-02-04 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Dialogue as the path, cooperation as the code, understanding as the method.
The Legacy
It is hard to exaggerate the legacy of the meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik Al-Kamil in 1219, a historical encounter that took place in the midst of the Fifth Crusade. This event is still remembered as a landmark of religion’s transformative power despite differences even during the most unwelcoming moments. On 3-5 February 2019, His Holiness Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb signed “A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” in the United Arabic Emirates to mark the 800th anniversary of the iconic meeting.
The Document
The Human Fraternity Document, rather than being a symbolic commemorative text, draws inspiration from the past for concrete future action. It is realistic in admitting the challenges humanity faces today, straightforward in highlighting the vital role of religion while addressing them, inclusive in recognizing the role that various stakeholders can play in the solution, and interdisciplinary in inviting many forms of human expertise to the universal endeavor. In an act of due recognition of this initiative by the global community, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 15 2020 (A/75/L.52) that proclaims February 4 as the “International Day of Human Fraternity”, to be observed each year beginning in 2021.
The Event
The eminent signatories of the Human Fraternity “ask that this Document become the object of research and reflection in all schools, universities and institutes of formation”. Rumi Forum welcomes this call by hosting the panel “In the Name of Human Fraternity” on the first International Day of Human Fraternity. Join us for a spectrum of reflections by a panel of prominent Catholic and Muslim speakers and an interactive session that will follow. The panel aims to observe the first International Day of Human Fraternity by highlighting the operational vision of the Human Fraternity Document rather than being a ceremonial text of goodwill.
Speakers
Dr. Pim Valkenberg, Catholic University of America
The Document on Human Fraternity and Pope Francis: Initiatives toward Encounters of Friendship

Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, John Carroll University
On the Necessity of Human Fraternity: Theological and Practical Reflections

Genevieve Mougey, Director of the Office for Social Concerns, Archdiocese of Washington
The Work of Social Friendship, Dialogue, and Pastoral Applications: A Catholic Perspective on Interfaith Dialogue

Scriptural Reasoning: "Beginnings-1"
2021-02-11 18:30 - 19:45 (America/New_York) | Zoom

The Value of Your Soul
2021-02-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Using Rumi Poetry to Flip the Modern-Day Script
Join author S. A. Snyder for an online discussion of her latest book, “The Value of Your Soul:
Rumi Verse for Life’s Annoying Moments.” Drawing from her 2019 memoir of living at a spiritual retreat in Scotland, this new book is a witty collection of short tales. With the help of select verses from Rumi, Snyder teases out some lessons learned from her funny experiences and offers a soupçon of homespun guidance for coping with people, situations, and life.
Her witty style and unique experiences combine to make this a fun, light read with a reminder not to take life too seriously. She’ll introduce her new book, read select passages, and answer questions.
Attendees can buy signed copies of her books at a special price.
Learn more about the book at https://www.lunarivervoices.com/books/value-of-your-soul/.

Scriptural Reasoning: "Beginnings-2: Humanity"
2021-03-11 18:30 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others’ and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Beginnings-2: Humanity

This month’s study leader

The Rev. Dr. Larry Buxton has been a United Methodist pastor for 45 years and has just published his second book, 30 Days With King David: On Leadership. He was a member of a Christian-Muslim breakfast group at Ezher Bloom Mosque for two years, visited Turkey in 2015, and participated in many interfaith conversations prior to his “first retirement” in 2016.
He and his wife Beverly, a leadership development and communications coach, enjoy two married sons and two grandchildren. Larry likes traveling, reading about rock music history, and rooting for the Washington Nationals.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Tears Teacher
2021-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
You are invited to a screening and discussion of Tears Teacher, the story of Hidefumi Yoshida who promotes the healing power of crying by travelling across Japan to help people shed tears. Yoshida is a firm believer that we all can benefit from weeping more often. During this 11- minute documentary, the self-described tears teacher tells how he touches on themes of emotional health, vulnerability, stigma, and strength. Following the screening, we will have an interactive session where all participants will be able to share reflections and comments. Do not miss this stimulating exchange!

Women Leading Change: The Intersection of Faith & Empowerment
2021-03-18 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | https://ngocsw65forum.us2.pathable.com/meetings/virtual/eZodCkvbnKZBtamks
This panel is intended to explore the connection between faith and women empowerment with a particular focus on women leadership. Our aim is to highlight the potential of faith in efforts for women’s participation in decision making, elimination of violence, achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls within the framework of the SDG5. The event will shed a spotlight on the role of women leaders of faith as key stakeholders and entrepreneurs of change in achieving these goals. This event is co-hosted by the UNA-NCA, which will specifically explore the effort to adopt CEDAW at the municipal level.
Everyone must register as an advocate via Eventbrite
Click here for the Eventbrite Registration
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ngo-csw65-forum-advocate-registration-tickets-137312871495
After the registration, NGO CSW will send a sign-in link to the virtual platform. The “Sign-in Link” inside the email is a unique authorization link that takes you to register your account. When you finalize your registration please click on the event link.
Click for our event
https://ngocsw65forum.us2.pathable.com/meetings/virtual/eZodCkvbnKZBtamks
Speakers
Samirah Majumdar, Pew Research Center, Research Associate
Samirah Majumdar is a research associate at Pew Research Center, where she focuses on global restrictions on religion. Samirah holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College. She is a contributing author to Pew Research Center reports including “A Closer Look at How Religious Restrictions Have Risen Around the World,” “Global Uptick in Government Restrictions on Religion in 2016,” and “Global Restrictions on Religion Rise Modestly in 2015, Reversing Downward Trend.”

