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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251029T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251029T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20251008T172112Z
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SUMMARY:CFIG Panel:Fethullah Gülen’s Legacy&the Hizmet Movement’s Forward Trajectory
DESCRIPTION:On the first anniversary of Fethullah Gülen’s passing\, the Rumi Forum’s Center for Faith\, Identity\, and Globalization (CFIG) hosted a special panel featuring two distinguished scholars—Dr. Ori Z. Soltes and Dr. Anwar Alam—to reflect on Gülen’s intellectual\, spiritual\, and social legacy. The event drew a strong turnout and featured a lively\, illuminating dialogue on how the Hizmet Movement continues to evolve in today’s complex global landscape. \nModerated by Lyndsey Eksili\, the discussion explored how Gülen’s philosophy of education\, interfaith dialogue\, and civic engagement continues to inspire new generations to pursue peace\, pluralism\, and service (“hizmet”) across borders. \nAs participants marked a year since his passing\, the conversation served as a meaningful reflection on Gülen’s enduring contributions and an engaging exploration of the path forward for the Hizmet Movement—its challenges\, hopes\, and role in shaping a more compassionate and pluralistic future. \nEvent Video\n\nEvent Photos\n\n		\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n		\n\nPanelists\n \nOri Z. Soltes\, Ph.D.\, is Professorial Lecturer in Theology and Fine Arts at Georgetown University and former Director of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum in Washington\, DC\, where he curated over 80 exhibitions on a variety of subjects. He is the author of articles\, exhibition catalogs\, essays\, and books on a range of topics\, including Our Sacred Signs: How Jewish\, Christian\, and Muslim Art Draw from the Same Source; The Ashen Rainbow: Essays on the Arts and the Holocaust; 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. \nHe also wrote Embracing the World: Fethullah Gülen’s Thought & Its Relationship with Jelaluddin Rumi and Others (2013) and Between Thought and Action: An Intellectual Biography of Fethullah Gülen (2022). \n \nAnwar Alam\, Ph.D.\, is currently a Professor with the Department of International Relations\, Ala-Too International University\, Bishkek\, Kyrgyzstan\, and a Distinguished Fellow with Policy Perspectives Foundation\, New Delhi. Earlier he served as Full Professor of International Relations and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Nile University of Nigeria\, Abuja; Full Professor at Department of International Studies\, Zirve University\, Gaziantep\, Turkey\, Professor and Director at Centre for West Asian Studies\, Jamia Millia Islamia\, (New Delhi); Associate Professor at Centre for West Asian Studies\, School of International Studies\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi\, and Assistant Professor at Department of Political Science\, Aligarh Muslim University\, Aligarh. \nDr. Alam has authored more than 35 articles in national and international journals\, as well as two books\, six edited books\, one co-edited book\, and 17 chapters in edited books\, all related to West Asia\, Indian politics\, Indian foreign policy\, Islamic movements\, and Muslim Politics. His latest publications are For the Sake of Allah: The Origin\, Development and Discourse of The Gülen Movement (2019) and The Disintegration of ISIS: Implications for Indian National Security (2023). \nPanelists\n \nLyndsey Eksili\, Ed.D.\, is an experienced educator\, writer\, and advocate for holistic development and mental health. As the editorial director for Youth Titles at Tughra Books and a content editor for The Fountain Magazine\, she combines nearly 20 years of educational leadership with her passion for creating meaningful\, youth-focused content. She serves as the School Board President at Pinnacle Academy\, contributes to the Early Childhood Development Task Force of Childhood Education International\, and writes for and serves on the board of the Green Dome Foundation. Through her work\, she champions early intervention\, cultural understanding\, and the intersection of faith and mental well-being. \nDr. Eksili holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from Liberty University\, as well as certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy\, Mindfulness\, and Clinical Trauma.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/cfig-special-panel-fethullah-gulens-legacy-the-hizmet-movements-forward-trajectory/
LOCATION:University of Southern California Capital Campus\, 1771 N Street Northwest\, Washington\, DC\, DC\, 20036\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
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ORGANIZER;CN="Center for Faith%2C Identity%2C and Globalization (CFIG)":MAILTO:cfig@rumiforum.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250528T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250528T210000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20250510T143218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250527T184316Z
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SUMMARY:Book Talk: "The Motorhome Prophecies" with Carrie Sheffield
DESCRIPTION:Join the Rumi Forum\, the Institute for Religion and Democracy (IRD)\, and the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) for a book talk with journalist and broadcaster Carrie Sheffield. Her recent memoir\, “The Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness\,” recounts and explores her relationships in her communities and her family\, and her explorations through the development of her faith across religious communities\, toward the ultimate peace and healing she found in her relationship with God. In a time of great political divisions with deep religious and spiritual undertones reaching from the political to the personal\, we hope to explore how family reconciliation and personal conversion might help us think about our national public life with Carrie. \n \nAuthor \n \nCarrie Sheffield is a columnist and broadcaster in Washington\, DC. She earned a full-tuition Harvard scholarship\, managed billions of dollars in risk at Wall Street firms\, and competed in a Miss USA system beauty pageant. A journalist and former White House correspondent\, she challenged the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and testified as an economic expert before the US Congress. Carrie achieved all this while overcoming a life of extreme poverty and psychological\, spiritual\, and sexual abuse. A recovered agnostic\, Carrie eventually found peace and anchoring in Christianity. \nCarrie shares insights on networks like CNN\, MSNBC\, Fox News\, CBS News\, CNBC\, and BBC. From ABC’s Good Morning America to HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher\, PBS\, and C-SPAN\, she uses her dynamic voice to resonate with audiences of millions. Carrie\, a traveling enthusiast\, visited every continent—including Antarctica—before age 30. She ran the Marine Corps Marathon and won the National Press Club 5K thrice. Named a “Most Inspiring New Yorker” by the popular connection app Bumble\, Carrie is passionate about instilling resilience and joy in others. \nModerator \n \nLuke Nathan Phillips is a writer\, tour guide\, and MC based in Northern Virginia. He has extensive experience in policy\, civic engagement\, and public discourse and has worked with nonprofits\, civic organizations\, magazines\, and research institutions in bipartisan\, reformist\, and conservative spaces since 2017. Luke has organized\, hosted\, and facilitated numerous panels\, debates\, and workshops across the U.S.\, engaging policy experts\, activists\, and young professionals. He also provides customized tours in Washington\, D.C.\, tailored for student and civic groups. \nHis writings have appeared in American Affairs\, The National Interest\, The Dispatch\, The American Conservative\, and RealClearPolicy\, among others. A Braver Angels volunteer since 2017\, he served as Publius Fellow for Public Discourse (2021–2024) and was David Brooks’ scheduler (2019–2021).
