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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230330T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230330T203000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20230405T144018Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230405T144856Z
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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
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Millie-Caughey.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230216T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230217T170000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
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
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HELP-FOR-VICTIMS-OF-EARTHQUAKE-IN-SOUTHERN-TURKEY-AND-SYRIA-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230131T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230201T170000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
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
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Banner-IRF-Summit_Rumi-Forum.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220209T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220209T210000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
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:20260417T172248
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20211202T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20211202T200000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20200909T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20200909T190000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
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
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Charity-In-the-Age-of-a-Pandemic-e1597778972233.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190814T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190814T203000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20190814T194338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T194056Z
UID:17390-1565809200-1565814600@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Religious Freedom and Minority Rights"
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday\, August 14\, 2019\, Rumi Forum of Maryland and America Turkish Friendship Association organized an Abrahamic Panel-interfaith discussion and Eid-al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) reception. Religious Freedom and Minority Rights were addressed from the lens of Abrahamic faiths’ perspectives.   \nAbraham`s Tent initiative provided space for people of different religious and cultural traditions to get to know one another through casual conversation starting with the occasion of the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) celebration. Through this event\, people of different religious and cultural traditions joined hands to get to know one another and sought to build a community around it. \nSpeakers: \nRabbi Amy Scheinerman is a teacher\, writer\, and hospice chaplain for the Jewish Federation of Howard County. She is a former trustee on the Board of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)\, former president of the Baltimore Board of Rabbis\, a current member of the CCAR Responsa Committee\, and editor of the Torah Commentary column of the CCAR newsletter. Her recent book\, The Talmud of Relationships (Volume 1: God\, Self\, and Family & Volume 2: The Jewish Community and Beyond)\, was honored as a finalist in the Jewish Book Council’s 2018 National Jewish Book Awards. She also teaches in a variety of venues\, including the Melton Program in Baltimore. \nRev. Charles Watson\, Jr. is a faculty at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute in Washington\, DC\, and a graduate of The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina. He received a commission into the U.S. Air Force and obtained the rank of captain. He is a graduate of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology. His career led him to leadership roles as a consultant for DeWolff\, Boberg & Associates\, Inc. and at his current position as the Director of Education for BJC for Religious Liberty in Washington. As a seminary-trained religious liberty advocate and educator\, he routinely speaks across the nation and has published articles in Ethics Daily\, New Baptist Covenant\, and cbfBlog.com.\n  \nDr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad is President of the Minaret of Freedom Institute. He is an internationally known interdisciplinary scientist of Palestinian descent and the author of Signs in the Heavens: A Muslim Astronomer’s Perspective on Religion and Science and he teaches courses on Islamic religion\, history and civilization and religion\, science\, and freedom at Wesley Theological Seminary and a course on “Changing Views of the Universe” at American University. Among others\, Dr. Ahmad has received the “Star Cup for Outstanding Public Service” award from Montgomery County Civic Federation. \n  \nEvent Photo
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/abrahamic-discussion-eid-reception/
LOCATION:MARTI\, 6470 Dobbin Rd.\, Columbia\, MD\, 21045\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/unnamed.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="MARTI":MAILTO:dialog@themarti.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190331
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190401
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20190331T194643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T180500Z
UID:17394-1553990400-1554076799@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Food and Faith"
DESCRIPTION:On March 31\, 2019\, Rumi Forum organized the Food and Faith event at Sakina Halal Grill in Washington\, DC. Food and Faith both bring people together. Faith traditions have a specific relationship with food. Whether it be the role food plays in daily life or providing food to the needy\, faith traditions recognize this necessity as something more. \nPanelists: \nRev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin\, Sr. began his tenure at the Washington National Cathedral in April 2018. In his role as Canon Missioner\, Dr. Hamlin oversees the Cathedral’s outreach and social justice initiatives. Prior to his arrival at the Cathedral\, Dr. Hamlin served as the Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Arlington\, VA for 22 years. Dr. Hamlin received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (1983) from the Howard University School of Business\, Master of Divinity Degree (1994)\, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Howard University School of Divinity (1996). He has served and been appointed to numerous community\, faith-based and governmental boards\, commissions\, agencies. \nDr. Zulfiqar A. Kazmi is the founder and Executive Director of The Common Ground USA. This organizational network is dedicated to the promotion of peace through educational programs\, workshops\, conferences\, and research. Dr. Kazmi participated and lectured in more than 200 World Peace Conferences including UN co-sponsored seminars\, symposiums\, and convocations. He launched Scandinavian Peace initiatives and convened a series of seminars at The Washington Times. Dr. Kazmi made history offering special prayers and Salaat ul Maghrib during the last Christmas Dinner hosted by President Obama and First Lady at The White House. He is the recipient of the Fairfax County Proclamation 1998. In 2007 he achieved a nomination for America’s highest Civil Award “Benjamin Franklin Award”. \nJodi Balis\, RD has worked for 15 years in the community and public health in the non-profit sector as a culinary educator\, dietitian\, and nutrition director\, where she implemented cooking and wellness programs for underserved communities in the DC region\, and worked to ensure access to healthy food. Jodi recently pivoted in her career and is now a personal chef\, culinary educator\, bodyworker\, and ritual facilitator. Jodi co-creates Food Rituals with groups and individuals\, which is a visual meditation and embodiment practice that marks milestone moments in life through the collaborative and artful arrangement of vibrant colorful food\, herbs\, spices\, and stones. Jodi is also the creator and host of the podcast Purple Honey\, a gathering of female voices\, where Jewish wisdom and feminine spirituality are explored through the lens of health and wellness. \nFull Event Video  \n\n  \nEvent Photo
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/food-and-faith-at-sakina-halal-grill/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WhatsApp-Image-2019-04-01-at-7.43.58-PM.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20190306T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20190306T133000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20190226T171918Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220309T175704Z
UID:15220-1551873600-1551879000@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Discussion: "A Survey about American Muslims
DESCRIPTION:On March 6\, 2019\, Rumi Forum hosted American Muslim Institute’s (AMI) Executive Director Shahid Rahman as he discussed a recent study looking at the perception of American Muslims in the USA and the DMV area. The research examines the public’s perceptions of Muslim Americans. The “Americans’ Views of Muslims Survey” was conducted leading up to the midterm elections in November 2018 – a time period when myths and misinformation about Muslims have figured prominently in some local\, state\, and federal elections. The research includes insight into public perceptions of Muslim Americans at both the national and local levels in Houston\, Orlando\, Tampa\, and the Washington\, DC\, metropolitan area. \nSpeaker: \nShahid Rahman is the executive director of the American Muslim Institution (AMI). He has a Master’s in Islamic Studies. Prior to joining our AMI\, he was the president of Teach and Travel.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/rumi-forum-and-american-turkish-friendship-association-atfa-present-a-survey-about-american-muslims/
LOCATION:Rumi Forum\, 2000 P Street NW Suite #503\, Washington\, DC\, 20036\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Scriptural-Reasoning-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190127
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190128
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20190127T194836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T191413Z
UID:17396-1548547200-1548633599@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Getting Closer to God"