Dr. Semiha Topal, William & Mary University, Religious Studies, Visiting Assistant Professor
Semiha Topal received her PhD from Arizona State University in Religious Studies in 2012. She holds an MA degree in Gender Studies and Religion from SOAS-University of London in UK. She specializes in the question subjectivity, self-construction and women’s agency in contemporary Muslim societies, particularly Turkey and the Middle East. Her current research examines women and piety in Islam, focusing on cases of de-veiling in Turkey. She teaches courses on introduction to Islam, women and gender in Islam, and Islam & secularism.

Gayatri Patel, CARE International, Director of Advocacy
Gayatri Patel represents CARE directly with senior officials in the U.S. Administration and Congress, spearheads advocacy for gender equality in foreign assistance, development, and humanitarian policy, and works to advance legislation/policy related to women’s economic empowerment, gender-based violence, gender in emergencies, and child marriage. She also previously served as a Foreign Affairs Officer for the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration and for the Bureau for International Organizations. She serves as the Vice-Chair of Advocacy of the UNA-NCA.

Moderator

Jill Christianson, UN Association of the National Capital Area, Board Chair-Elect
Jill has served most recently as a Board Member-at-Large for the UNA-NCA and is an active member of the Human Rights Committee. She also chaired the UNA-NCA Nominating Committee (2019), which filled key positions to support the association’s diversity and growth. For more than a decade, Jill served as the Senior Professional for International Relations at the National Education Association (NEA). Gender justice is prominent in Jill’s intersectional and intergenerational work, including at the UN`s CSW.

Scriptural Reasoning: "Cain and Abel"
2021-04-01 18:30 - 19:45 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others’ and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Cain and Abel

This Month’s Study Leader

Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky is the JCRC’s Director of Intergroup Relations/JCRC Rabbi in Residence. She studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and was ordained in 2012. She also holds a Master’s degree from the Davidson School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Sharofsky was the deputy director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council, where she worked with Jewish military personnel and veterans.
Rabbi Sharofsky is the recipient of the 2016 JPRO Network Young Professional Award for her dedication to the Jewish community through her work in the Jewish nonprofit field. She is a Rabbis Without Borders fellow, 2018 cohort. She currently serves on the Executive Council of the Rabbinical Assembly.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Combating Prejudice from Inside and Outside Our Communities
2021-04-22 18:00 - 20:15 (America/New_York) | Zoom
This event is a Muslim-Jewish interfaith dialogue for college students and young professionals in the DMV area. The conversation, which will feature guest speakers, will center around combating antisemitism and Islamophobia from the outside while also addressing prejudice and misunderstanding within our own communities. We hope to bring Muslim and Jewish young adults together to learn about one another’s faiths and experiences and to use this knowledge and empathy to become better allies united against hatred. Amidst rising antisemitism and Islamophobia throughout the United States, we need to have these conversations and advance Muslim-Jewish solidarity. Our partners in carrying out this event will be Jewish and Muslim institutions across DMV area college campuses, faith organizations for young professionals, and interfaith institutions.

Speakers
Sabeeha Rehman

Sabeeha Rehman is the author of the 2016 memoir, “Threading My Prayer Rug. One Woman’s Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim,” Short-Listed for the 2018 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the book also received several other nominations and awards. She is also an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal and New York Daily News. In the early 1980s, concerned about raising her sons as Muslims in the absence of a Muslim community, she set to work, and her commitment culminated in the building of a mosque on Staten Island where her family lived.
Sabeeha, who holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration, served as a hospital executive for 25 years. Thereafter, responding to her grandson’s autism diagnosis, she co-founded the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association and served as its President from 2008-11. As a public speaker, she has spent several decades engaging in interfaith dialogue and now serves as a board member of the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee as well as the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association. She blogs on topics related to American Muslim experience at www.sabeeharehman.com/blog.
She lives in New York City with her husband Khalid, a retired Hematologist/Oncologist.

Walter Ruby

Walter Ruby is a veteran activist in Muslim-Jewish relations. From 2008-2017, in the position of Muslim-Jewish Relations Director at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, he organized hundreds of twinning events; bringing together thousands of Jews and Muslims in over 30 countries on five continents, including members of mosques and synagogues and Muslim and Jewish organizations. Ruby presently serves as executive director of Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT), a grassroots community of Muslim, Jewish and Interfaith activists in Greater Washington; and as Coordinator of the Washington Area Chapter of Project Rozana, which works to strengthen ties between Israelis and Palestinians through health care.
Ruby is currently co-authoring a book with Muslim-American author Sabeeha Rehman entitled We Refuse To Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time. Ruby has worked as a reporter and commentator for more than 40 years, mainly for American Jewish and Israeli publications. His articles and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other media.
Walter lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Tatayna.