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/book-talk-the-motorhome-prophecies-with-carrie-sheffield/
LOCATION:The Institute on Religion and Democracy\, 1023 15th Street NW\, Suite 200\, Washington\, DC\, 20005\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250406T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250406T170000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20250318T133201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250501T213830Z
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SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Jewish Luminaries of the 20th Century"
DESCRIPTION:On April 6\, 2025\, the Rumi Forum\, in partnership with the Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society (JIDS)\, explored some of the influential modern voices in Judaism\, the oldest tradition in the Abrahamic family that continues to thrive today. \nWe began with reflections from local rabbis on key 20th-century Jewish thinkers who have profoundly shaped contemporary Jewish thought: \n\nRabbi Charles Feinberg on Abraham Joshua Heschel\nRabbi Amelia Wolf on Moshe Shmuel Glasner’s non-political writings\nRabbi Robert Levy on Martin Buber\n\n\n		\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n		\n\nFollowing these presentations\, Rumi Forum`s Executive Director\, Ibrahim Anli\, offered a response\, providing an interfaith perspective. The evening concluded with time for Q&A and\, as always\, the opportunity to engage in meaningful small-group conversations\, learning\, reflecting\, and deepening your understanding of the Jewish faith and its connections to the broader Abrahamic family.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/panel-discussion-tradition-embracing-modernity-jewish-luminaries-of-the-20th-century/
LOCATION:American Turkish Friendship Association\, 1420 Newbrook Dr.\, Chantilly\, VA\, 20152\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/HELP-FOR-VICTIMS-OF-EARTHQUAKE-IN-SOUTHERN-TURKEY-AND-SYRIA-42.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250319T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250319T200000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20250314T131809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250318T163820Z
UID:22376-1742403600-1742414400@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:ICRD Panel: "Radicalization and Religious Responses Post-Global War on Terror"
DESCRIPTION:Studies and practices focused on active radical movements and individual interventions in the long years of the Global War on Terror have led the American national security community and various social movements originating from the Islamic world to spend decades working to understand the political sociology of radicalization and approach the conditions of social breakdown in productive and integrative ways. \nJoin the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) for an exploration of the American national security community’s and the Hizmet Movement’s approaches to social breakdown and ideological and religious radicalization for the 21st Century and their implications for various sorts of domestic political radicalization and political violence in the United States. \n \nThe ICRD will also be livestreaming the event on their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/live/8Z7UjEegH8k. \nPanelists \n \nAdam Garfinkle is the Founding Editor of The American Interest and a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies\, Nanyang Technological University\, Singapore. \nA seasoned scholar and practitioner in the American national security community\, Garfinkle served as principal speechwriter to Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice (2003–2005). He is the author of several books\, including Jewcentricity: How the Jews Get Praised\, Blamed\, and Used to Explain Nearly Everything (Wiley\, 2009) and Telltale Hearts: The Origin and Impact of the Vietnam Antiwar Movement (St. Martin’s\, 1995)\, the latter recognized as a “Notable Book of the Year” by the New York Times Book Review. \nIbrahim Anli is the Executive Director of the Rumi Forum and a civic entrepreneur with extensive experience in religious reconciliation\, social entrepreneurship\, and interfaith dialogue. A longtime practitioner in the international Hizmet Movement\, he has worked in the Middle East and the United States to promote peacebuilding and conflict resolution. \nHe previously served as diplomacy coordinator at the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) in Ankara and later as Secretary General of the Abant Platform\, JWF’s Istanbul-based intellectual forum. Before joining Rumi Forum in 2019\, he was a visiting researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and taught International Relations and Diplomacy at Tishk International University in Erbil\, Kurdistan. \nModerator \n \nLuke Nathan Phillips is a writer\, tour guide\, and MC based in Northern Virginia. He has extensive experience in policy\, civic engagement\, and public discourse and has worked with nonprofits\, civic organizations\, magazines\, and research institutions in bipartisan\, reformist\, and conservative spaces since 2017. Luke has organized\, hosted\, and facilitated numerous panels\, debates\, and workshops across the U.S.\, engaging policy experts\, activists\, and young professionals. He also provides customized tours in Washington\, D.C.\, tailored for student and civic groups. \nHis writings have appeared in American Affairs\, The National Interest\, The Dispatch\, The American Conservative\, and RealClearPolicy\, among others. A Braver Angels volunteer since 2017\, he served as Publius Fellow for Public Discourse (2021–2024) and was David Brooks’ scheduler (2019–2021).
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/icrd-panel-radicalization-and-religious-responses-post-global-war-on-terror/
LOCATION:Eisenhower Institute\, 818 Connecticut Avenue NW #400\, Washington\, DC\, 20006\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/new-designs.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250223T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250223T170000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20250130T041142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250218T164636Z
UID:22205-1740322800-1740330000@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel  Discussion: "Inspiration from the Prophet Muhammad"
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum and our partner\, Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society (JIDS)\, members frequently turn to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)\, peace be upon him\, for inspiration. We submit that for any open-minded member of the family of Abraham/Ibrahim\, Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) life and teachings offer a compelling object of study and contemplation. Yet\, he remains a mystery for far too many in our communities. \n \nOn Sunday\, February 23rd\, we hope to shed light on this inspiring figure. We will bring together a diverse panel to speak from the heart about why this seventh-century man continues to profoundly impact their 21st-century lives. Our speakers include Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad\, a Palestinian American polymath whose areas of expertise range from astrophysics to chaplaincy; Dr. Sevde Arpaci Ayhan\, a scholar in political economics and international development; and Kemal Taban\, who will provide the perspective of a successful young adult who grew up in the DMV. We will also make time for Q&A and small group discussions. The hope is that all in attendance will better understand this incredible person and find their inspiration to study his message independently.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/panel-discussion-inspiration-from-the-prophet-muhammad/
LOCATION:Congregation Beth El\, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd.\, Bethesda\, MD\, 20814\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250213T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250213T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20250131T165323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250218T154933Z
UID:22220-1739462400-1739469600@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:The Institute of World Politics Panel Discussion: "Abrahamic Peace Initiative"
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum was pleased to partner with The Institute of World Politics (IWP) for a thought-provoking discussion on the Abrahamic Peace Initiative\, exploring faith-based approaches to conflict resolution and peacemaking. This event took place at IWP in Washington\, D.C.\, bringing together scholars\, faith leaders\, and policymakers to examine how religious traditions can serve as powerful forces for reconciliation\, coexistence\, and lasting peace. \nAbout the Abrahamic Peace Initiative \nRooted in the shared values of the Abrahamic faiths—Judaism\, Christianity\, and Islam\, this initiative seeks to present an alternative to conflict and bloodshed by fostering dialogue\, mutual understanding\, and collaboration. The discussion will highlight historical and contemporary examples of faith-driven peace efforts and offer insights into how religious communities can be active agents of conflict resolution in today’s world. \nSpeakers \n \nThomas Cromwell is co-founder of the New America Initiative and Chairman of the Abrahamic Peace Initiative. He spent 25 years in the Middle East\, 18 as publisher and editor of the Middle East Times. During his time in the region\, he conducted a series of conferences that brought together Arabs and Israelis\, Greeks\, Turks\, and Iranians to address shared challenges to their societies\, from urbanization and agriculture to education and conflict resolution. He has traveled to 130 countries to understand and promote solutions to inter-religious and inter-ethnic conflicts. He has authored several books on these topics\, including The Triumph of Good. \n \nIbrahim Anli is the Executive Director of the Rumi Forum. He was a visiting researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ibrahim joined the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (JWF) Ankara office as its diplomacy coordinator. He later served as the secretary general of Abant Platform\, JWF’s Istanbul-based forum of intellectuals. Ibrahim taught International Relations and Diplomacy at Tishk International University in Erbil\, Kurdistan\, before joining Rumi Forum in 2019. \nIbrahim Anli has published several peer-reviewed book chapters and articles. He holds a BA in Economics from Istanbul University\, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Sabanci University\, and a certificate in Strategic Management for Leaders of NGOs from Harvard University. He is a member of the Braver Angels Scholars Council and also serves on the board of the Religion Communicators Council.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/the-institute-of-world-politics-panel-discussion-abrahamic-peace-initiative/