DESCRIPTION:On January 27\, 2019\, Rumi Forum and The Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society of Washington (JIDS) held a joint event on Jewish and Muslim Perspectives on Mysticism at the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA).  Mysticism plays an important role in the spirituality of both Judaism and Islam. It is central to developing our relationship with God and in inspiring us to serve humankind. In this session\, we’ll consider both the Jewish and Muslim mystical traditions first by hearing from devoted practitioners and then by engaging in small-group discussions. \nPanelists: \nGabriel Abasi is a lifelong Sufi who has graced the DC-area interfaith community over the years with a devotion to selfless service and a commitment to mysticism. This devotion to service recently inspired him to work on an exciting concept called “The Culture of Compassion\,” which includes creative use of blogs\, social media\, and other forms of technology to heal the planet. \nHerb Levy is an experienced teacher of Kabbalah classes at multiple D.C.-area venues and a lay leader of Kol Ami\, a Northern VA Reconstructionist Jewish Community. For the last 18 years\, Herb has been active in Kol Ami\, the Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Jewish Community. During that period\, he has led over 100 services and has taught Kabbalah classes both at Kol Ami and at a metaphysical bookstore in Old Town\, Alexandria called the Sacred Circle. He currently serves as Treasurer of the JIDS Board of Directors. \nAndra Baylus is one of DC’s leading interfaith organizers and a disciple of Meher Baba\, a Sufi-inspired spiritual leader. Andra has served as President of the Greater Washington Muslim Jewish Forum and has been active in various other interfaith and bridge-building organizations. Her service is inspired by a deep love for mysticism\, generally\, and for the teachings of Sufi spiritual master Meher Baba in particular. A former elementary school teacher\, Andra has combined her passion for service\, spirituality\, and teaching to become a truly powerful force for peace in our community. \nFull Event Video
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/getting-closer-to-god-jewish-and-muslim-perspectives-on-mysticism/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/0127191408_HDR-e1548865126680.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20180421T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20180421T183000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20180214T205755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T200930Z
UID:14826-1524330000-1524335400@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: “Abrahamic Perspectives on Preserving the Environment”
DESCRIPTION:On April 21st\, 2018\, Rumi Forum organized an interfaith conversation on the environment from the perspectives of the three Abrahamic religions. \nThe biblical starting point for any discussion of religious environmental stewardship is anchored around the Book of Genesis. Likewise\, The Holy Qur’an and Sunnah are a guiding light for Muslims to promote sustainable development within their home countries and around the world. In modern times\, however\, the Abrahamic vision of the relationship between God\, man\, and nature becomes muddled.  In light of these contemporary confusions about the true nature of stewardship\, and because the concept is so central to the concern of religious tradition\, this panel will hope to shed light on the common concerns\, beliefs\, and aspirations of environmental stewardship. \nSpeakers: \n \nElizabeth (Lizz) Goldstein is a native of Branford\, CT\, in New Haven county. She completed her undergraduate studies in 2010 at Hampshire College in Amherst\, MA\, where she studied the sociology and anthropology of violence and how the environment plays a role in violent conflicts. She spent the Fall 2008 semester in Israel at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. In 2016\, Lizz graduated from the Academy for Jewish Religion in Yonkers\, NY in May as an ordained rabbi. She moved down to Virginia to serve as the rabbi of Congregation Ner Shalom shortly after ordination. As an activist\, Lizz has been involved in many Tikkun Olam projects\, was a Global Justice Fellow with American Jewish World Service\, and has advocated on behalf of the environment\, as well as for people. She is dedicated to a career of drawing from Jewish history and values to work toward social justice and is happy to share some of those lessons and values with others. \n  \nTaalibah Hassan\, M.Ed.\, has been a guest speaker on Islam since the 1980’s and is an experienced interfaith dialogue facilitator. She co-authored the chapter “Dialogue as A Way to Know the Other\,” in the book Faithful Neighbors (2016). Taalibah serves on the Board of Directors of the Muslim Association of Virginia\, which has the largest mosque in Prince William County. She is the Vice President. The Muslim Association of Virginia not only oversees the daily\, Friday Congregational\, and Holiday Eid prayers but also Qur’an classes and has both Boy and Girl Scout troops. The Association has a variety of programs that support the religious and social needs of the community\, of more than three thousand people. She also chairs the Interfaith committee that holds several programs each year to educate people about Islam and Muslims. Taalibah has a Graduate Certificate in Muslim-Christian Studies from the Washington Theological Consortium. She is currently enrolled at Hartford Seminary in the Imam and Muslim Community Leadership Certificate program. She is a retired Biology teacher and resides in Dale City with her husband of forty –one years and has two adult children. \n  \n \nRev. Dr. Lisa Kenkeremath serves as Manassas Presbyterian Interim Pastor. She has served pastorates in the Washington\, DC area since 2001\, most recently as Interim Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Springfield\, VA. She holds M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary\, respectively\, and has studied in Jerusalem and Aberdeen\, Scotland. She is also the author of the book\, Relentless Mercy\, which is a collection of sermons seeking to illuminate the ways in which God\, in mercy\, acts to touch\, heal\, and repair our broken hearts and broken world. Lisa and her husband\, Deepak Kenkeremath\, have two adult sons and live in Falls Church\, VA. 
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/abrahamic-perspectives-on-preserving-the-environment/
LOCATION:Congregation Ner Shalom \, 14010 Spriggs Rd.\, Woodbridge\, VA\, 22193\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/interfaith-environment-e1526315257584.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180329
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180330
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20180514T195237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T202814Z
UID:17400-1522281600-1522367999@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Exploring an Interfaith Connection Between Faith and Food"
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum assisted the US Department of Agriculture with organizing an Abrahamic panel of faith and food on March 29\, 2018. The panel discussion\, titled “Faith and Food: Exploring an Interfaith Connection Between Faith and Food“\, examined the deep connection that faith communities have with food and agriculture.  \nDr. Herbert Brown from Black Church Food Security Network\, Imam Albert Sabir from the Nation’s Mosque\, and Cantor Hinda Labovitz from Ohr Kodesh Congregation talked about the connection between faith and food. The panel was moderated by Peter Kovach.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/faith-and-food-exploring-an-interfaith-connection-between-faith-and-food-agriculture/
LOCATION:US Department of Agriculture\, 1400 Independence Ave SW\, Washington\, DC\, 20250\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Rumi-Forum-USDA-Panel-good-friday-1-e1526312078981.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20180322T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20180322T203000
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20180108T195925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211214T204345Z
UID:17408-1521743400-1521750600@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Panel Discussion: "Challenges to Christianity in the US-Lessons for other faith communities"
DESCRIPTION:On March 22nd\, 2018 we discussed what challenges Christianity faces in 21st century America with a group of distinguished panelists. \n \nRumi Forum and faith leaders discussed the challenges and lessons of Christianity in America. On March 22nd\, panelists presented their own narratives and facilitated strategical interfaith applications for the community. Speakers included Joel Rainey\, lead pastor of Covenant Church in Shepherdstown West Virginia\, Brian Hamilton\, co-pastor of Westminister DC and former professor of sociology in addition to Patrick Carolan\, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network and co-founder of the Global Catholic Climate Movement. The event was moderated by William Dinges who shared his expertise in religion in America.  \nSpeakers: \nJoel Rainey\, the lead pastor of Covenant Church in Shepherdstown West Virginia\, is located in the tri-state area of Maryland\, West Virginia\, and the NOVA/Washington DC area. The author of three books\, Dr. Rainey is a former missionary and evangelical denominational executive with intercultural experience on 5 continents. He has led efforts to plant more than 100 new evangelical churches in the US and around the world. He lives in Shepherdstown with his wife Amy and their three children. \n  \n  \nBrian Hamilton\, co-pastor of Westminster DC with his partner Ruth\, was ordained on Sept. 9\, 1992\, and has served parishes in Philadelphia\, Detroit\, and Westminster.  He’s a second-career pastor\, working before as a sociology professor and community developer. Brian grew up in Princeton\, Maine. He received his BA in Sociology from Eastern Baptist College. He received his Master of Divinity from Union Theological in New York City.   \n  \n  \nPatrick Carolan has been executive director of the Franciscan Action Network since 2010. He is also a co-founder of the Global Catholic Climate Movement\, an organization working on global climate justice issues as well as Faithful Democracy\, a faith coalition focused on the issue of Money in Politics\, working to educate on the corruptive influence of big money on our democracy. He is a recipient of the 2015 White House Champion for Change Award for his work in the Climate Change arena\, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Earth Ethics and is personally dedicated to social justice to bring about individual and societal transformation. \n  \nWilliam D. Dinges is an Ordinary Professor of Religious Studies in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and a fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America. He received his Ph.D. in American Studies in 1983 from the University of Kansas. He has been on the faculty at Catholic University for the past thirty-one years. Dr. Dinges’ research interests include a variety of religion and culture topics: Religion in America (Catholicism in particular)\, religious movements\, religion and globalization\, fundamentalism\, and religion and ecology. He has published articles on these and related topics in Sociological Analysis\, U.S. Catholic Historian\, Journal of Contemporary Religion\, Religion and American Culture\, The Way\, The Living Light\, America\, Commonweal\, and in other scholarly and popular journals and anthologies. 