Ramadan Iftar Series 2021
2021-05-13 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | NY
Similar to last year, in the very spirit of Ramadan in 2021, Rumi Forum coordinated the virtual iftar series throughout Ramadan. We cordially invited everyone as we matched Muslim and non-Muslim friends, families, students, and professions to build new friendships and break bread together at iftar time.
We had the pleasure of meeting with members and friends of Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Christian Science Church, LDS Church Annandale Stake, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, DC United Hindu Temples, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Braver Angels Fairfax County Alliance, Congregation Adat Reyim, and many more. Although zoom has not the taste feature yet, this gathering spoke truly about the joy of friendship, solidarity, and neighborhood. Each iftar dinner was one of the living examples of communal harmony and solidarity with new friends. They were exceptional evenings filled with friendship, lively conversation, joy, and spirituality!

2nd Interfaith Leadership Forum: Human Dignity and Solidarity
2021-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
About the Event
Fratelli Tutti (All brothers and sisters), subtitled “on Fraternity and Social Friendship” is the third encyclical of Pope Francis. The document was signed on October 3, 2020, during Pope Francis’s visit to the top of his namesake St. Francis of Assisi, and was released on his feast day. It borrows its title from St. Francis’s Admonitions.
Fratelli Tutti is Catholic in terms of its origin, yet universal in terms of its substance. The encyclical addresses a set of contemporary global challenges that threaten global peace and highlights “fraternity” as a remedy to build a just world. As a sign of recognition of its global appeal, the United Nations declared February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity beginning in 2021.
Fratelli Tutti is the focal point of the 2nd Interfaith Leadership Forum. This conversation will bring together a diverse array of faith leaders and scholars in the DMV area and beyond for an interactive exchange on some of the most pressing issues of our age. As the search for answers on how to emerge better into a post-pandemic society continues, a collective reflection on Fratelli Tutti can renew hopes and illuminate the way forward.
Breakout Session Themes and Co-Chairs
Social and economic justice:

Kim Lamberty – Director of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Society of the Sacred Heart
Ann Delorey – Program Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington

Racism, ethnocentrism, and white nationalism:

Rev. Beverly Goines – Assistant Pastor, National City Christian Church in Washington
Rev. David Lindsey – Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington Immigration

Immigration:

Rev. Sharon Stanley-Rea – Director, Refugee & Immigration Ministries (RIM), Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Elket Rodriquez – Immigration Attorney, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Advocacy

War and conflict resolution:

Amr Abdalla – Professor Emeritus, University of Peace
Ibrahim Anli – Executive Director, Rumi Forum

This virtual program is sponsored by Interfaith Leadership Forum, including

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Scriptural Reasoning: "Clothing and Modesty"
2021-05-27 18:30 - 19:45 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures and the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Clothing and Modesty

This Month’s Study Leader

Dr. Nisa Muhammad is Howard University’s Assistant Dean for Religious Life. She is responsible for religious programming, advocates for the religious needs of Muslim students, faculty, and staff, teach nonacademic classes on the Islamic tradition, and works closely as part of the staff in the Office of the Dean of the Chapel to foster interfaith dialogue and cooperation. She organizes Muslim worship and devotion services, counsels and advises students, and answers questions from race to religion to relationships. She is the advisor to the Muslim Students Association, the Juvenile Justice Advocates, and the Chess Club. Dr. Muhammad is the president of the Association of Muslim Chaplains and on the board of the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Book Talk: Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination
2021-06-03 18:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
Arson and vandalism at houses of worship. Bullying at schools and harassment at the grocery store. Political scapegoating and institutionalized discrimination. Muslims in the United States and beyond have faced Islamophobia in a range of forms. This groundbreaking book argues that Christians though they are not the targets of Islamophobia should be at the forefront of efforts to end the prejudice and discrimination that Muslims face. Writing for Christians of all denominations, Jordan Denari Duffner offers an introduction to Islamophobia, discusses the unfortunate ways that Christians have contributed to it, and offers practical steps for standing in solidarity with Muslims. Viewing Islamophobia as both social justice and a religious freedom issue, Duffner makes the case that the Christian faith calls us to combat religious discrimination even when it is not directed toward our own faith community. She weaves together insights from Catholic social teaching, examples from Protestant leaders, and expertise from Muslim scholars and activists, resulting in a compelling book that will be of interest to academic and lay audiences alike.
Speaker/Author

Jordan Denari Duffner is an author, educator, and scholar of Muslim-Christian relations. Her books are Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Finding Jesus among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes Me a Better Catholic. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in theology and religious studies at Georgetown University and is an associate of the Bridge Initiative.

Moderator
Susan Douglass received a Ph.D. in world history from George Mason University in 2016 and holds an M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. Her research field is education history and policy in teaching about the world and world religions. She works on instructional design, and has published widely on American textbooks and curriculum standards policy, and has authored teaching resources for Unity Productions Foundation films, grant projects for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the British Council, and the National Center for History in the Schools and others. She is currently K-14 Education Outreach Coordinator at CCAS and has conducted teacher workshops for ACMCU since 2007.
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Scriptural Reasoning: "Covenant"
2021-06-17 18:30 - 19:45 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures and the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Covenant