LOCATION:The Institute of World Politics\, 1521 16th St NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20036\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/HELP-FOR-VICTIMS-OF-EARTHQUAKE-IN-SOUTHERN-TURKEY-AND-SYRIA-38.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250204T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250205T170000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20250129T213009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250210T191809Z
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SUMMARY:Partner Event: IRF Summit 2025
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum will once again proudly serve as a Convening Partner and Steering Committee Member of the IRF Summit 2025\, the premier global gathering of religious freedom advocates and activists. This landmark event\, set to take place on February 4–5\, 2025\, in Washington\, DC\, will bring together a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals committed to a shared and profound mission: Religious Freedom for everyone\, everywhere\, all the time. \n \nThe Summit will unite the dynamic IRF community for two days of impactful programming featuring survivors of persecution\, leading experts in human rights and religious freedom\, and government officials actively advancing this cause. Attendees will be able to engage in thought-provoking discussions\, hear firsthand testimonies\, and participate in collaborative initiatives to promote religious freedom worldwide. \nWith enhanced programming\, IRF Summit 2025 will also introduce new opportunities for networking\, strategic partnerships\, and future collaborations. The Summit will feature four unique Breakout Tracks\, each designed to address key areas of religious freedom advocacy: \n🔹 Empower – Equipping individuals and communities with tools to advance religious freedom\n🔹 Legislate – Exploring legal frameworks and policies that safeguard religious rights\n🔹 Advocate – Strengthening global advocacy efforts and amplifying voices for change\n🔹 Activate – Mobilizing grassroots movements and action-oriented initiatives \nRumi Forum looks forward to welcoming  IRF Summit participants at its booth and the two breakout sessions under the ‘Advocate’ track: \n\nFeb.4: 4:15–5 pm – Voices Behind Bars: Solutions-Based Advocacy for Prisoners of Conscience\n\nAndrea Barron (Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International)\n\n\nFeb.5: 1:–2 pm – A Bridge to Stability: Building Structural Capacity in Crisis-Affected Countries\n\nArbana Xharra (Alon Ben Meir Institute)\n\n\n\nAs a committed partner in advancing religious freedom\, Rumi Forum looks forward to contributing to this vital conversation and working alongside fellow advocates to build a more just and inclusive world.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/partner-event-irf-summit-2025/
LOCATION:Washington Hilton\, 1919 Connecticut Ave\, N.W.\, Washington\, DC\, 20009\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/HELP-FOR-VICTIMS-OF-EARTHQUAKE-IN-SOUTHERN-TURKEY-AND-SYRIA-40.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241028T160000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241028T180000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20241026T163555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241212T181048Z
UID:21573-1730131200-1730138400@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:CFIG Inaugural Panel: Rethinking Religion and Nationalism in the Global Landscape
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum’s Center for Faith\, Identity\, and Globalization was glad to hold its inaugural panel on October 28\, 2024\, “Rethinking Religion and Nationalism in the Global Landscape\,” featuring Mark Juergensmeyer of the University of California\, Santa Barbara\, and Paul Marshall of Baylor University\, and Allison K. Ralph\, Founder & Principal at Cohesion Strategy\, moderated the panel. \nEvent Photos \n\n		\n		\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n			\n				\n			\n		\n\nPanelists \nMark Juergensmeyer is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Global Studies\, Sociology and an affiliate of Religious Studies at the University of California\, Santa Barbara\, where he was the founding director of the Global and International Studies Program and the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies. He is also a William F. Podlich Distinguished Fellow and Professor of Religious Studies at Claremont McKenna College. He is an expert on religious violence\, conflict resolution\, and South Asian religion and politics. He has published more than three hundred articles and thirty books\, including When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends (University of California Press\, 2022)\, God at War: A Meditation on Religion and Warfare (Oxford\, 2021)\, and Terror in the Mind of God (University of California Press\, 4th Edition\, 2017). \nPaul Marshall is the Director of the South and Southeast Asia Action Team at Religious Freedom Institute\, Wilson Professor of Religious Freedom at Baylor University\, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom\, and Senior Fellow at the Leimena Institute\, Jakarta. He is the author and editor of more than twenty books on religion and politics\, especially religious freedom\, including Persecuted (Thomas Nelson\, 2013)\, Silenced: How Apostasy and Blasphemy Codes Are Choking Freedom Worldwide (Oxford University Press\, 2011)\, Blind Spot: When Journalists Don’t Get Religion (Oxford University Press\, 2009)\, Religious Freedom in the World (Rowman and Littlefield\, 2008). He is the author of several hundred articles\, and his writings have been translated into over twenty languages. He is in frequent demand for lectures and media appearances. \nModerator \nAllison K. Ralph\, Ph.D.\, is the Founder & Principal of Cohesion Strategy. A thought leader in religious pluralism and social cohesion\, Allison brings 20 years of experience in strategy\, research\, and nonprofit and philanthropic leadership. She previously worked at The Aspen Institute Religion & Society Program\, where she served as Assistant\, Associate\, and Interim Director of the program and Director of its Religion and Philanthropy Initiative. She also managed events at the El-Hibri Foundation and The Catholic University of America. She has spoken from the main stage at the International Religious Freedom Summit and the El-Hibri Foundation Peace Awards Ceremony. She has given talks at Upswell\, the United Philanthropy Forum\, and the American Academy of Religion.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/cfig-inaugural-panel-rethinking-religion-and-nationalism-in-the-global-landscape/
LOCATION:Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center\, 901 K Street Northwest\, 11th floor\, Washington\, DC\, 20001\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Oct.-28-Panel.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Center for Faith%2C Identity%2C and Globalization (CFIG)":MAILTO:cfig@rumiforum.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240925T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240925T163000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20241029T145518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241029T145518Z
UID:21614-1727258400-1727281800@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Partner Event: SDGs Conference 2024
DESCRIPTION:In the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79)\, the Journalists and Writers Foundation\, in collaboration with 56 civil society organizations from 30 countries\, including Rumi Forum\, hosted the 9th Annual SDGs Conference 2024 in New York on Wednesday\, September 25\, 2024.   \nAt this pivotal moment\, civil society leaders\, human rights advocates\, journalists\, and intellectuals from diverse backgrounds must intensify their partnerships to amplify the progressive efforts of the United Nations as the world navigates a significant period of transformation. The SDGs Conference 2024 brought together renowned experts and high-level speakers from various disciplines to tackle three pressing issues: (1) The Summit of the Future: Revitalizing the Pact for the Future\, (2) Information Integrity on Digital Platforms and Mainstream Media and (3) Transforming Inclusive Global Governance. \nRumi Forum`s Blog Series on Human Rights and SDGs \n           \n          
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/partner-event-sdgs-conference-2024/