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/challenges-to-christianity-in-america-lessons-for-other-faith-communities/
LOCATION:Westminster Church\, 400 I Street SW20024\, Washington\, DC\, 20024\, United States
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Past Events,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Challenges-to-Christianity-Main.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180121
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180122
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20171129T200105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T200315Z
UID:17410-1516492800-1516579199@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Challenges of Survival: Religious Minority Communities in a Secular Melting Pot Nation
DESCRIPTION:The Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society of Washington along with the Rumi Forum presented this event that examined religious minority communities in America.  \n \nJanuary 21st\, 2018 \n \n2:30 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.\n \nTemple Rodef Shalom\n2100 Westmoreland Street\nFalls Church\, VA 22043 \n  \nAmerica is rightfully celebrated for how it protects all religions. Yet our nation is not simply shaped by its religious freedom laws but also by a melting pot culture that has grown increasingly secular. For our minority religions\, the desire to assimilate into that culture has become more of a threat with each successive generation. Come hear members of the Muslim\, Jewish and Sikh communities reflect on these potentially existential challenges to the survival of their communities on these shores.   \n \n  \nPanelists:  \nNisa Muhammad \nAssistant Dean for Religious Life at Howard University\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nGagan Narang\nDirector- Organizational Development and Learning at Public Company Accounting Oversight (PCAOB)\n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nDr. Ira Weiss\nA scholar who frequently lectures on Palestinian-Israel relations\n  \n  \n 
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/challenges-of-survival-religious-minority-communities-in-a-secular-melting-pot-nation-2/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Challenges-of-Survival_-Religious-Minority-Communities-Main.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171019
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171020
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20170912T200521Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T200641Z
UID:17414-1508371200-1508457599@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Peaceful Communities: Faiths for Social Justice
DESCRIPTION:On October 19th Fairfax Presbyterian Church hosted the Rumi Forum for a discussion on social justice through the context of faith. \nDate: Thursday\, October\, 19th \nTime: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm  \nLocation: Fairfax Presbyterian Church\n10723 Main Street\, Fairfax\, VA 22030 \n“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi \nWe define social justice as a concept of fair and just relation between the individual and society and struggle over how to promote and achieve that perfect equality. There are various ways to approach social justice from embracing your community\, to celebrating diversity\, to listening more to others\, adopting a politician\, etc.  For this event\, however\, we will approach social justice from a faith perspective. There are many elements of social justice that are referenced in various religious texts and this event aims to highlight those through the three Abrahamic faiths. By doing so\, we hope that the community can learn from each other and ways to channel their religious beliefs into social justice action. \n \nSpeakers:  \nHenry G. Brinton is the Senior Pastor at Fairfax Presbyterian Church Henry grew up in Bowie\, Maryland. He was active in the Christian Community Presbyterian Church throughout his youth and was ordained a deacon as a teenager. After falling in love with religious studies as an undergraduate at Duke University\, he earned a Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School. In his first pastoral call\, Henry served as associate pastor of First United Church of Christ in Milford\, Connecticut\, a 1200-member congregation with a corporate style of ministry. In 1989\, Henry was called as pastor to Calvary Presbyterian Church in Alexandria. Henry writes freelance articles on religious topics for The Washington Post and USA Today and has been a writer for the preaching journal Homiletics since 1998. \nHenry met his wife Nancy Freeborne in their church youth group in Bowie. They were married in 1985 and have two children\, Sadie and Sam. \n  \n  \nHurunnessa Fariad and her family fled the war in Afghanistan in the late 1970’s and eventually settled in New York City.  She attended a music major high school and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and English Literature.  She is the youngest of 10 kids. She moved to Northern Virginia in 2004 and she currently lives in Sterling\, Va with her 4 daughters.  She was the President of her own IT company for 10 years.  She served as the Vice Principal of ADAMS Radiant Hearts Academy for 8 years until she changed departments and now serves as the Outreach/Interfaith/Communications Coordinator\, Branch Liaison and the ADAMS BEAT Music Director at the ADAMS Center under the leadership of Imam Mohamed Mag. \n  \nRabbi Emeritus Bill Rudolph has been with Congregation Beth El since 1983. He served on a part-time basis about half of that period\, during which he was the associate international director of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. He was number two at Hillel when it achieved the Renaissance that changed the face of the American Jewish community. He was elected as Beth El’s associate rabbi in 1996 and rabbi in 2001. Rabbi Rudolph took a leadership role in Beth El’s multi-faceted response to Middle East crises in 2002 and 2006\, including two $1 million dollar rallies for the Israel Emergency Campaign. He is the recipient of the Federation’s Matthew Simon Rabbinic Leadership Award. His position with the Federation includes the Federation Board (many terms)\, its Planning & Allocations Committee\, its Rabbinic Cabinet\, and its Missions Committee. He was co-chair of the Community Division and the Affinity Division of the Annual Campaign.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/peaceful-communities-faiths-for-social-justice-2/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Design-Untitled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170916
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170917
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20170814T200718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T200842Z
UID:17416-1505520000-1505606399@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:A Discussion of God’s Compassion and Forgiveness
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, September 16th\, 2017 we hosted an interfaith panel around the discussion of God’s Compassion and Forgiveness at the Ohr Kodesh Temple co-sponsored by the Beth El Congregation of Montgomery County. \nInterfaith Panel on God’s Compassion and Forgiveness  \nEvent Time: 9 PM to 10:30 PM \n–Break for Refreshments–  \nService Time: 11 PM \nOhr Kodesh Temple \n8300 Meadowbrook Ln\, Chevy Chase\, MD 20815 \n  \nThis program was part of the celebrations marking the start of Jewish High Holy Days held at Ohr Kodesh Temple in Chevy Chase. Every year on the Saturday night preceding Rosh Ha-Shanah\, they have a late-night service called “Selichot” and this year we had an interfaith panel as part of that service to include speakers from each of the Abrahamic faiths who discussed God’s compassion and forgiveness from each of their faith’s viewpoints.  \n  \nBackground on the Jewish High Holy Days \nAlthough the High Holidays themselves–the two days of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) — occupy three days only\, they lie within a web of liturgy and customs that extend from the beginning of the preceding Hebrew month of Elul through Yom Kippur. The focus of this entire period is the process of teshuvah\, or repentance\, whereby a Jew admits to sins\, asks for forgiveness\, and resolves not to repeat the sins. Recognizing the psychological difficulty of self-examination and personal change\, the rabbis instituted a 40-day period whose intensity spirals toward its culmination on Yom Kippur\, a day devoted entirely to fasting and repentance. \nThe High Holiday period begins on the first day of the Jewish month of Elul. In the Ashkenazi tradition\, during this month of soul searching\, the shofar\, or ram’s horn\, is blown each morning except on the Sabbath\, to call upon listeners to begin the difficult process of repentance. Also in Elul special haftarot–prophetic portions–focusing on consolation acknowledge the vulnerability of an individual grappling with personal change. During the week before Rosh Hashanah\, intensity increases as traditional Jews begin reciting selichot\, prayers that involve confessing sins and requesting God’s forgiveness and help. On the Sabbath before Rosh Hashanah\, the selichot is chanted at midnight\, rather than their usual early morning hour. \nBackground Source: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-high-holidays/ \nTemple Information: http://www.ohrkodesh.org/ \nSpeakers: \nImam Ali Siddiqui Classically educated Imam\, Khatib\, Interfaith Leader\, organizer\, Chaplain\, and Advocate for Mutual Understanding and Respect\, Peace\, Economic Justice\, and Humane Immigration with 43 years of interfaith experience working with Jews\, Christians\, Catholics\, Mormons\, Quakers\, Buddhists\, Sikh\, and the other faiths in the area of community service. Imam Siddiqui is very engaged and frequently delivers invocations and benedictions at City Councils and School Boards\, civic and political groups\, and Graduation Ceremonies. He teaches Islam\, comparative religion\, history of Islam and Muslims of Americas\, contemporary issues to Muslims and non-Muslims at the institutions of higher learning including Sonoma State\, Santa Rosa Community College\, School of Religion (Claremont Graduate University)\, California Baptist University\, Disciple of Christ Seminary\, School of Theology (now Lincoln University)\, and La Verne University\, and Open University Denver. \n  \nThe Reverend Doctor Roy Howard has been the pastor of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville since 2001. Prior to that he served congregations in Virginia and Kentucky. He earned his master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University\, his masters in divinity from Emory University in Atlanta and his Doctorate in Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC Pastor Howard has been active in interfaith relations throughout his career particularly with Jewish-Christian encounters since his first trip to Israel in 1985. Since that time he has traveled to Israel many times and been instrumental in creating a dialogue with Jews and Christians\, as well as Muslims. In 2006 he and Rabbi Bill Rudolph established a dialogue group between Beth El and Saint Mark including a joint congregations visit to Israel. His most recent trip to Israel was with Interfaith Partners for Peace accompanied by Rabbi Greg Harris of Beth El and Rabbi Batya Glacier of the Jewish Community Relations Council.  \n  \nRabbi Lyle Fishman has been the religious leader of Ohr Kodesh Congregation since 1984. He served the Greenburgh Hebrew Center in Dobbs Ferry\, New York\, before that. He graduated with honors from Yale University majoring in religious studies. He spent his junior year at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He then attended The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York from which he received a Master’s degree in Hebrew Literature and then rabbinical ordination. He taught at the Herzl Institute of New York while serving as a rabbi. He has authored “Why Did Nadav and Avihu” for the Proceedings of the Rabbinical Assembly (1989) and “The Value Base of Jewish Family Life Education: A Rabbinic View” in “A Generation of Service: History of the Department on Religious Affairs 1952-1982” (1982). Rabbi Fishman is also very active in his community\, helping to create the Washington Chevra Chapter to foster a better interchange of ideas among community rabbis\, among other initiatives.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/a-discussion-of-gods-compassion-and-forgiveness/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/A-Discussion-of-Gods-Compassion-and-Forgive-Main-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170503