This Month’s Study Leader

Rev. Richard L. Tafel is a transformative leader in the areas of faith, politics, and social impact. Tafel is also pastor of Church of the Holy City in Washington DC, where he is launching one of the first spiritual entrepreneur hubs. He represents the Swedenborgian Church of North America on the governing board of the National Council of Churches where he leads the annual Christian Muslim dialogue. Rich is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and served as Assistant Minister at the Memorial Church at Harvard University.
Rich is also the Managing Director of Raffa Social Capital Advisors where he matches impact investors to vetted social ventures. Partnering with investors his team provides back-office support, public policy, and strategic coaching to social ventures. He launched the first state-wide social entrepreneur competition in the USA in Michigan in 2014.
Rich is also the Director of the American Project at Pepperdine School of Public Policy in Malibu CA. This project is sponsored by the Democracy Fund bringing together leading thinkers to imagine new, center-right solutions to America’s broken political system. Tafel has a long history of fighting for civil rights. He has appeared on most major political programs. Before moving to Washington DC, Tafel was Adolescent Health Director for the State of MA.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Book Talk: No Power Over God's Bounty
2021-06-24 19:00 - 20:15 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
The Qur’an often addresses Jews and Christians as “People of Scripture” to indicate that they have received revelation from God. Yet, while acknowledging the special relationship and knowledge that this revelation brings, the Qur’an at the same time criticizes the People of Scripture for not remaining true to God’s guidance and claiming special power over God’s gifts. The mixture of acknowledgment and criticism is based on actual encounters with Jews and Christians at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an. This Christian commentary on the 31 texts in which the Qur’an discusses and addresses the People of Scripture includes the Muslim tradition of interpretation of these texts and adds Christian resonances in order to contribute to the future dialogue between Muslims and Christians on the common heritage and the differences between them.
Speaker:
Dr. Pim Valkenberg studied theology and religious studies in the Netherlands, where he was involved in the dialogue between the three Abrahamic religions at the Radboud University of Nijmegen where he worked for twenty years until he came to the United States with his family to work at Loyola University Maryland and, since 2011, the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. His fields of specialization are comparative theology, interreligious dialogue, and Christian – Muslim relations. Among his publications are World Religions in Dialogue (2014, 2017), Renewing Islam By Service: A Christian View of Fethullah Gülen and the Hizmet Movement (2015), and Nostra Aetate: Celebrating Fifty Years of the Catholic Church’s Dialogue with Jews and Muslims (2016). His latest book is published in 2021 by Peeters in Leuven: No Power over God’s Bounty: A Christian Commentary on the “People of Scripture” in the Qur’ān.

Discussant:
Dr. Zeki Saritoprak is Professor and the Bediüzzaman Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University. He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey. Professor Saritoprak is the author of Islam’s Jesus (University Press of Florida, 2014) and over thirty academic articles and encyclopedia entries on topics in Islam. He has served as guest editor for issues of the journals Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations and the Muslim World. He is editor and co-translator of Fundamentals of Rumi’s Thought: A Mevlevi Sufi Perspective (in English; New Jersey: The Light, 2004) and the editor of a critical edition of al-Sarakhsi’s Sifat Ashrat al-Sa’a (in Arabic; Cairo, 1993). He is currently preparing a book on Islamic spirituality tentatively titled Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World.
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Book Talk: Peace in the Age of Chaos
2021-07-29 19:00 - 20:15 (America/Halifax) | NY
Working on an aid program in one of the most violent places in the world, North East Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, philanthropist, and business leader Steve Killelea asked himself, ‘What are the most peaceful nations?’ Unable to find an answer, he created the world’s leading measure of peace, the Global Peace Index, which receives over 16 billion media impressions annually and has become the definitive go-to index for heads of state. Steve Killelea then went on to establish a world-renowned think tank, the Institute for Economics and Peace. Today its work is used by organizations such as the World Bank, United Nations, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and taught in thousands of university courses around the world.
“Peace in The Age of Chaos” tells of Steve’s personal journey to measure and understand peace. It explores the practical application of his work, which is gathering momentum at a rapid pace. In this time when we are faced with environmental, social, and economic challenges, this book shows us a way forward where Positive Peace, described as creating the optimal environment for human potential to flourish, can lead to a paradigm shift in the ways societies can be managed, making them more resilient and better capable of adapting to their changing environments.
Speaker
Steve Killelea is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), one of the world’s most impactful think tanks on peace and what creates it. Steve is also the creator of the Global Peace Index, the world’s leading measure of peace that ranks 163 countries and independent territories by their levels of peacefulness each year, and is used by major organizations such as the World Bank, OECD, UN, as well as governments and thousands of universities worldwide. Over the last two decades, Steve has applied his business skills as one of Australia’s leading entrepreneurs to his many global philanthropic activities, including his private family charity, The Charitable Foundation, which now has over three million direct beneficiaries. In recognition of his contribution to the global peace movement, Steve has twice been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and was awarded the Luxembourg Peace Prize in 2016. He has also been recognized by the Action on Armed Violence group as one of the 100 most influential people in the world on reducing armed violence.
“Today, Steve serves on the President’s Circle for Club de Madrid, the largest forum of former world leaders working democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers working to strengthen democracy, and is an honorary president for Religions for Peace, the largest organization in the world working on inter-religious challenges.
Discussant
Chic Dambach is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins and American Universities, and he is a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. He was President and CEO (currently President Emeritus) of the National Peace Corps Association; former President of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, and former Chief of Staff for Congressman John Garamendi. Previously, he held executive positions in the arts, sports, and health, and he was an “expert” advisor to the director of the Peace Corps. He serves as Chair of the Mali Affinity Group, and he has served on dozens of nonprofit boards. He lectures regularly at colleges and universities and at conferences, and he was a senior consultant with BoardSource where he helped write two books on nonprofit governance.
“His career began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, and his memoir, Exhaust the Limits, the Life and Times of a Global Peacebuilder, features a lifetime of service and successful initiatives for peace in Africa. He was nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, and the Institute for Economics and Peace presented him with the Leadership and Service for Peace Award in 2016. He was named the “2016 Peace Corps Champion” for keeping the spirit of service alive. His TEDx Talk “Why Not Peace” is available on YouTube. He was a national champion kayak racer and served as an official for canoe and kayak competitions in the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games.
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Community Event: "Tabla for Two"-Sufi Music Concert Celebrating Rumi’s Poetry
2021-09-23 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Zoom
Rumi Forum and FocusMusic are delighted to present “Tabla For Two”: a unique duo consisting of Masood Omari and Abigail Adams Greenway.
Tabla for Two performs traditional and classical music from Afghanistan and India, old Bollywood favorites, as well as Omari’s original compositions, which blend classical Eastern beats with Western-style beats – a fusion of East and West that is mirrored in their own partnership.
This special performance will feature select poems from Rumi, the great 13th-century mystic, poet, and jurist whose message of love, compassion, and mercy continues to inspire millions today. The event will be an opportunity to learn more about Rumi’s legacy and core teachings as we reflect on some of his highlight lines before each song.
If you are interested in having a remarkable experience with Rumi’s radiant message to embrace the East and the West, join us as we host Tabla for Two – an Afghan and an American singing his lines with authentic instruments and an unquestionably unique style!
Abigail Adams Greenway and Masood Omari