LOCATION:630 Second\, 630 Second Ave-Grand Ballroom\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/HELP-FOR-VICTIMS-OF-EARTHQUAKE-IN-SOUTHERN-TURKEY-AND-SYRIA-28.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240130T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240131T170000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20240126T170244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240202T165123Z
UID:20906-1706601600-1706720400@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Partner Event: IRF Summit 2024
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum was once again a proud Convening Partner and Steering Committee Member of the IRF Summit 2024\, the preeminent global gathering of religious freedom advocates and activists. This one-of-a-kind event\, which took place January 30 – 31 in Washington\, DC\, convened a diverse coalition of groups and individuals dedicated to a simple but profound goal: Religious Freedom for everyone\, everywhere\, all the time.  \nThe Summit brought the dynamic IRF community together for two days packed with amazing programs featuring survivors of persecution\, the foremost experts in human rights and religious freedom\, and government leaders on the frontlines of this issue. In addition to enhanced programming\, this year’s Summit also offered new opportunities to network and build future collaborations. \n#IRFSummit2024 featured four unique Breakout Tracks focused on key global religious freedom areas of work: \n\nVulnerable\nVoices\nVictories\nViolations \n\n \nVoices of IRF Summit 2023 \n\n 
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/partner-event-irf-summit-2024/
LOCATION:Washington Hilton\, 1919 Connecticut Ave\, N.W.\, Washington\, DC\, 20009\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231205T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231205T203000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20231113T165658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231206T142519Z
UID:20452-1701801000-1701808200@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Partner Event: Film Screening and Discussion-"Reuniting America"
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum\, GMU Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution\, Braver Angels\, ICRD\, and Focolare Forum brought together an evening of rich discussion on bridging the divide in the face of the growing partisan hatred that threatens our nation. It was great to see people coming together who are heartsick about the rancor tearing our country apart and who think that our opponents should not be our enemies and that America’s best days can lie ahead. \nEvent Program: \n6:30 pm: Welcome by Carter School Representative \n6:45 pm: Remarks by Rumi Forum\, ICRD\, and Focolare Forum on their depolarization work \n7:00 pm: Remarks by two Braver Angels Ambassadors \n7:10 pm: Film \n8:00 pm: Discussion \n8:30 pm: End of program
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/partner-event-film-screening-and-discussion-reuniting-america/
LOCATION:George Mason University Van Metre Hall\, 3351 Fairfax Drive (Room 308)\, Arlington\, VA\, 22201\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231029T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231029T173000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20231023T192520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231118T050439Z
UID:20394-1698591600-1698600600@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Faith and Polarization"
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum\, Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society (JIDS)\, and Braver Angels have looked at political polarization before. However\, on October 29\, 2023\, we’ll look at the subject through a different prism: faith. What roles does faith play in the political and cultural schisms that mar our society? Is it a cause of the problem? Or is it a potential antidote? And most importantly\, what can we\, as people of faith or members of faith communities\, do to confront these issues? \nJoin Rumi Forum\, JIDS\, Braver Angels\, and our host\, Kol Ami Reconstructionist Community\, in what figures to be a fascinating afternoon. It will kick off with presentations by Ibrahim Anli\, Executive Director of Rumi Forum\, a Braver Angels Scholars Council member\, and Sofi Hersher Andorsky\, V.P. of Strategy and Communications at A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. One-on-one conversations\, small group discussions\, and a return to plenary session for an action-oriented conclusion to the event will follow. \nPresenters \n \nIbrahim Anli is a civic entrepreneur with a career record that bridges nonprofit and academic experience. He was a visiting researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2007-08. Ibrahim joined the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (JWF) Ankara office as the diplomacy coordinator in 2010. In 2013\, he became the secretary-general of Abant Platform\, JWF’s Istanbul-based forum of intellectuals. Ibrahim Anli was a lecturer and acting chair at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Tishk International University in Erbil in 2016-17. He is currently a volunteer instructor for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at American University\, a member of the Braver Angels Scholars Council\, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Council of America. \n Sofi Hersher Andorsky has spent her career at the intersection of religion\, technology\, and creativity\, working for non-profit sectors to serve greater goodwill and understanding within and across communities. She is also the founder of Grand View Strategies and a lifelong student of religion. Her portfolio includes projects for the National Council of Jewish Women\, Newseum\, Washington National Cathedral\, Rose Community Foundation\, and Together Beat Hate. Sofi also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC)\, works as a local interfaith organizer\, and volunteers with various charities serving Afghan refugees and those seeking abortion services.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/panel-discussion-faith-and-polarization/
LOCATION:UU Church of Arlington\, 4444 Arlington Blvd.\, Arlington\, VA\, 22204\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HELP-FOR-VICTIMS-OF-EARTHQUAKE-IN-SOUTHERN-TURKEY-AND-SYRIA-4.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230920T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230920T160000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20230808T052129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231001T052045Z
UID:20166-1695204000-1695225600@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Partner Event: SDGs Conference 2023
DESCRIPTION:In the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)\, the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) and its 36 Global Partners from 24 countries are organizing the hybrid SDGs Conference 2023 to convene world leaders\, diplomats\, civil society members\, journalists\, and academics to discuss contemporary impediments for the timely and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). \nThe SDGs Conference 2023\, formerly known as the UNGA Conference\, is the flagship event of the Journalists and Writers Foundation\, creating a platform for diverse stakeholders to discuss the Global Agenda 2030\, offer innovative solutions\, strategies\, and policy recommendations to advance the culture of peace\, human rights\, and sustainable development. As 2023 marks the 8th annual SDGs Conference\, this global event gathered over 150 high-level speakers across the globe\, forming an interdisciplinary group of distinguished panelists to discuss a particular set of agenda over three-panel sessions and propose a framework for action for the full and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. \nAs a result of the diligent review of the 2022-2023 agenda items and priority working areas of diverse UN agencies and offices\, as well as world-renowned international summits\, the SDGs Conference 2023 will address: \n(1) Building a New Momentum Towards the 2030 Deadline for the SDGs\, \n(2) Press Freedom as an Instrument to Defend Human Rights for All\, and \n(3) Widening Gap between Erosion of Democracy and Rise of Autocracy. \nin the margins of the UNGA 78th Session on Wednesday\, 20 September 2023 from 10 am to 4 pm. \n[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/partner-event-sdgs-conference-2023/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/I-Never-Thought-Of-It-That-Way.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230502T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230502T203000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20230417T182926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230502T030834Z
UID:19889-1683054000-1683059400@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:In-Person Book Talk: "Profiles in Peace"