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170504
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20170404T200857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T201002Z
UID:17418-1493769600-1493855999@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Women of Faith's Contribution to Society: Role Models from History
DESCRIPTION:The Rumi Forum hosted a panel event at Temple B’nai Shalom for a presentation on women of faith and their contribution to society.  \nDate & Time: \nMay 3rd\, 2017 \n6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. \nVenue: \nTemple B’nai Shalom\n7612 Old Ox Road\nFairfax Station\, VA 22039 \nThe Rumi Forum organized an event highlighting the experiences of women in the three Abrahamic faith traditions. The event featured a panel discussion followed by a question and answer session where audience members had the opportunity to direct questions towards any of the three-panel members\, each one representing a different religion. \n \nReverend Meg Peery McLaughlin\, a pastor at Burke Presbyterian Church\, spoke first about the inherent equality between men and women illustrated in the book of Genesis with God’s creation of a single creature who is then separated into a man and a woman. However\, cultural and societal norms often overshadow this inherent equality found in the Bible. Reverend McLaughlin gave insight into the ways that Christian women have often struggled silently or behind the scenes in order to do God’s work. Her remarks touched upon her own family history\, as the child of generations of Presbyterian ministers\, as well as the story of Jo Ann Robinson\, a civil rights activist who was a key organizer in the bus boycott in Montgomery\, Alabama. Reverend McLaughlin spoke about how Robinson among many other women played important roles in orchestrating God’s work\, despite never receiving recognition\, and how it is often in silence where we can hear and feel God strongly. \nRiham Osman\, Communications Coordinator at the Muslim Public Affairs Council built upon the idea of silence\, speaking upon the absence of positive stories about Muslims; Muslim women in particular\, in the news or on social media. She emphasized the difficulty in working to bring these positive stories to connect with a wider audience. Osman then spoke about two Muslim women in history named Khadija and Aisha\, who provide powerful examples of female leadership in the religion of Islam. Both women were wives of the Prophet Muhammed and challenged traditional gender roles of the time. In Khadija’s case\, she engaged in trade and business (a male-dominated profession) which then allowed her to provide for her husband. Aisha\, on the other hand\, challenged gender norms of her time by becoming a scholar of Islamic jurisprudence\, which gave her the ability to interpret the law and the Quran from the very beginning. \nThe final speaker was Rabbi Laura Rappaport\, Assistant Rabbi\, and Educator at Temple B’nai Shalom\, who discussed the damaging effect of preconceived notions of gender and the different expectations that society sets for individuals as a result. Rappaport noted that Jewish women in every field have made important contributions to history\, not just in the roles typically reserved for women. She mentioned the biblical hero Esther\, who strove to save her people despite the limited resources available to her demonstrating that there are many ways to achieve greatness and forward God’s work. A lesson that Rabbi Rappaport drew from this story and from other examples of women of faith acting in ways that challenged expectations is the need to look beyond the stereotypes that we hold of others and to use these examples to broaden narrow definitions of value and appropriate behavior. \nThe discussion concluded with a question and answer session where all three panelists talked about the process of change within religion and the difficulties in adapting ancient faiths to contemporary issues. Questions touched upon the issues surrounding women’s leadership in prayer and religious ritual\, spiritual guidance in the wake of recent political events\, and the struggles of younger generations to find meaning and comfort in traditional houses of worship. Through this discussion\, the panelists were able to highlight the diverse contributions of women in religion and bring nuance to the term “woman of faith” while stressing the need for unity among faith communities in order to help bridge societal divides. \nSpeakers: \nRabbi Laura Rappaport is Assistant Rabbi and Educator at Temple B’nai Shalom. She brings a wealth of experience as a pulpit rabbi\, a Director of Congregational Learning\, a board-certified hospital chaplain\, a director of non-profits\, an adjunct college faculty member\, an educator for all ages in many settings and the mother of two. Rabbi Rappaport grew up in rural Northwest New Jersey and received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her M.A.H.L. and Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Jerusalem and Cincinnati campuses). She has also completed Masters’ level courses in Bio-ethics from Rush University and the University of Washington and Doctoral level courses in Jewish Studies from Spertus College in Chicago. \n  \n  \n  \nThe Reverend Meg Peery McLaughlin serves as Co-Pastor at Burke Presbyterian Church\, alongside her husband\, Jarrett. She is a native of North Carolina\, graduated with a Bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and with a Master’s in Divinity and in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond\, VA. Meg was ordained as a Teaching Elder (Minister of Word and Sacrament) in 2006\, at Village Presbyterian Church near Kansas City\, MO\, where she served for seven years in the role of Pastoral Care. \n  \n  \nRiham Osman joined the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) in September 2013 as the Program Assistant in the Washington\, DC office\, where she provided leadership in several office initiatives. Riham currently serves as the Communications Coordinator in Washington\, DC where she specializes in digital media\, manages the organization’s online presence and works to ensure the media accurately portrays American Muslims.\nPrior to joining MPAC\, Riham was an MPAC Young Leader and participated in MPAC’s 2013 Government Summit\, which sparked an interest in her to pursue a career at the crossroads of policy and media. Riham is a 2013 University of Mary Washington alumna and received her undergraduate education in International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies. Riham has appeared on multiple media outlets\, including NPR\, ABC7\, NBC\, and CCTV. She has also commented on issues such as countering violent extremism and Islamophobia in the Washington Post\, Bloomberg\, the Huffington Post\, and the International Business Times. \n  \nCheck out the full story\, featured in the Burke Connection: https://rumiforum.org/seeking-that-which-unites-us/
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/women-of-faiths-contribution-to-society-role-models-from-history/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Women-of-Faith-Role-Models-from-History-Main.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170406
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170407
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20170320T201019Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T201125Z
UID:17420-1491436800-1491523199@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Communities Together for Civil Rights and Liberties
DESCRIPTION:The Rumi Forum hosted a community panel event on Thursday\, April 6th\, 2017  that involved an engaging discussion on civil rights and liberties. \n \nRumi Forum Presents  \nCommunities Together for Civil Rights and Liberties \nThursday\, April 6th\, 2017 \n6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m \nBusboys and Poets (Brookland) \n625 Monroe St NE \nWashington\, DC 20017 \n“Those who would give up essential Liberty\, to purchase a little temporary Safety\, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” Ben Franklin for the Pennsylvania Assembly in its Reply to the Governor (1755) \nThe context to what we attribute this quote to now is different since moving into the 21st century but\, the core of the quote speaks volumes to today’s reality. It is the right of the legislature to govern in the interest of collective security however\, it is as well the people’s right to speak out and be heard against those collective decisions to which encroach upon any individual’s rights or liberties. Unfortunately\, we have moved into a time where the rights of minorities\, women\, religious groups\, etc. are continually threatened. In order to maintain a peaceful and harmonious society we the people need to be vigilant against the encroachment of rights and liberties that affect us and our neighbor and need to stand together in finding and maintaining the delicate balance between our collective security and the protection our liberty. \n \nOn April 6th\, 2017 the Rumi Forum hosted a community panel focusing on civil rights and liberties as part of the recurring Abrahamic Discussion Series. This event was particularly salient in today’s political climate and offered an opportunity for people with a range of backgrounds to come together in an effort to maintain a harmonious\, peaceful and tolerant society. The event reaffirmed that the balance between collective security and individual liberty should never come at the cost of someone else’s freedoms. The panel featured distinguished guests and leaders in the field of civil rights and liberties.\n \nThe first speaker\, Monica Hopkins-Maxwell\, has been the Executive Director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia since 2014. She previously worked as the Executive Director of the ACLU of Idaho where she oversaw statewide victories for LGBT equality\, immigrants’ rights\, and criminal justice reform. She spoke about the proud of the history of the ACLU as a defender of immigrants\, minorities and underprivileged populations and how the organization’s mission has become even more relevant in the modern political climate. In addition\, she stressed how important it is to work together with other groups and communities in order to be at the forefront of protecting civil liberties. In Washington\, D.C. specifically\, it is challenging to maintain a strong stance as a welcoming place for people of all identities because of the proximity to partisan politics. Hopkins-Maxwell discussed the role of the ACLU and other organizations in holding the government\, both federal and local\, accountable for their actions.