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Scriptural Reasoning: "Craft and Construction"
2021-09-29 18:30 - 19:45 UTC | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Craft and Construction

This Month’s Study Leader
Richard J. Jones taught Mission & World Religions at Virginia Theological Seminary from 1988 until 2009. As Al-Alwani Chair of Muslim-Christian Studies in the Washington Theological Consortium, he taught at member theological schools in the Washington, D.C. area.
Born in the District of Columbia in 1943, he taught ESL classes in Vietnam and served as a parish priest in Ecuador, Alabama, and Virginia. He is past president of American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and officiates Spanish-language services in Northern Virginia Episcopal churches.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Community Event: Support "Trudy Conway Memorial Fund" for Afghan Refugees
2021-09-30 08:00 - 2021-11-22 17:00 UTC | Catholic Charities USA, 2050 Ballenger Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
In order to honor our former board member`s legacy, Rumi Forum set up a fundraiser, “Trudy Conway Memorial Fund”, to support Catholic Charities USA`s efforts to help our new Afghan neighbors.
With the support of our friends, we raised $1,500.
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Trudy Conway was a much loved and widely accomplished author and professor of philosophy at Mount St. Mary’s University. She also served as a board member on the Rumi Forum.
In order to honor her legacy, Rumi Forum would like to fundraise for a “Trudy Conway Memorial Fund” to support Catholic Charities USA efforts to help our new Afghan neighbors.
Trudy Conway and her family have been an advocate and supporters for Catholic Charities for years. She truly believed in their mission to be on the frontlines; providing vital resources and services to children, families, and individuals; ensuring that they are fed, sheltered, and comforted in their greatest time of need.
We ask that in lieu of flowers, please honor Trudy by supporting this great organization and its support efforts.
Thanks so much for your support… and please don’t forget to send this page to any friends you think might be interested in donating!

Community Event: "Together We Rise Against Hunger" on World Food Day
2021-10-13 18:00 - 2021-10-16 12:00 UTC | Christ Church, 7600 Ox Road, Fairfax Station VA, Fairfax Station, VA, 22039, United States
Rumi Forum and its partners have participated in the largest Rise Against Hunger packing event in the state of Virginia this year. 1,000+ volunteers packed 165,000 life-changing meals. Thank you for helping us reach our 5-year goal of packing 1,000,000 meals!
The meals we packed are shipping to Haiti. In August, Haiti suffered massive devastation from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake followed only three days later by tropical depression Grace, which dumped heavy rains on an already shaken country, creating flooding and mudslides.
More than ever, the people of Haiti need to know that we care about them, we love them, and we want to do what we can to show them compassion. Thanks to members of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith communities, all generously sharing their time, talent, and treasure, 165,000 meals will nourish Haitians next month.
You can find more information about the event here.
Community Partners

Meal Packing Event

Millionth Meal Celebration Video

Scriptural Reasoning: "Created Human"
2021-10-21 19:00 - 20:15 UTC | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Created Human

This Month’s Study Leader
Safi Kaskas has studied Abrahamic religions and lectured throughout the US and the Middle East on subjects related to Islam, interfaith, and reconciliation between Evangelicals and American Muslims.
He is a Senior Researcher in Islam and Multifaith Reconciliation with George Mason University, Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution.
Mr. Kaskas translated and published the Qur’an into simple easy to understand English in January 2015 and published The Qur’an with references to the Bible in January 2016. This book has 3000 references to the Old and the New Testaments.
The Italian translation to The Qur’an with references to the Bible was completed in April 2016 and was presented to his holiness Pope Francis during the same month.
He just completed compiling the first Hadith book/collection of Prophet Muhammad’s sayings on “The Kindest of Manners”. The book will be published during this year.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

In-Person Book Talk: "God`s Diplomats"
2021-10-28 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Alex Galleries, 2106 R St., NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Using inside sources and extensive field reporting about the secretive, high-stakes world of international diplomacy, Vatican reporter Victor Gaetan takes readers to the Holy See to explicate Pope Francis‘s diplomacy, show why it works, and offer readers a startling contrast to the dangerous inadequacies of recent U.S. international decisions.
You can find more information about the book here.