DESCRIPTION:This new book traces the lives of Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Israel and Palestine who have dedicated their lives to building peaceful relations among the two peoples and between individual people who seek to live in peace and harmony with one another. These people have acted courageously and consistently in their work for peace. \nIn this book\, the author profiles the lives\, thoughts\, feelings\, and actions of six important peacebuilders — men and women\, secular and religious\, 3 Jewish Israelis: Rabbi Michael Melchior\, Professor Galia Golan\, and Mrs. Hadassah Froman; and 3 Palestinian Arabs: Professor Mohammed Dajani\, Ms. Huda Abuarquob\, and Bishop Munib Younan. \nThe reader learns about their visions for peace and their activities to bring their ideas to fruition in the real world of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Too many people have given up on peace. In contrast\, the people in this book persevere for peace\, thus keeping a flicker of hope alive for Israelis and Palestinians who live in the same land for people everywhere who continue to yearn for a peace agreement to be reached in the region. \nAlliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) is a coalition of over 170 organizations—and tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis—building people-to-people cooperation\, coexistence\, equality\, shared society\, mutual understanding\, and peace among their communities. We add stability in times of crisis\, foster cooperation that increases impact\, and build an environment conducive to peace over the long term. \n\n\nAuthor\nRabbi Dr. Ron Kronish is an independent scholar\, writer\, blogger\, lecturer\, teacher\, and mentor. For several years\, he has been a Library Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. From 1991-2015\, he served as the Founder and Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI)\, Israel’s premier interreligious institution. \nHe was educated at Brandeis University (BA)\, Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion\, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the editor of Coexistence and Reconciliation in Israel: Voices for Interreligious Dialogue (Paulist Press\, 2015) and the author of The Other Peace Process: Interreligious Dialogue\, A View from Jerusalem (Hamilton Books 2017) and Profiles in Peace: Voices of Peacebuilders in the Midst of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2022). \nHe writes a regular blog for The Times of Israel and is a contributor to The Jerusalem Report. He teaches courses about Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding at the Schechter Institutes for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem\, in the Department for Adult Education\, and at the Drew University Theological School (via Zoom) in Madison\, NJ. \n\nModerator\nRabbi Gerry Serotta served as Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington from 2014 through 2020\, where he continued his work as a leading voice for interfaith cooperation\, religious freedom\, and human rights. He is the founding rabbi of Shirat HaNefesh from 2008 to 2014. Rabbi Serotta has served as Executive Director of the interreligious organization Clergy Beyond Borders\, Associate Rabbi of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase\, and Director of the Hillel Foundation at George Washington University. He was the founder and chair of Rabbis for Human Rights – North America\, and he chaired the Board of Chaplains of George Washington University. \nRabbi Serotta has received many awards for his communal work. He was named a Public Policy Conflict Resolution fellow by the University of Maryland School of Law and served as a senior rabbinic scholar in residence at the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Serotta received a master’s degree in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew Union College\, a Master of Sacred Theology from New York Theological Seminary\, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College. \n\nDiscussant\nIbrahim Anli is a civic entrepreneur with a career record that bridges nonprofit and academic experience. He was a visiting researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from 2007-08. Ibrahim joined the Journalists and Writers Foundation’s (JWF) Ankara office as the diplomacy coordinator in 2010. In 2013\, he became the secretary-general of Abant Platform\, JWF’s Istanbul-based forum of intellectuals. Ibrahim Anli was a lecturer and acting chair at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Tishk International University in Erbil in 2016-17. He is currently a volunteer instructor for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University\, a member of the Braver Angels Scholars Council\, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Council of America. \nIbrahim Anli writes opinions in his independent blog and has published peer-reviewed book chapters and articles. He holds a BA in Economics from Istanbul University\, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Sabanci University\, and a certificate in Strategic Management for Leaders of NGOs from Harvard University.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/in-person-book-talk-profiles-in-peace/
LOCATION:Lutheran Church of the Reformation\, 212 East Capitol Street NE\, Washington\, DC\, 20003\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230330T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230330T203000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20230405T144018Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230405T144856Z
UID:19872-1680195600-1680208200@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: Interfaith Bridges\, Intrafaith Divides\, and Polarization
DESCRIPTION:On March 30\, 2023\, Rumi Forum and the Braver Angels D.C. Project organized a special America’s Public Forum event on interfaith alignments\, intrafaith divisions\, and the experiences of religious communities in American polarization in our time. \nDiscussants were Rich Tafel\, Minister of the Church of the Holy City in downtown Washington\, D.C.\, and Ibrahim Anli\, Executive Director of Rumi Forum. Between their interfaith and pastoral and intellectual work\, they brought decades’ worth of experience to questions of the place of religion in American public life amid all the divides of the recent past. Luke Nathan Phillips of Braver Angels hosted a conversation with them examining the ongoing divides in and between religious communities\, the lasting common ground and prospects for new bridges among them\, and the ways religious communities’ navigation of these divisions might inform approaches to American polarization as a whole. \nFollowing the conversation\, including audience Q&A\, participants joined an Iftar dinner courtesy of the Rumi Forum. The event took place at the Friends Meeting of Washington\, DC. \nEvent Photos \n[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”409″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/panel-discussion-interfaith-bridges-intrafaith-divides-and-polarization/
LOCATION:Friends Meeting of Washington\, 2111 Decatur Pl. NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20008\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230216T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230217T170000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20230222T201802Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230223T040738Z
UID:19746-1676534400-1676653200@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Conference: "The Hizmet Movement: Responses to Contemporary Challenges"
DESCRIPTION:On February 16 and 17\, 2023\, The Department of Religious Studies at California State University\, Long Beach\, organized a conference on the Islam-inspired Hizmet Movement (a.k.a. Gulen Movement) entitled “The Hizmet Movement: Responses to Contemporary Challenges.” The conference mainly focused on the Hizmet Movement’s status in Turkey and around the world\, as well as how the Movement responds to the challenges which are posed or exacerbated by global trends and events. This includes the Movement’s status and direction both transnationally and locally. \nConference Schedule \nAcademic Board \nPresenter Bios \nEvent Photos \n[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”407″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]  \nOrganizing Institution: \nThe program in Religious Studies develops students’ critical understanding of the forms of religious phenomena in their cultural and historical contexts and a sensitivity to different value systems. The program provides students with an introduction to the major religious traditions and to religion in the modern world. Because religion infuses human cultures in visible and invisible ways\, Religious Studies place special emphasis on relating the religious dimension of human life to the humanities\, sciences\, and social sciences.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/the-hizmet-movement-responses-to-contemporary-challenges/
LOCATION:California State University\, Long Beach\, 1250 Bellflower Blvd\, Long Beach\, CA\, 90840\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230131T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230201T170000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20230119T043147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230214T042617Z
UID:19655-1675152000-1675270800@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Partner Event: IRF Summit 2023