\n \nThe next speaker was Rabbi Laura Rappaport\, Assistant Rabbi\, and Educator at Temple B’nai Shalom. She has experience as a chaplain\, non-profit director\, and educator\, as well as a pulpit rabbi and Director of Congregational Learning. She shed light on what Judaism has to say on the topic of civil liberties. Throughout Jewish history\, Jews have often lacked security and were often denied the protections and rights given to other groups. As such\, communities created their own security\, through relationships\, institutions\, and programs to make sure that every individual was taken care of and protected. Jewish tradition places a lot of value on caring for others since every person is created in God’s image and should be treated with respect and dignity. Because the Jewish story of creation involves just two people – Adam and Eve – no one today should claim to be superior to anyone else since we all come from the same family. Rabbi Rappaport also mentioned that the holiday of Passover tells the story of Jewish persecution and oppression\, and teaches Jews the value and importance of freedom and civil liberty. This religious legacy means that Jews have the obligation to fight for justice and security\, not just within their own community\, but to everyone in the world.\n \nFollowing Rabbi Rappaport\, the audience heard from Talib M. Shareef\, President\, and Imam of Masjid Muhammed. Imam Shareef is a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force and holds an MBA from American Intercontinental University\, as well as a diploma from Imam Muhammed ibn Saud Islamic University. He has served as an Imam in over ten cities and military locations around the world and has received many honors and awards for his commitment to interfaith dialogue.  Imam Shareef also spoke about the story of creation and the making of Adam\, who gave all of us a common human identity. He explained how the human identity is fundamental to our existence and should take precedence over any other identity that we give to ourselves because it connects all people as equals. This common identity makes it clear that all people should be treated equally and given protection because we are all the children of Adam and deserve the same liberty\, rights\, and opportunities. These principles translate to current political situations and Muslim communities in the United States\, as well as other minority communities. The religious principles that advocate equality and justice also compel us to act and work for change.\n \nThe final speaker was Reverend Kristen Looney\, Project Director of the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum Institute. Looney specializes in religious education and has facilitated workshops for students all over the world. She is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Maryland and a graduate of Yale Divinity School as well as the College of Wooster. Reverend Looney also spoke about the important lessons that can be learned from scripture and holy texts. Each of us is made in the image of God\, and thus deserving of respect and justice. She talked about how she views it as her mission to defend the rights of everyone to live the way they choose\, no matter their identity or beliefs. This idea is symbolized in the baptism ceremony\, where the entire congregation pledges to protect and defend all people with the help of God. By acknowledging the responsibility of the community to take action\, as well as the sometimes limited scope of human capability\, the pledge serves to inspire individuals to do better\, and do more\, to help those who are in need. This idea was internalized by the founders of the United States and is canonized in our founding documents\, making it even more crucial that we fight to create a country that lives up to the standards that were set at the very beginning. \nSpeaker Bios: \nThe Reverend Kristen Looney is the Project Director of the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute. As a religious leader and educator\, Kristen specializes in developing partnerships\, training\, and equipping leaders with dialogue skills. \nKristen is formerly the Head of Programs and Partnerships for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation (TBFF) in the United States. Kristen worked for TBFF in their London office for two years before returning to lead the strategy and expansion of its Face to Faith global schools program in the US. As a trained facilitator Kristen facilitated over 130 global videoconferences with students around the world. Kristen is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Maryland. She is an awarded graduate of Yale Divinity School (M.Div.)\, studied at the University of Freiburg\, Germany – Junior Year Abroad\, and is an honors graduate from the College of Wooster (B.A.) in religion and German. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nMonica Hopkins-Maxwell became the Executive Director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia in 2014. Previously\, Monica served as the Executive Director of the ACLU of Idaho beginning in 2008. During her tenure there she oversaw sweeping statewide victories\, particularly in the areas of criminal justice reform\, LGBTQ equality\, immigrants’ rights and upholding the First Amendment. \nPrior to joining the ACLU\, Monica had a distinguished career in the nonprofit sector which included executive and development positions.She currently serves on the Advisory Board for Boise State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs and has been a recipient of numerous awards including the Idaho Business Review’s “Accomplished Under 40” and Women Making History Award. In 2008\, she was a Rotary Group Study Exchange participant in Sri Lanka and in 2012-13\, she was a Rockwood Leadership Institute Fellow for LGBTQ Advocacy. \n  \n  \n  \n  \nRabbi Laura Rappaport is  Assistant Rabbi and Educator at the Temple B’nai Shalom.  She brings a wealth of experience as a pulpit rabbi\, a Director of Congregational Learning\, a board-certified hospital chaplain\, a director of non-profits\, an adjunct college faculty member\, an educator for all ages in many settings and the mother of two. \nRabbi Rappaport grew up in rural Northwest New Jersey and received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.  She received her M.A.H.L. and Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Jerusalem and Cincinnati campuses).  She has also completed Masters’ level courses in Bio-ethics from Rush University and University of Washington and Doctoral level courses in Jewish Studies from Spertus College in Chicago. \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \nTalib M. Shareef is President and Imam of the historic\, Nation’s Mosque\, Masjid Muhammad\, located at 1519 Islamic Way\, (4th Street)\, NW\, Washington\, DC. Imam Shareef\, is a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force after 30 years\, and holds a Masters of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University\, a Diploma from the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University\, and is a graduate of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Arabic and Middle East studies. He is a student of the late Imam W.D. Mohammed\, Muslim-American Spokesman for Humanity. \nImam Shareef served as Imam in five U.S. cities and seven military locations around the world\, and as convener\, Georgia State Association of Imams.  He led a historic interfaith delegation to Italy and received for a meeting at the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. He was one of the signers in Nigeria to the Abuja Peace Declaration organized by the International Global Peace Foundation and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution.  He was the first Imam with military service to offer prayer at an opening session of the U.S. Congress. His military service yield’s major honors and medals.  Other awards include Denver’s Spectrum Newspaper’s “Who’s Who” among African American Leaders; Muslim Journal’s 2011 Imam of the Year; Command Roy Wilkins NAACP Leadership Award.  Imam Shareef and wife\, Tahirah\, have three children\, seven grandchildren\, are custodial parents of three others and have served as foster parents for several children. \n  \n \n 
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/communities-together-for-civil-rights-and-liberties/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Civil-Rights-and-Liberties-Panel-Main-.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170321
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170322
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20170303T201306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T201427Z
UID:17422-1490054400-1490140799@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Faith Over Fear: Welcoming the Stranger
DESCRIPTION:The Washington National Cathedral\, in partnership with Rumi Forum and several local organizations\, hosted a night of interfaith dialogue on March 21st\, 2017. \nFaith Over Fear: Welcoming the Stranger \nTuesday\, March 21st\, 2017 \n6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. \nLocation:\n Washington National Cathedral\n 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW\n Washington\, DC 20016 \nThe Washington National Cathedral partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington\, Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington\, Rumi Forum\, All Dulles Area Muslim Society\, Washington Hebrew Congregation\, and others on March 21st to host an evening of interfaith prayer\, song\, and conversation. Building on the momentum of solidarity and collaboration\, participants heard from those of diverse faiths and shared their own experiences. This interfaith dialogue hosted at the Cathedral was an opportunity for continued conversation and action through partnerships with local organizations and offered in a way to build community among one another. \n6:30 p.m. Registration and introductions\n7:00 p.m. Program begins
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/faith-over-fear-welcoming-the-stranger/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Faith-Over-Fear-Main.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170227
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170228
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20170206T201439Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T201555Z
UID:17424-1488153600-1488239999@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Interfaith Musical Event for Peace and Harmony
DESCRIPTION:On Monday\, February 27th Rumi Forum hosted an interfaith musical event featuring performances by Hinda Labovitz\, Dave Anderson\, and Rana Shieh. \nPerformers Hinda Labovitz\, Dave Anderson\, Rana Shieh \nDate: Monday\, February 27th\, 2017 630 p.m. 8:30 p.m. \nLocation: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax  \n2709 Hunter Mill Rd\, Oakton\, VA 22124 \n \nThis was an open and inviting event meant to bring together people of diverse beliefs and backgrounds to express faith through music. Nothing is so wholly unifying and dividing than religion\, which makes dialogue between faiths unyielding and difficult sometimes. However\, music can be used as a tool to foster communications between groups by simply never using any words at all but rather notes and harmonies. Music is non-political and easily accessible to all which makes it ideal in the effort to build bridges between communities. Through this space\, we hope people can experience music from other faiths\, and engage in peaceful dialogue. \n \nSpeakers:  \nCantor Hinda Eisen Labovitz achieved ordination and a master’s degree in Judaic studies at Hebrew College in Newton\, MA in June of 2014. She is the two-time recipient of the Al Goldberg Scholarship in Jewish Music\, and upon graduation\, she also received the Israel Pollack Award for Excellence in Judaic Studies from Hebrew College. She is also the 2013-2014 recipient of the Gideon Klein Scholarship from Northeastern University\, for which she dedicated a year of independent study of the cabaret at the Westerbork concentration camp in the Netherlands. Labovitz served as part-time ba’alat t’filah and tutor at Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline\, MA\, and as the assistant to the conductor for the Zamir Chorale of Boston\, where she also served as Mary Wolfman Epstein Conducting Fellow (studying conducting under