About the author
Victor Gaetan, Ph.D., has served as an international correspondent for Catholic News Service and the National Catholic Register. He contributes to Foreign Affairs and America magazine. He has written from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East—experiences that provided a wealth of contacts with the notoriously tight-lipped papal diplomatic corps. He gathered rare insight in the Vatican Secret Archives, which is not open to the public.
For over 20 years he has filed stories from countries in turmoil: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cuba, Lebanon, Kosovo, Peru, Turkey, and Ukraine as well as from Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan. He has received numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association of North America and has written for secular publications ranging from Art & Auction to Le Figaro.
Gaetan received a Ph.D. in Ideology in Literature from Tufts University; a master`s degree from the Fletcher School of International Law and Diplomacy (MALD), and a license in Byzantine and Ottoman Studies from Sorbonne University in Paris (comparable to a BA).
About the discussant
Martine Miller is the Vice President of International Center for Religion & Diplomacy and a mediator and conflict transformation specialist with over 20 years of engaged experience—with communities, governments, regional bodies (i.e. EU, AU, and ASEAN), UN agencies, a range of inter/national non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. Her work has engaged her directly in fluid war to post-war reconstruction and development contexts across 70 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, West to East Europe, and North and South America.

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Event Photos

Scriptural Reasoning: "Delegating Responsibility"
2021-11-17 19:00 - 20:15 UTC | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Delegating Responsibility

This Month’s Study Leader
Ori Z. Soltes is Professor of the Teaching of Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University. He teaches across a range of disciplines. He is the former Director of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum. As co-founding Director of the Holocaust Art Restitution Project, he has spent twenty years focused on the issue of Nazi-plundered art. Soltes has authored and edited 19 books and scores of articles and exhibition catalog essays. Recent volumes include Our Sacred Signs: How Jewish, Christian and Muslim Art Draw from the Same Source; The Ashen Rainbow: Essays on the Arts and the Holocaust; Mysticism in Judaism. Christianity and Islam: Searching for Oneness; Tradition and Transformation: Three Millennia of Jewish Art and Architecture; Magic and Religion in the Greco-Roman World: The Beginnings of Judaism and Christianity; and God and the Goalposts: A Brief History of Sports, Religion, Politics, War, and Art.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Panel Discussion: "How to Heal Our Divides"
2021-12-02 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Zoom
Rumi Forum launches 3R Series
Restoration, Reconciliation, Resiliency
COVID came along and dominated our lives almost two years ago at a time when we were already battered by interracial tensions and divisive political rhetoric. The isolation that the pandemic forced us into has affected the psyche of all, and COVID-related economic difficulties made the lives of many rather difficult. In the middle of these historic moments, we had a contentious election that peaked with an attack on the Congress, the symbol of our nation.
It appears that we are in dire need of restoring our trust in our political system, in our government and agencies, in our civil society, and more importantly in each other. Our goal with the 3R Series is to inspire a vision of Restoration through Reconciliation and to remind ourselves of the Resiliency Americans have demonstrated again and again in difficult times throughout our history. We hope this effort will inspire hope, instill an urgency, and drive people to act to bridge the divides in our society so that we can heal and be whole once again.
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About the book, “How to Heal our Divides”

If we didn’t recognize them already, 2020 put a spotlight on several serious, deep divides that have had strong negative impacts on our society – racial, political, religious, and other divides. Much has been written describing these divides and how they came about or encouraging us to look deeply inside ourselves to discover our own flaws. All good things! But there has been a lack of attention regarding what to do about it. “How to Heal Our Divides” is a project aimed at building awareness of organizations that are taking real action to address these issues. The project is not an attempt to gloss over serious problems or “make happy” but instead to highlight tangible efforts that are solving problems – actually healing divides in effective and practical ways.
Perhaps you are tempted to just write off “the other side” and lambast them for all the terrible things they’ve done. But is that really in the best interest of our country and our culture? Shouldn’t we instead try to listen and learn and actually talk to each other? Are there at least some things we can work on together, even if we don’t agree on everything? (How many people have you met with whom you agree on absolutely everything?) Granted, some will never listen. But some will. We owe it to our children to try to make things better.