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum is a proud Convening Partner and Steering Committee Member of the IRF Summit 2023\, which will bring together a broad coalition that passionately supports religious freedom around the globe for a two-day in-person event in Washington D.C.\, January 31st–February 1st. \nTogether we will raise the profile of international religious freedom on a wide variety of issues using an array of mechanisms best suited for each circumstance. The Summit will connect resources and advocates interested in religious freedom and highlight the personal testimonies of survivors of religious persecution and restrictions on religious freedom. \nBringing attention to the plight of religious adherents who are persecuted\, individually and collectively\, will grow the grassroots and global movement for religious freedom. Breakout sessions hosted by the convening partners will go deep on important IRF topics. \nTogether we will gain political support for the global religious freedom movement and encourage civil society\, people of faith\, and governments to take a stand for religious freedom. \nEvent Photos \n[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”406″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″] \nRumi Forum welcomed participants at the booth and supported the ‘Documenting After IRF Violations’ panel. \n \nSummit Co-Chairs \n \nDr. Katrina Lantos Swett serves as President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice\, established in 2008 to continue the legacy of her father\, the late Congressman Tom Lantos. Under her leadership\, The Lantos Foundation has rapidly become a distinguished and respected voice on key human rights concerns. Dr. Lantos Swett is the former Chair and Vice-Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and teaches Human Rights and American Foreign Policy at Tufts University. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Board of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and the Budapest-based Tom Lantos Institute. \nDr. Lantos Swett also serves on the Advisory Board of UN Watch\, the annual Anne Frank Award and Lecture\, and The Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice\, Leadership\, and Public Policy. Lantos Swett earned a Political Science degree from Yale University at the age of 18\, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California\, Hastings College of the Law\, and a Ph.D. in History from The University of Southern Denmark. \nSam Brownback served as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom from February 2018 to January 2021. He served as Governor of Kansas from 2011 to 2018. Prior to that he represented his home state in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. While a member of the Senate\, he worked actively on the issue of religious freedom in multiple countries and was a key sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Prior to his public service\, Ambassador Brownback practiced law and taught agricultural law at Kansas State University. He earned a B.S. from Kansas State University and a J.D. from the University of Kansas. \nAmbassador Brownback currently serves as co-chair for the International Religious Freedom Summit and as a Senior Fellow at Open Doors USA. He and his wife Mary have five children and six grandchildren.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/partner-event-irf-summit-2023/
LOCATION:Washington Hilton\, 1919 Connecticut Ave\, N.W.\, Washington\, DC\, 20009\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20221026T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20221026T200000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20221001T034519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221203T042126Z
UID:19289-1666809000-1666814400@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:In-Person Book Talk: "Between Thought & Action"
DESCRIPTION:This in-person book talk by Dr. Ori Z. Soltes was a discussion on “Between Thought & Action”\, Fethullah Gulen`s intellectual biography of thoughts\, words\, and actions including interviews with Hizmet movement followers. \nThis volume has two goals. One is to explore the life and the thought of Fethullah Gulen and the important educational and peace-inducing activities in which he and those inspired by him have been engaged for several decades. The outcome of those efforts—of creating schools and providing diverse social and cultural services that bring people together people from diverse backgrounds—has been to provide the face of civic and civil Islam as an antidote to the uglier side of political Islam. \nThe second goal has been to make clear how the accusations against Mr. Gulen by the minions of Turkey`s President could hardly be more false: that what Gulen and the Hizmet (service) movement that he has inspired are ultimately about is improving the world and saving it from its uglier inclinations. A brief discussion of his life and thought has been supplemented by the voices of more than 70 interviews conducted over several years\, with individuals intimate and more distant but all inspired to be part of the process of serving humanity. \n  \nEvent Video \n\n  \nAbout the Author: \n \nOri Z. Soltes teaches at Georgetown University across a range of disciplines\, from art history and theology to philosophy and political history. He is the former Director of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum and has curated more than 85 exhibitions there and in other venues across the country and overseas. He has authored or edited 25 books and several hundred articles and essays. Recent volumes include “Our Sacred Signs: How Jewish\, Christian\, and Muslim Art Draw from the Same Source”; “Searching for Oneness: Mysticism in Judaism\, Christianity\, and Islam”; “Untangling the Web: Why the Middle East is a Mess and Always Has Been”; “Tradition and Transformation: Three Millennia of Jewish Art & Architecture”; and “God and the Goalposts: A Brief History of Religion\, Sports\, Politics\, War\, and Art”.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/in-person-book-talk-between-thought-action/
LOCATION:National Press Club\, 529 14th St NW-13th Floor\, Ballroom\, Washington\, DC\, 20045\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Past Events,Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220929T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220929T200000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20220914T180132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221006T160750Z
UID:19149-1664476200-1664481600@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:In-Person Book Talk: "Hearts & Minds"
DESCRIPTION:This in-person book talked about a comparative and qualitative study of an educational phenomenon\, Hizmet\, functioning worldwide. \nDr. Parrillo and Dr. Ansari present a cross-cultural study of Hizmet schools in seven countries of varying histories and ethnic compositions. Some are fairly homogeneous\, while others are longstanding multicultural\, multiracial societies. Some have Muslim-majority populations\, others a small Muslim minority. Through hundreds of interviews with students\, parents\, staff\, and financial supporters\, the authors explored individual perceptions and experiences\, as well as the triad of student/parent/school interaction. Analyzing the commonality of the schools’ structures and processes in different settings\, they offer their insights about the schools’ success in achieving their twin goals of offering quality education and promoting interethnic harmony. \nAuthor: \n \nVincent N. Parrillo is the author of numerous books and journal articles\, some of them translated into ten languages. He is a Professor Emeritus of sociology at William Paterson University and a Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Senior Specialist. An internationally recognized expert on immigration\, he is the author of two historical novels about Ellis Island: Guardians of the Gate and Defenders of Freedom. His newest book is Hearts and Minds: Hizmet Schools and Interethnic Relations. He is also the executive producer\, writer\, and narrator of six award-winning PBS television documentaries: Ellis Island: Gateway to America; Smokestacks and Steeples: A Portrait of Paterson; Gaetano Federici: The Sculptor Laureate of Paterson; Paterson and Its People; Silk City Artists and Musicians\, and Paterson: A Delicious Destination. \nActive in community theater\, he directed the Sondheim musical Follies in May 2022 for the Players Guild of Leonia\, where he has directed numerous mainstage productions of all genres (comedies\, dramas\, musicals)\, as well as appearing in others. He also directed The Comedy of Errors in July 2015 at Bergen County Overpeck Park.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/in-person-book-talk-hearts-minds/
LOCATION:National Press Club\, 529 14th St NW-13th Floor\, Ballroom\, Washington\, DC\, 20045\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Speaker Series,Upcoming Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Untitled-design-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220314T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220314T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20220207T173231Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220407T153349Z
UID:18477-1647280800-1647286200@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:In-Person Book Talk: "I Never Thought of It That Way"
DESCRIPTION:We think we have the answers\, but we need to be asking a lot more questions. \nPartisanship is up\, trust is down\, and our social media feeds make us sure we’re right and everyone else is ignorant (or worse). But avoiding and attacking one another is breaking… everything. \nJournalist Mónica Guzmán is the loving liberal daughter of Mexican immigrants who voted—twice—for Donald Trump. When the country could no longer see straight across the political divide\, Mónica set out to find what was blinding us and discovered the most eye-opening tool we’re not using: our own curiosity. \nIn this timely\, personal guide\, Mónica Guzmán\, takes you to the real front lines of a crisis that threatens to grind America to a halt—broken conversations among confounded people. She shows you how to overcome the fear and certainty that surround us to finally do what only seems impossible: understand and even learn from people in your life whose whole worldview is different from or even opposed to yours. \nEvent Video \n\n  \nAbout the book: “I Never Thought of It That Way“ \nDrawing from cross-partisan conversations she’s had\, organized\, or witnessed everywhere from the echo chambers on social media to the wheat fields in Oregon to raw\, unfiltered fights with her own family on election night\, Mónica shows how you can put your natural sense of wonder to work for you immediately\, finding the answers you need by talking with people—rather than about them—and asking the questions you want\, curiously.  \nIn these pages\, you’ll learn:  \n • How to ask what you really want to know (even if you’re afraid to) \n • How to grow smarter from even the tensest interactions\, online or off \n • How to cross boundaries and find common ground—with anyone \nWhether you’re left\, right\, center\, or not a fan of labels: If you’re ready to fight back against the confusion\, heartbreak\, and madness of our dangerously divided times—in your own life\, at least—Mónica’s got the tools and fresh\, surprising insights to prove that seeing where people are coming from isn’t just possible. It’s easier than you think. \nEvent Photos \n[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”398″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″] \nAuthor\n \nMónica Guzmán is the Director of Digital and Storytelling at Braver Angels\, a nonprofit working to depolarize America and host of the Crosscut interview series Northwest Newsmakers. She was a 2019 fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation\, where she studied social and political division\, and a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University\, where she studied how journalists can better meet the needs of a participatory public. \nMónica lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. Before committing to the project of helping people understand each other across the political divide\, Mónica cofounded the award-winning Seattle newsletter The Evergrey and led a national network of groundbreaking local newsletters as VP of Local for WhereBy.Us. She was named one of the 50 most influential women in Seattle\, served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes\, and plays a barbarian named Shadrack in her besties’ Dungeons & Dragons campaign. \nDiscussant\n \nBrian Allain founded and leads Writing for Your Life\, a resource center and conference for spiritual writers\, which includes the Publishing in Color conference series\, intended to increase the number of books published by spiritual writers of color. Brian also founded and leads the teams that produce Compassionate Christianity and How to Heal Our Divides. Previously Brian served as Founding Director of the Frederick Buechner Center where he led the launch of Mr. Buechner’s online presence and established several new programs and strategic partnerships.  \nBrian has developed and led spiritual writers conferences at Princeton Theological Seminary\, Drew Theological Seminary\, Western Theological Seminary\, the University of Southern California\, Belmont University\, New Brunswick Seminary\, and several churches. He led the publishing effort for the book Buechner 101: An Introduction to Frederick Buechner\, in collaboration with Anne Lamott\, and also the book How to Heal Our Divides. All of this is a second career\, coming after business and technology leadership in high-tech. Brian has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania\, where he was designated a Palmer Scholar\, their highest academic award.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/i-never-thought-of-it-that-way/
LOCATION:Church of the Holy City\, 1611 16th Street\, NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20009\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Past Events,Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220209T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220209T210000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20220109T154059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220308T172247Z
UID:18340-1644433200-1644440400@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Modern Muslim and Jewish Thinkers Who Have Inspired Us"
DESCRIPTION:On February 9\, 2022\, at 7:00 p.m.\, the Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society (JIDS) and Rumi Forum brought in four scholars to talk about Muslim and Jewish thinkers who left their mark on the modern world. We heard presentations about two modern Jewish thinkers: Rami Shapiro\, who has brought a passion for various eastern faiths into his study of Judaism\, and Menachem Mendel Schneerson (aka the Lubavitcher Rebbe)\, whose ideas sparked the rapidly growing Chabad Movement within Judaism. We will also hear presentations about two modern Muslim thinkers: Said Nursi\, whose commentary of the Qur’an inspired a renewed way of engaging with the modern age; and Muhammad Iqbal\, who had a remarkable impact on the intellectual and cultural reconstruction of Islam in South Asia and beyond. \n As a collaborating partner of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington (IFCMW)\, the event took place during the 3rd Annual World Interfaith Harmony Week in the DMV. Dan Spiro\, who’s the president of JIDS\, moderated the dialogue between these scholars to lead to an enriching conversation between the participants.  \nEvent Video \n\n  \nDr. Marcia Hermansen talked about Muhammad Iqbal\, who was known as the “intellectual father of Pakistan” due to his contribution to the reconstruction of Islam in South Asia. Iqbal was deeply intrigued by contemporary Western thought and reached his audience through poetry in Urdu and Persian while also delivering critical analyses in English. Herb Levy discussed Rabbi Rami Shapiro\, who had a multilingual approach to Judaism and taught a Judaism that was free from chosenness\, xenophobia\, and ethnonationalism. He saw religions as languages\, asserting that no language is true or false\, and believed writing is nature’s way of showing us how sloppy our thinking is. Like Iqbal\, he also used poetry to speak to his audience. Dr. Zeki Saritoprak brought up Said Nursi\, whose writings were inspirations for modern sciences and technologies. Nursi emphasized the importance of knowledge and dialogue\, preached non-violence\, and portrayed the prominence of shared values. Rabbi Lee Weissman talked about the Lubavitcher Rebbe\, who was often referred to as the “leader of the generation.” His view was inclusive of the entirety of Jewish people\, and he took mystical philosophy and turned it into an activist movement. \nAll of these thinkers brought changes and inspirations to many people\, emphasizing the importance of knowledge\, writing\, and shared understanding. They depicted the beauty of faith within oneself and how it flourishes within a community. \n  \n \nThese presentations were given\, respectively\, by four scholars: Herb Levy\, Rabbi Lee Weissman\, Dr. Zeki Saritoprak\, and Dr. Marcia Hermansen.  \nRumi Forum and JIDS present this event as a collaborating partner of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington (IFCMW) during the 3rd Annual World Interfaith Harmony Week in the DMV. We are glad that this panel discussion coincides with the annual worldwide observance during the month of February 2022. \n  \nPanelists: \nHerb Levy was raised in an Orthodox home in Baltimore\, completing the high school department of the (then) Baltimore Hebrew College\, in addition to public high school. Through his college years\, he became disconnected from the Judaism that he was raised on but began to reconstruct Judaism to address the social change commitment he made in his life. He spent over 40 years working in affordable housing as his contribution to Tikkun Olam. He’s been active in Kol Ami Reconstructionist of Arlington VA since its birth in December 2000. \n  \nRabbi Lee Weissman has been a Jewish educator in California for over 25 years. For over 10 years\, Lee has been an interfaith activist both online and in person. His Facebook forum “Abraham’s Tent” offers a place for Muslims and Jews to communicate on religious issues. His Twitter account @JihadiJew has a wide interfaith following. Lee’s personal passion is Chassidic philosophy\, particularly the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Lee currently attends Magen David Sephardic Congregation. \n  \n  \nDr. Zeki Saritoprak is the Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies and a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at John Carroll University in Cleveland\, Ohio. He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey. His dissertation which examines the personification of evil in the Islamic tradition was published in 1992. Professor Saritoprak is the author of over thirty academic articles and encyclopedia entries on topics in Islam. His most recent books are “Islam’s Jesus” (University Press of Florida\, 2014) and “Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World” (Bloomsbury\, 2017). \n  \nDr. Marcia Hermansen is Director of the Islamic World Studies Program and Professor in the Theology Department at Loyola University Chicago where she teaches courses in Islamic Studies and the academic study of religion. She received her Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago and her numerous authored and co-edited books include Religious Diversity at School: Educating for New Pluralistic Contexts (2021)\, Varieties of American Sufism (2020)\, Islam\, Religions\, and Pluralism in Europe (2016)\, Islam and Citizenship Education (2015)\, and Muslima Theology: The Voices of Muslim Women Theologians (2013)\, as well as translations of works of Shah Wali Allah of Delhi.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/modern-muslim-and-jewish-thinkers-who-have-inspired-us/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Modern-Muslim-and-Jewish-Thinkers-Who-Have-Inspired-Us.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220203T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220203T210000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20220111T181357Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220210T181543Z
UID:18365-1643914800-1643922000@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion:"How Do We Deal With Covid\, Social Injustice\, and Polarization?"