maestro Dr. Joshua Jacobson) and sang alto for eight years. Following her graduation from Boston University with a B.A. in Religion and a concentration in Special Education\, Cantor Labovitz served as the Ritual Director at Temple Emanu-El in Providence\, RI for three years and as Youth and Community Educator at Temple Aliyah in Needham\, MA for one. \n  \nRana Shieh: A world-class Iranian musician\, musicologist\, and scholar of Islamic thought\, Ms. Shieh received her early education in Iran where she trained with some of Iran’s foremost traditional masters of music and teachers of Islamic and Persian thought and culture. Following her grounding in Iran\, Ms. Sheih spent more than seven years in Italy studying music and musicology of the Eastern and Western traditions\, as well as Islamic philosophy and Sufism\, earning her Masters degree in musicology from the University of Padua. Ms. Sheih has performed internationally before many audiences\, giving many concerts of both Persian and medieval European music. Currently\, she is pursuing her graduate studies in Islamic studies at The George Washington University and doing research on the philosophy of music\, Islamic philosophy\, and art under the direction of Dr. Nasr. Recently she has published a major essay comparing the Persian poet Hafiz and Leonardo Da Vinci\, titled\, “Hafiz and Da Vinci: Two Non-Parallel Trajectories” (Sacred Web Journal\, Winter 2015\, Vol. 36). Also during this year and next spring\, she is participating in a series of concert in Europe based on the journey of Marco Polo to the East with La Reverdie ensemble. These concerts are based on the dialogue between East and West. \n  \nDave Anderson: Born and raised in the Philadelphia area\, Dave Anderson has played the piano professionally since his teenage years.   After 15 years of classical and jazz piano studies\, Dave performed in Philadelphia and Washington DC jazz clubs in a variety of performance settings\, from solo piano to jazz big band\, including a five-year engagement at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington\, VA and appearances at Blues Alley in DC.   In 2000\, he released his first trio CD\, “Out of Nowhere” and also began a long-term collaboration with jazz vocalist\, Barry Neal.  In 2006\, Dave established a piano and percussion duet with Mike Wingo.  In 2010\, Dave and Mike released their first duo CD\, entitled “Conversations” to favorable reviews.   These recordings are currently available on Amazon and iTunes and more information can be found at DaveAndersonMusic.com.   Dave has also been a regular performer at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax for over 25 years and has focused on bringing jazz improvisation to worship services there.   Dave has graduate degrees from the University of Maryland and George Mason University.  Dave also has an undergraduate degree from Syracuse University\, where he was a pianist for the Syracuse University Jazz Ensemble. \n  \n \n 
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/interfaith-musical-event-for-peace-and-harmony/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170110
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170111
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20171114T200332Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T200507Z
UID:17412-1484006400-1484092799@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Responding to Hatred and Extremism: Solutions from Faith Traditions
DESCRIPTION:On January 10th Rumi Forum explored solutions derived from Abrahamic faith traditions in order to respond to hatred and extremism. \nDate:  \nWednesday\, January 10th\, 2018  \nTime:  \n6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Reception) \n7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Main Event) \nVenue:  \nNational City Christian Church  \n5 Thomas Cir NW\, Washington\, DC 20005 \n  \n  \nThere are many different hate groups that exist within the United States with the sole purpose of targeting minorities in our society and alarmingly\, their numbers have only been increasing in the last several years. According to data from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)\, there are over 900 hate groups that operate in the U.S. who\, are extremely active on many different platforms. Their influence and their magnitude will continue to be emboldened if there still exists a vacuum of misunderstanding\, misinformation\, and anger. As concerned and empathetic citizens we cannot fight this rooted ideology of hate head on\, but we must instead meet it with kindness and understanding. We must be able to understand that fear may fuel prejudices and therefore must deepen our commitment to facilitating understanding between one another. \n“Change can come through conflict\, but transformation comes through love” Traci Blackmon @pastortraci \nThrough this panel\, we aim to respond to hatred and extremism by examining solutions used through the different faith traditions. We hope to provide education to those who may be unfamiliar with these faiths and set an example of coexistence. Through this\, we can break down the barriers that exist between us and build a better\, more harmonious community together. \n  \n  \nSpeakers:  \nRabbi M. Bruce Lustig is Senior Rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation\, where he has served for more than 25 years. Along with the daily responsibilities of leading a more than 2\,800 family congregation\, Rabbi Lustig has long held leadership roles in the local and national Jewish communities. He has served on the Washington\, D.C. Mayor’s Faith Advisory Board and as the National Liaison for National Day of Prayer. A committed social activist\, Rabbi Lustig initiated Mitzvah Day at Washington Hebrew Congregation\, which has become an international model for social justice programming. Rabbi Lustig is a proactive leader of Washington\, D.C.’s interfaith community and organized the nation’s first Abrahamic Summit\, bringing together Christians\, Jews\, and Muslims for dialogue. Newsweek recognized him as one of “America’s most influential rabbis.” Ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion\, Rabbi Lustig also holds a doctorate of divinity and a master’s degree in Hebrew letters. He earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Tennessee. He is the father of two children\, Marcus and Eve.\n \nReverend Dr. Beverly Janet Goines\, is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Called to National City Christian Church in Washington\, District of Columbia as a Lilly Endowment Fellow in 2003\, she currently serves as the Assistant Pastor. Her primary responsibilities include pastoral care\, counseling\, and worship leadership. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Writing from Carnegie Mellon University\, a Master of Divinity from Howard University School of Divinity\, in addition to a Master of Philosophy in Theology and Religious Studies and a Ph.D. in Religion and Culture from The Catholic University of America. Dr. Goines has also worked in the public and private sector as a technical writer\, program manager\, and project manager. She has experience in the financial services industry\, where she earned and currently holds property\, casualty\, life\, and health insurance licenses.  \nEmre Celik\, originally from Sydney\, Australia has been president of the Rumi Forum for 8 years but has been involved in interfaith issues for over 25 years. Mr. Celik received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Technology\, Sydney and then went on to receive a Masters Degree in Teaching from the Charles Darwin University of Australia. Mr. Celik’s involvement in community affairs encouraged him to leave the field of engineering\, becoming greatly involved in educational and intercultural projects in the Australian cities of Sydney\, Brisbane\, and Melbourne. In 2014 he helped organize the first-ever White House reception commemorating Eid-Adha and in 2016 was awarded the UTS: Community Alumni Award from his alma mater. Currently\, he sits on the FBI’s Arab Muslim Sikh Advisory Council (AMSAC) and is a Ph.D. candidate at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation\, CSU.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/responding-to-hatred-and-extremism-solutions-from-faith-traditions-2/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Responding-to-Extremism-Event-Slider.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20161026
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20161027
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20161013T201611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T201719Z
UID:17426-1477440000-1477526399@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Religion and Democracy in Abrahamic Faiths
DESCRIPTION:Raouf M. Abdullah\, Father Tim Heflin\, Alan Ronkin joined us for an interfaith panel on Religion and Democracy on October 26\, 2016. \n \n \n \nSpeakers:\n \nRaouf M. Abdullah is an attorney who practices in DC and MD. He is proficient in civil litigation\, criminal defense\, corporate law\, and other areas of law. He was a senior trial attorney at the Federal Trade Commission until 2003. He also served at the State’s Attorney’s Office\, Prince George’s County\, Maryland.\n \n  \n  \n  \n  \nFather Tim Heflin is the Rector (senior priest) at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Burke\, Virginia and has been a local advocate for conversation and building friendships among strangers\, especially for interfaith relationships in the Jewish and Muslim communities. Tim served in executive management and chaplain positions for hospice programs across the country prior to ordained ministry – in his native Mississippi\, the Southside of Chicago\, western Colorado\, and the metro New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In one particular hospice\, he oversaw the construction of the largest free-standing residential hospice in the United States. \nTim is part of a local\, interfaith clergy group in northern Virginia that he calls friends\, a group that is spreading the word that people can be different and be friends. This interfaith group is now meeting monthly in local congregations to model ways to have open\, honest discussion\, while encouraging friendship in the midst of difference. St. Andrew’s has an active relationship with a church in Ramallah\, Palestine and Tim encourages travel to the Holy Land as a way to meet people and understand firsthand what is going on in a region of the world we hear about daily. St. Andrew’s opens its doors weekly to a local mosque – Peace Islamic Center in Burke – for Friday prayers as part of this commitment to relationships. \nAlan Ronkin is an accomplished advocate and career Jewish professional who has been involved in Israel and community relations for over 20 years.In that time he has worked in Jewish communal institutions across the United States including in Los Angeles\, Cleveland\, Seattle\, Boston and now Washington DC. \nAs an advocate\, Alan has focused on relationship building and policy development to support a society that reflects the best of Jewish values including support for Israel\, equity and appreciation of difference. In his long career he has led successful campaigns to defeat anti-Israel ballot initiatives\, conducted numerous tours of Israel for prominent non-Jewish leaders including elected officials and clergy\, and advocated on behalf of domestic urban concerns. \nIn addition to his work in Jewish communal circles\, in 2013\, Alan served as Policy Adviser and Constituent Manager for Congressman Joe Kennedy III. In that role he assisted the congressman in enriching his relationships with Jewish constituents and in grappling with issues related to Israel and other Jewish causes.  He is a native of Bridgeport\, CT\, earned a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Masters in Jewish Communal Service and a Doctorate (honoris causa) in Jewish Non-Profit Management from Hebrew Union College. \n 