Moderator
Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of the Inclusive America Project at the Aspen Institute. Prior to joining the Inclusive America Project as Assistant Director in 2019, she served the Project as consultant and advisor for two years, including as editor of Pluralism in Peril: Challenges to an American Ideal. She began her career in the non-profit sector at the El-Hibri Foundation after earning her doctorate in Church History from The Catholic University of America in 2015. She also holds a B.A. in History from the University of North Florida and an M.Phil. in Church History from the University of Cambridge. At heart, she is still the blue-collar farm girl and custom picture framer she was raised as at the family home and business.
Panelists
Martin Brooks is the President of Peace Catalyst International. He has been with Peace Catalyst International since 2011 when he and his wife Susan returned from Turkish Cyprus. Drawing on the teachings and examples of Jesus, Martin has worked with local churches and mosques to create safe spaces to ask questions and build greater trust between Christians and Muslims. He has organized dialogue events, iftar meals, and Peace Feasts with Palestinians, Syrians, Turks, Pakistanis, Somalis, Kurds, and Iranians. A gifted collaborator, he works with city officials, refugee agencies, local clergy, and interfaith groups to seek the peace of the city and mutual thriving for all.
Jeff Burns, D.Min, is a peace and human rights, activist. He has been active in building bridges of reconciliation, peacemaking, and friendship between Muslims and Christians in the U.S. and overseas for the last ten years. Jeff served as the East Coast Regional Director for Peace Catalyst International for four years. PCI focuses on reconciliation and peacemaking in the way of Jesus. Before his calling as a peacemaker Jeff served as a senior pastor for 18 years. He went on to become a part of the house church movement in the U.S. As a leader in the house church movement; Jeff served as an elder in the Sojourners Simple Church Network in Raleigh, NC for nine years where he started an intentional community that focused on peacemaking with the local Muslim community.
Rev. Richard L. Tafel serves as the minister at the Church of the Holy City. With an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and a graduate degree in Theology from Harvard University, Tafel is ordained and his first job was as Assistant Minister of Harvard University’s Memorial Church. With his knowledge of politics and vision for social change, he launched his first company that helped nonprofits engage in public policy. He worked domestically with College Summit on access for low-income students to college. In addition, he created the global strategy for the AIDS Responsibility Project that helped facilitate the delivery of AIDS drugs to Africa. In addition, they worked with Brazil, Mexico, and Jamaica on ending HIV/AIDS discrimination.

In-Person Book Talk: "People of the Book"
2021-12-09 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Busboys and Poets – 450K, 450 K St. NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
On December 9, 2021, participants joined this in-person book talk for a considered study of Muslim–Christian coexistence and dialogue in the time of Prophet Muhammad.
The Christians that lived around the Arabian Peninsula during Muhammad’s lifetime are shrouded in mystery. Some of the stories of the Prophet’s interactions with them are based on legends and myths, while others are more authentic and plausible. But who exactly were these Christians? Why did Muhammad interact with them as he reportedly did? And what lessons can today’s Christians and Muslims learn from these encounters?

Scholar Craig Considine, one of the most powerful global voices speaking in admiration of the prophet of Islam, provides answers to these questions. Through a careful study of works by historians and theologians, he highlights an idea central to Muhammad’s vision: an inclusive Ummah, or Muslim nation, rooted in citizenship rights, interfaith dialogue, and freedom of conscience, religion, and speech. In this unprecedented sociological analysis of one of history’s most influential human beings, Considine offers groundbreaking insight that could redefine Christian and Muslim relations.
You can find more information about the book here.
About the author
Dr. Craig Considine is an award-winning professor and the best–selling author of The Humanity of Muhammad–A Christian View (2020). He is recognized as an authority in interfaith dialogue, particularly Christian and Muslim relations. Dr. Considine has written seven books for the field of Islamic studies, including People of the Book–Prophet Muhammad’s Encounter with Christians (2021), Muslims in America: Examining the Facts (2018), and Islam, Race, & Pluralism in the Pakistani Diaspora (2017).

Throughout the years, Dr. Considine’s peer-reviewed articles have appeared in Sociology and Religions and his op-eds have been published in Newsweek and Foreign Policy. Dr. Considine’s opinions appear regularly in the leading news and media outlets around the world. He also has experience in filmmaking, having directed the critically acclaimed documentary film Journey into America. Dr. Considine has spoken to audiences for Oxford University, the University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Doha). He is a practicing Roman Catholic with ancestral roots mainly in Sant’Elia Fiumerapido and Monacilioni, Italy and Lisdoonvarna, Ireland, but also England and Scotland. Craig is a native of Needham, Massachusetts. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, an MSc Lond. in international relations from Royal Holloway, the University of London, and a BA in international relations from American University in Washington, DC.
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Scriptural Reasoning: “Dreams”
2021-12-13 18:30 - 19:45 UTC | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Dreams

This Month’s Study Leader

Rev. Ebony Grisom (she/her) is the Interim Director of Protestant Christian Ministry and serves as chaplain to Protestant Students across Georgetown University.
She seeks to deepen ecumenical and interreligious understanding and collaboration, and accompanies students of all religious and non-religious identities in our community.
Rev. Grisom earned degrees from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Providence College, and Duke Divinity School. She brings a wealth of experience to the Hilltop having worked in high school to graduate school admissions offices, pastoral leadership, and faith-based advocacy.
Since her arrival at Georgetown University in 2019, Rev. Grisom has served the Main and Law Center campuses and co-chairs the MLK Initiative: Let Freedom Ring! Although “Rev. G” (as she’s known on campus) has her feet planted in the DMV, she remains a proud New York City native who keeps a MetroCard at the ready in case there’s a need to traverse the City that never sleeps. You can find her in her Main Campus or Law Center office talking with students and colleagues about all things sacred and secular including traveling, crafting, advocacy, faith formation, race, gender, theology (and their intercessions), history, Blue Devils, music, sports, and her favorite Hoya of all time, Patrick Ewing.
We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Scriptural Reasoning: "Education and Learning"
2022-01-13 18:30 - 19:45 UTC | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Education and Learning