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum\, Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights\, and Prince George’s County Memorial Library System presented a virtual panel discussion on “How Do We Deal With Covid\, Social Injustice\, and Polarization?” on February 3\, 2022\, for a conversation for our time\, in recognition of World Interfaith Harmony Week. \nEvent Video \n\nHow do we build and use interfaith harmony to develop restoration\, reconciliation\, and resiliency as applicable to the world that we live in now? We are plagued: by the Covid-19 pandemic\, by social injustice\, by economic inequities\, limited and inequitable access to resources\, environmental injustice\, and the polarization of our times. Three faith leaders will consider these difficult questions and provide hope and practical solutions to taking steps towards restoration\, reconciliation\, and resiliency today. Join Rumi Forum\, Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights\, and Prince George’s County Memorial Library System on February 3rd at 7 pm for a conversation for our time\, in recognition of World Interfaith Harmony Week. \nPanelists: \nRahmah A. Abdulaleem is the Executive Director of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights where she works to create a global network of advocates knowledgeable about the gender-equitable principles of Islam and are able to advance the cause of Muslim women’s rights in legal and social environments. Ms. Abdulaleem was raised in Philadelphia and was an active member of Masjidullah in Philadelphia during her youth. She graduated from Duke University with a double major in Religion and Sociology and a certificate in Markets & Management Studies. Ms. Abdulaleem obtained her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and worked at a top international corporate law firm for 14 years.  \n  \nRabbi 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. Abbi also holds a master’s degree from the Davidson School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary\, specializing in experiential Jewish education. Abbi 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 not-for-profit field. She is a Rabbis Without Borders fellow\, 2018 cohort.  \n  \n \nCharles A. Tapp was elected President of the Potomac Conference Corporation in March of 2021. Prior to taking this post\, Tapp served as senior pastor of the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist church. \nFor nearly 40 years and in many scenarios\, Tapp has served as a pastor\, professor\, administrator\, writer\, and radio/television host sharing God’s love and saving grace with the world. His ministry is fueled by the message found in Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might\, nor by power\, but by my Spirit\, says the LORD Almighty.” Prayer is at the center of his life and the way he leads the ministry of Sligo Church. \n  \n \nRumi Forum presents this event as a collaborating partner of the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington (IFCMW) during the 3rd Annual World Interfaith Harmony Week in the DMV. We are glad that this panel discussion coincides with the annual worldwide observance during the month of February 2022.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/how-do-we-deal-with-covid-social-injustice-and-polarization/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/3R-Interfaith-Panel-Feb.3.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20211209T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20211209T200000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20211123T173852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211216T194529Z
UID:18154-1639074600-1639080000@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:In-Person Book Talk: "People of the Book"
DESCRIPTION: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. \nThe 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? \n  \nScholar 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. \nYou can find more information about the book here. \nAbout the author\nDr. 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). \n  \nThroughout 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. \nEvent Video
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/people-of-the-book/
LOCATION:Busboys and Poets – 450K\, 450 K St. NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20001\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/People-of-the-Book-2.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20211202T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20211202T200000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20211026T201537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211216T194452Z
UID:18116-1638469800-1638475200@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "How to Heal Our Divides"
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum launches 3R Series \nRestoration\, Reconciliation\, Resiliency\nCOVID 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.  \nIt 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. \n Event Video \n\n  \nAbout the book\, “How to Heal our Divides” \n\nIf 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.  \nPerhaps 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. \n\nModerator \nAllison 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. \nPanelists \n 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. \nJeff 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. \nRev. 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.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/how-to-heal-our-divides/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/3R-Series-How-to-Heal-Our-Divides-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20211028T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20211028T200000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20210930T194005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211216T194349Z
UID:18019-1635445800-1635451200@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:In-Person Book Talk: "God`s Diplomats"
DESCRIPTION: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.  \nYou can find more information about the book here. \n \n  \nAbout the author\nVictor 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. \nFor 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. \nGaetan 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). \nAbout the discussant\nMartine 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. \n  \nEvent Video \n\nEvent Photos\n[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”396\,397″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/gods-diplomats/
LOCATION:Alex Galleries\, 2106 R St.\, NW\, Washington\, DC\, 20008
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Gods-Diplomats.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210729T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210729T201500
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20210723T030327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210810T185047Z
UID:17814-1627585200-1627589700@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Book Talk: Peace in the Age of Chaos
DESCRIPTION: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. \n“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. \nSpeaker \n 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. \n“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. \nDiscussant \nChic 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. \n“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. \nFull Event Video
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/peace-in-the-age-of-chaos/
LOCATION:DC
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Peace-in-the-age-of-chaos.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210624T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210624T201500
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20210602T060216Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211202T162109Z
UID:17599-1624561200-1624565700@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Book Talk: No Power Over God's Bounty
DESCRIPTION: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. \nSpeaker: \nDr. 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. \n  \nDiscussant:\nDr. 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. \nFull Event Video
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/no-power-over-gods-bounty/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/No-Power-over-Gods-Bounty-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20210603T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20210603T191500
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20210520T153051Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210810T232730Z
UID:17567-1622743200-1622747700@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Book Talk: Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination
DESCRIPTION: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. \nSpeaker/Author \n \nJordan 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. \n  \nModerator  \nSusan 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. \nFull Event Video
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/islamophobia-what-christians-should-know-and-do-about-anti-muslim-discrimination/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Islamophobia.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200909T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200909T190000
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20200818T193059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T175151Z
UID:16116-1599674400-1599678000@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Charity In the Age of a Pandemic"
DESCRIPTION:On September 9\, 2020\, with our partner UNA-NCA\, speakers Katherine Marshall\, Kim R. Ford\, Jerome Tennille\, and moderator Stephen Moseley had a great discussion about how community solidarity has displayed itself in ways that we haven’t seen before to eradicate poverty in the age of pandemic. \n\n\n \n \nAt a time when everyone around the world is grappling with unprecedented changes and challenges in their lives\, one of the most fundamental values that continue to make positive changes in our lives is generosity. The inevitable quality of giving continues bringing individuals of all backgrounds regardless of their languages\, ethnicities\, races\, faiths\, opinions together across the globe. We have witnessed various shades of generosity as they are implemented as a means of standing together in unity. Whether that’s through educating ourselves on social issues\, raising awareness about humanitarian causes\, supporting communities through monetary contributions\, or reaching out to a neighbor next door or across the continents\, every act of goodwill has touched people’s lives. In this time of uncertainty\, there’s a fundamental truth that gives us hope – that together we can do extraordinary things. Together.  \nIn 2012\, September 5th was designated the “International Day of Charity” by the UN General Assembly to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa\, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress\, which also constitute a threat to peace.” \nIn this spirit\, on September 9\, 2020\, Rumi Forum and UNA-NCA invited participants to a panel highlighting how individual and/or collective initiatives keep us connected. \n  \nFull Event Video\n\n \n  \nScreenshot from the Event
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/charity-in-the-age-of-a-pandemic/
LOCATION:ONLINE EVENT
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200707
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200708
DTSTAMP:20260430T190023
CREATED:20200717T070942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T191052Z
UID:17360-1594080000-1594166399@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:We Refuse to be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews can make Peace\, One Friendship at a Time
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday\, July 7\, Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby shared the wonderful story of their upcoming book\, “We Refuse to be Enemies”\, about how the paths of a Muslim woman and a Jewish man crossed and led to a joint endeavour for a meaningful purpose. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nSabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby\, a Muslim-American woman of Pakistani origin and a Jewish-American man who spent his formative years in Israel\, will share their story of how they connected and embarked on a mission to bring their respective communities together in their common homeland\, America. \n\n\n\nGrowing up in Pakistan\, Sabeeha never met a Jew\, her view colored by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his youth\, Walter never met a Muslim\, his opinion shaped by Leon Uris’s Exodus. What changed their perceptions? How did they fare in nurturing Muslim-Jewish communication and cooperation? Sabeeha and Walter will share their experiences of facing pushback from their communities\, overcoming obstacles and bringing together Muslims and Jews to explore unexpected commonalities between their faiths; to work together to help people in need and stand together against bigotry. Finally\, they will offer their vision for reconciliation. \n\n\n\nSabeeha and Walter have co-authored a book\, We Refuse to be Enemies. How Muslims and Jews can make Peace\, One Friendship at a Time\, due for publication in Spring 2021. It is their hope that this book will inspire people of all faiths and ethnicities to reach out to each other and heal our nation. \n\n\n\nSpeakers of the Event\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSABEEHA 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. \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n 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.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/we-refuse-to-be-enemies-how-muslims-and-jews-can-make-peace-one-friendship-at-a-time/
LOCATION:DC
CATEGORIES:Book Talks,Speaker Series
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