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/religion-and-democracy-in-abrahamic-faiths-2/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://rumiforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Abrahamic-Discussion-Series-Religion-and-Democracy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160929
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160930
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20160908T201740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T201838Z
UID:17428-1475107200-1475193599@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Women's Leadership in Peace building and Social Harmony
DESCRIPTION: On September 29\, 2016\, Yeha Hwang\, Dr. Sahar Khamis\, Rabbi Deborah Reichmann\, and Karina V. Korostelina joined us for a panel discussion on the contribution of women of faith to society in peacebuilding and social harmony at the IITS Mosque in Fairfax\, VA. \nDate: September 29\, 2016 at 6:30 PM \nVenue: Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies\, 10359-B Democracy Ln. Fairfax VA 22030 \n \nBiographies:\nYeha Hwang serves as the Associate Pastor of Christian Formation at Fairfax Presbyterian Church\, overseeing and providing programs that foster and nurture disciples of Christ for all ages. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland\, Yena went on to receive a Master of Divinity degree from the Princeton Theological Seminary. During her seminary training\, she served as Sunday School Director at Cho-Dae Presbyterian Church in Paramus\, New Jersey and Youth Director at Beltsville Presbyterian Church in Beltsville\, Maryland. Returning to Maryland\, she served in a number of positions including Director of English Ministry at Beltsville Presbyterian Church and a Pulpit Supply Preacher for the Korean Presbyterian Church of Rockville. From 1998 to 2002\, she served in an unordained role as an English Ministry Associate Pastor for Binnerri Presbyterian Church in Richardson\, Texas. After receiving a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2005\, she again returned to the National Capital area\, to serve as Associate Pastor in charge of the English Ministry at Wheaton Community Church\, where she was ordained as a Teaching Elder in 2007. While serving at Wheaton\, she was called to serve first as Vice-Moderator (2010) and then Moderator of the National Capital Presbytery (2011). As part of this service\, she served as a Commissioner of the National Capital Presbytery to the 219th General Assembly. Yena delivered the closing message at the 220th General Assembly. \n Dr. Sahar Khamis is an expert on Arab and Muslim media\, and the former Head of the Mass Communication and Information Science Department in Qatar University. She is a former Mellon Islamic Studies Initiative Visiting Professor at the University of Chicago. She is the co-author of the books: Islam Dot Com: Contemporary Islamic Discourses in Cyberspace (Palgrave Macmillan\, 2009) and Egyptian Revolution 2.0: Political Blogging\, Civic Engagement and Citizen Journalism (Palgrave Macmillan\, 2013). Additionally\, she authored and co-authored numerous book chapters\, journal articles and conference papers\, regionally and internationally\, in both English and Arabic. She is the recipient of a number of prestigious academic and professional awards\, as well as a member of the editorial boards of several journals in the field of communication\, in general\, and the field of Arab and Muslim media\, in particular. Dr. Khamis is a media commentator and analyst\, a public speaker\, a human rights commissioner in the Human Rights Commission in Montgomery County\, Maryland\, and a radio host\, who presents a monthly radio show on “U.S. Arab Radio” (the first Arab-American radio station broadcasting in the U.S. and Canada). \nRabbi Deborah Reichmann serves the Washington DC metropolitan area where she officiates life-cycle events for Jewish and interfaith families. She is also the Executive Director at the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Greater Washington\, an organization that has provided interest free loans to the Jewish community since 1909.  She was ordained as a rabbi from the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute in 2012\, is an associate member of the Union of Jewish Universalist Communities (UJUC) and is a member in good standing of the International Federation of Rabbis. She received a BA (Bachelor of Arts)\, JD (Juris Doctor) and MALS (Master of Liberal Studies) from Georgetown University\, and also has a MPH (Master of Public Health) from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.  Her previous work experience includes seven years as staff member of the Campus Ministry Department at Georgetown University where she implemented religious programming for the Jewish community\, as well as interfaith programming for all students. Before that\, she spent a decade as a health policy attorney.  In this capacity\, Ms. Reichmann worked as in-house counsel at industry associations with a focus on advocacy and analysis of healthcare legislation and regulations on local\, state and federal levels. As such\, her primary focus was on public programs\, specifically Medicare.\n \nModerator: \nKarina V. Korostelina is a Professor and a Director of the Program on History\, Memory and Conflict at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution\, GMU. She is a leading expert on identity-based conflicts\, peace culture\, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Her recent interests include the study of intergroup insult\, civilian devastation\, the processes of politicization of history\, and role of history education in conflict and post-conflict societies. She has been Fulbright New Century Scholar\, has participated in the Regional Scholar Exchange Program\, administered by the Kennan Institute\, Woodrow Wilson Center and in the CRC Nationalism session at the Curriculum Resource Center of the Central European University. She has received 38 grants from the MacArthur Foundation\, Luce foundation\, Spenser Foundation\, Ebert Foundation\, Soros Foundation (Research Support Scheme\, Managing Multicultural Communities Project\, Renaissance Foundation)\, the United State Institute of Peace\, US National Academy of Education\, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of USDS\, USAID\, INTAS\, IREX\, and Council of Europe. The results of her research were presented at numerous international conferences and in more than 80 articles and chapters. She is an author or editor of 15 books including authorship of The Trump Effect (2016)\, International Insult: How Offence Contribute to Conflict (2014)\, Constructing Narrative of Identity and Power (2013)\, History Education in the Formation of Social Identity: Toward a Culture of Peace (2013)\, Why they die? (2012)\, The Social Identity and Conflict (2007)\, and Structure and Dynamics of Social Identity (2003)\, She is an editor of History Can Bite – History Education in Divided and Post-War Societies (2016)\, History Education and Post-Conflict Reconciliation: Reconsidering Joint Textbook Projects (2013)\, Forming a Culture of Peace: Reframing Narratives of Intergroup Relations\, Equity\, and Justice (2012)\, Civilians and Modern War: Armed Conflict and the Ideology of Violence (2012)\, Identity\, Morality and Threat (2006) and Interethnic Coexistence in the Crimea: The Ways of Achievement (2002).
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/womens-leadership-in-peace-building-and-social-harmony/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160406
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160407
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20160324T201851Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T202000Z
UID:17430-1459900800-1459987199@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Abrahamic Discussion Series-Religious Freedoms and Minority Rights
DESCRIPTION:On April 6\, 2016\, the Rumi Forum held a discussion concerning religious freedom and minority rights with a distinguished Abrahamic panel. \n  \n \nApril 6\, 2016 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM \nATFA 3949 University Dr. Fairfax VA 22030 \nRabi Kahn started off with mentioning three Turkish people that have played an important role in his lifetime. By defining the roots of the word Shalom\, he introduced the importance of protecting others’ faith\, religious freedom\, and minority rights. He discussed a verse in the biblical book of leviticus\, stating\, “Love your fellow as yourself.” In addition\, he followed up with multiple verses from various biblical texts concerning the general idea of religious tolerance and minority rights. One eye catching verse was\, “The one who saves one person is like they have saved the world\,” which is universal in the religion of Islam as well. In the holy books there are numerous verses regarding freedom of religion and minority groups\, which he connected with the history of Judaism and its followers. He included the struggles that Jews faced and how they have always been a small minority group with a different set of central beliefs. He brought up the nation of Israel and its many achievements and collaborations with neighboring countries. He wrapped it up by stating the growing alliance between religious and political organizations. \nRev. Buxton began and reminisced about his times with Bilal Akkaya in Turkey and the times he visited turkish homes. Like Khan\, he mentioned ethnic minority and how it isn’t very much related to Christianity due to the way it is organized. After introducing Christianity\, he summarized its history. He mentioned the small 20 year time from of Christianity being a minority group and eventually breaking apart from Judaism into its own faith and later from Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox into the Protestant sect. In addition\, he included the debates that questions that spur separation in Christianity\, most recently the topic of whether homosexuality is acceptable. Another point he came across was that the idea that no religious group remains a minority for long\, as one day they break apart. He asked a very insightful question to the audience\, “How do we interpret the bible?” This question helps to explain why followers of Christianity break up and form their own smaller specific set of beliefs. He concluded with another deep question\, “When is a minority asked to be a minority with humility?” \nRabia Chaudry she began with explaining how she has multiple perspectives in regard to situations\, as she is an American\, Pakistani\, and a certified attorney. She began to delve into how America is all about religious freedom and how it compares to Europe. She connected how Islam also speaks directly towards the protection of religious minorities by touching on an instance where Muhammad (pbuh) reassured Christians on their safety\, freedom\, and trust in practicing their own faith. In fact\, she included the words of Muhammad (pbuh) regarding the covenant that ensures that Muslims will have respect and honor towards people of the Christian faith\, quoting\, “Nobody of the muslim nation is to disobey this covenant which will not be broken until the day of judgment.” She also talked about her addiction in helping out people of faith in Pakistan\, who don’t have nearly as many rights as in America. While mentioning the covenant\, she introduced how it plays a role in American politics\, where fellow Christians and Jews are debating whether having a muslim or not in the cabinet. “Muslims are the ethnic minority in America\,” she said. By stating this\, she continued on how the racism and hate crimes in America go unnoticed and are a real problem. She finished by saying that Christians\, Jews\, and Muslims alike should be able to recognize and defend each other when they are an ethnic minority and are not under protection. \nRev. Dr. Larry Buxton has been the Senior Pastor at Burke since 2007. He is a graduate of The University of Virginia\, Yale Divinity School\, and Wesley Theological Seminary. Larry served for years on the Virginia Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and remains active on the Alexandria District Committee on Ordained Ministry.  