This Month’s Study Leader

Dr. Vanessa Avery is the Executive Director of Sharing Sacred Spaces, Inc., where she builds community across differences using the unique tools of architecture, space, hospitality, and dialogue.
As Director of Sharing Sacred Spaces, Vanessa is also a Fellow at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace where she develops intercultural and interreligious DEI strategies and training for workplaces that are committed to leadership in religious and spiritual inclusion.
Vanessa is a lecturer of Interfaith Engagement at Yale Divinity School and affiliate faculty in Comparative Religion and Sociology at California State University.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Community Event: "Multi-faith Supplication"
2022-01-26 18:30 - 19:30 UTC | Youtube
At a time of dramatic challenges such as the surge in pandemic cases, the multi-faith prayer is intended to be a moment of supplication for Divine blessing. Our goal is also to make the healing words of different faiths known to others as we ask our Creator to deliver us from difficulties.
It will be a pleasure to have you among us along with faith leaders from various traditions who will offer healing or prayer from their own tradition. The event will be broadcast live on YouTube and will also be posted on Rumi Forum’s YouTube channel for those who want to watch and share it later.
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Faith Leaders:

Rev. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. is the Pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. Before coming to Holy Trinity, Fr. Gillespie served as president of Saint Joseph’s University, Associate Provost at the Loyola University of Chicago, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Loyola University of Maryland. Fr. Gillespie is a psychologist of religion who has published in the areas of psychology and Catholicism; counseling and spirituality; post-traumatic growth and transcendence. He has presented programs in the US and on five continents.

Rabbi Chana Leslie Glazer is the Rabbi of Congregation Adat Reyim and a pluralistic Jewish spiritual leader and educator of all ages. She came to Adat Reyim in July 2020 from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, where she served as the campus rabbi, Hillel advisor, and director of Jewish Life. Rabbi Glazer is deeply committed to Jewish pluralism and inclusion, having worked, lived, or studied with many denominations of Judaism – including the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, where she received her ordination, earning multiple honors and awards.

The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. began his tenure at the Washington National Cathedral in April 2018. In his role as Canon Missioner, Dr. Hamlin oversees the Cathedral’s outreach and social justice initiatives, including gun violence prevention and racial justice and reconciliation. In particular, Dr. Hamlin assists in the building of partnerships and the equipping of the Cathedral community and the congregation to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the world. Prior to his arrival at the Cathedral, Dr. Hamlin served as the Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. for 22 years.

Imam Faizul Khan is the founding member of the Islamic Society of Washington Area (ISWA), a diverse, growing, and religious community that started in 1973 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Imam Khan has been involved in social, religious, cultural, educational, and outreach programs in the community for over forty-five years. He is the Imam of ISWA, past Board Member of the Shura Council of Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), General Secretary of the Council of Muslim Organizations, (CMO) in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and serves as Director of three other regional Islamic organizations, including recently appointed as President of the Montgomery County Faith Advisory Council.

Rabbi Gilah Langner came to Kol Ami as the Spiritual Leader in 2016 after working in a variety of settings since her ordination as a rabbi in 2003. She is passionate about Jewish texts and learning, about bringing Jewish values to bear on social issues, and about empowering folks to find their spiritual core in Judaism. Rabbi Gilah served the congregation Shirat Hanefesh in Chevy Chase, MD, was principal of Shoreshim Hebrew School and the Kehila Chadasha Hebrew School, led Jewish meditation sessions at the Jewish Mindfulness Center of Washington at Adas Israel, spent eight years as a visiting chaplain both at Georgetown University Hospital and at senior residences, taught as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University and at the Catholic University of America, and co-directed the Washington Jewish Healing Network.

Nisa Muhammad is the Assistant Dean for Religious Life at Howard University. She is responsible for religious programming that serves the various needs of the campus, advocates for the religious needs of a diverse student population, teach non-academic personal enrichment classes on the Islamic tradition, and works closely as part of the staff in the Office of the Dean of the Chapel where the guiding principles are Faith, Service, and Justice. Her other responsibilities include organizing the Muslim worship and devotion services, counseling and advising students, faculty, staff, and responding to a myriad of questions and challenges from race to religion to relationships. Her work organizing the summer Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School program is highly accomplished and reaches national acclaim.

Matthew Regan is an elected officer for an umbrella organization of DC-area Buddhist temples. Founded in 1987, the International Buddhist Committee (IBC) of Washington, DC promotes inter-Buddhist and interfaith understanding through the annual International Vesak (Buddha’s birthday) celebration and other special events. He facilitates meetings, prepares meeting agendas, and complies with the minutes. Represents the IBC at interfaith and communities events.

Dr. Siva Subramanian is the chief of the Department of Neonatology, senior ethicist, and professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Hospital. He became the first Hindu-American to be honored with the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington’s ‘Interfaith Leadership Award’ at its 40th anniversary interfaith conference at the Washington Hebrew Congregation in 2019. He has also co-founded Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (1976), the Council of Hindu Temples of Northern America (1984), and the Hindu American Community Service Incorporation (2009).