He teaches The Practice of Preaching at the summer Course of Study School at Wesley Theological Seminary. Larry is also a Board Certified Coach (BCC) and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF)\, the standard professional organization for personal and professional coaching. \nRabia Chaudry is a wife\, mother\, attorney\, President of the Safe Nation Collaborative\, National Security Fellow at the New America Foundation\, and a senior CVE consultant. As a civically engaged legal practitioner\, Rabia has experience in immigration law\, civil liberties\, and national security. Her work with the New America Foundation focuses on the empowerment and inclusion of American Muslim communities in the national security realm. Her firm Safe Nation Collaborative works on two fronts: providing CVE and cultural competency training to law enforcement\, correctional\, and homeland security officials\, and providing national security and CVE training to Muslim communities and institutions. \nRabbi Bruce Kahn is Rabbi Emeritus at the Temple Shalom\, where he served as its rabbi from 1980-88 and as its senior rabbi from 1988-2001. Ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1974\, he spent the next two years on active duty as a US Navy Chaplain. He then continued his military career in the Navy’s Ready Reserve force while he accepted the pulpit of Congregation Or Ami in Richmond\, Virginia before coming to Shalom in 1980. Bruce Kahn worked with Temple Shalom’s leadership to establish the Mitzvah Corps\, the Madrichim program\, the chavurah expansion\, numerous advances in our social justice\, b’nei mitzvah\, confirmation\, post confirmation\, adult education\, liturgical programs\, and much more. His constant emphasis was on service to God through helping individual members\, groups of members and the congregation in its entirety use our faith to move towards wholeness of being.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/abrahamic-discussion-series-religious-freedoms-and-minority-rights/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160225
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160226
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20160208T202132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T202157Z
UID:17432-1456358400-1456444799@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Welcoming the Stranger: Refugees and Immigrants in Our Midst
DESCRIPTION:On February 25\, 2016\, the Rumi Forum hosted an Abrahamic Discussion Series panel on the issue of refugees and immigrants. \nNaseem Rizvi\, Dr. Patricia Maloof\, Rabbi Gerry Serotta and Sandra Chisholm discussed the issue from the viewpoint of Abrahamic traditions. \nDate: February 25\, 2016 at 6:30 PM \nVenue: ATFA 3949 University Dr. Fairfax\, VA 22031 \n \nNaseem Rizvi has numerous years of experience in the field of International Affairs as well as in the non-profit sector. Rizvi obtained her master’s degree in International Affairs at the Quid- e- Azam University in Islamabad\, Pakistan. She has worked as an adjunct instructor at the University of Loyola in Chicago where she taught several classes on U.S.-Afghanistan Foreign Policy as well as human rights and international affairs in Asia. She has also served as a panelist speaking about Islam and women issues. Rizvi then became a case manager and a program coordinator at the Council of Peoples Organization in Brooklyn\, New York to assist diverse communities in health\, employment\, education\, and legal issues. From 2008 to 2014\, Naseem Rizvi worked at the Open Society Foundations and conducted extensive research and produced papers on international funding trends. \nDr. Patricia Maloof is the Program Director of Migration and Refugee Services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington (VA). She was formerly the Director of Development with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network\, Inc. (CLINIC)\, the largest charitable immigration legal services network in the United States.   Dr. Maloof began her work with refugees in the 1980s. She advocates\, publishes\, and conducts research on barriers to health care access and the provision of services to refugees and immigrants. Dr. Maloof is trained as a medical interpreter and is a part-time faculty member in the Department of Anthropology at the Catholic University of America. Three of her publications can be found on-line: Muslim Refugees in the United States; Mind/Body/Spirit: Toward a Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model of Health; and A Review of the Literature — Mentoring: An Evidence-based Strategy to Increase Diversity Among Students and Faculty from Racial and Ethnic Groups Underrepresented in Maternal and Child Health Training Programs. She has a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology from the Catholic University of America and a B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology from George Washington University. \nRabbi Gerald Serotta is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) Prior to his position at the IFC he was the Founding Executive Director of Clergy Beyond Borders. Rabbi Serotta formerly served as a University Chaplain and Hillel Rabbi for 28 years\, the last twenty years at The George Washington University\, where he was Chair of the Board of Chaplains. He also served as President of the Association of Hillel and Jewish Campus Professionals. While on Sabbatical from Hillel\, he held the position of Senior Rabbinic Scholar-in-Residence at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism\, working on issues of globalization and economic justice from a Jewish perspective. He also served Temple Shalom and Shirat HaNefesh Congregations in Chevy Chase\, MD.\, as spiritual leader. \nSandra Chisholm has been the Fairfax County Community Interfaith Liaison for over 15 years and directs the Fairfax County Community Interfaith Coordination Program within the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. During her time\, she has increased the coordination between communities\, non-profit organizations\, and government organizations to help strengthen their service systems and structures. She was the recipient of the prestigious Onthank Award in 2010 to honor her outstanding work in advancing and improving public service. Chisholm has also been involved in creating several interfaith task forces to increase awareness for emergency preparation by providing training and engaging places of worship.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/welcoming-the-stranger-refugees-and-immigrants-in-our-midst/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20151109
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20151110
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20151108T202208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T202338Z
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SUMMARY:Sacrifice and Selflessness in Abrahamic Traditions
DESCRIPTION:Rumi Forum organized an Abrahamic Table Discussion on “Selfless and Sacrifice” in partnership with the American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA). \n \n  \n \n  \nImam Yahya Hendi is the Muslim Chaplain at Georgetown University\, the first American University to hire a full-time Muslim chaplain. Imam Hendi is a Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellow of the Center for Dispute Resolution of the University of Maryland School of Law and the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office. Imam Hendi is the founder and the President of Clergy Beyond Borders. He also serves as a member of the Islamic Jurisprudence Council of North America. Mr. Hendi’s undergraduate education was in Islamic Studies and his graduate education was in comparative religions with interest in Christianity\, Judaism\, comparative religions and inter-religious dialogue and relations. Imam Hendi often visits and lectures at churches and synagogues hoping to create a new positive relationship between the followers of the three Abrahamic religions. In 2012\, Imam Yahya Hendi was named as one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims for his work as an interfaith dialogue activist and trainer. \nThe Rev. Tim Tutt is the Senior Minister at the Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ in Bethesda\, MD. He is a native of Longview\, Texas\, and a graduate of Baylor University and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond in Richmond\, Virginia. Prior to entering the seminary\, he worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant.  After seminary\, he served as Protestant Chaplain at Georgetown University for a school year. From June of 2001 until July of 2012\, Tim served as Senior Pastor of United Christian Church in Austin\, Texas. Tim is active in Action in Montgomery and the College of Pastoral Leaders at Austin Presbyterian Seminary.  He serves on the Board of Reach Beyond Mission and on various denomination committees.  He is an occasional writer at OnFaith. \nRabbi Doug Heifetz serves as the Rabbi of Oseh Shalom\, a Reconstructionist Jewish congregation in Laurel\, Maryland. He is currently the President of the Washington Board of Rabbis and has served as a founding steering committee member for Interfaith Worker Justice of Maryland. He is the co-founder of Mosaicverse\, a forthcoming web and mobile service for the sharing and discussion of the sacred writings of the world’s faith tradition. He speaks and writes about spiritual\, Jewish and social topics of interest\, often including tikkun olam\, social and economic justice\, cultivating gratitude\, environmental sustainability\, wellness and health\, and political reconciliation. Rabbi Heifetz received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University\, where he completed an internationally oriented liberal arts program\, focused on Middle Eastern Regional Studies. He also obtained a Certificate in Peace and Justice Studies. After graduation\, he worked as a union organizer helping low-income working people to pursue social justice.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/sacrifice-and-selflessness-in-abrahamic-traditions/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20140225
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20140226
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20140214T202352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T202826Z
UID:17436-1393286400-1393372799@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:Social Justice in Theology and Practice - the Abrahamic Traditions
DESCRIPTION:A panel consisting of Rabbi Batya Steinlauf\, The Rev. Dr. Carol Flett\, and Aisha Rahman esq. discussed social justice in theology and practice on Tuesday\, February 25\, 2014. \n \nRabbi Batya Steinlauf\, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington’s Director of Social Justice and Interfaith Initiatives\, is a Conservative rabbi\, ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1998. Batya works with local Jewish organizations to promote social justice projects and awareness in the community\, and is actively engaged with the diverse and vibrant interfaith and multiethnic community in the greater Washington area. She serves as President of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington as well and is a co-chair of the Montgomery County Executive’s Faith Community Advisory Working Group. She has a BA in Political Science from Rutgers University\, a degree in Master of Hebrew Letters from The University of Judaism\, as well as a Master’s degree and Rabbinic Ordination from J.T.S. Batya has worked in Jewish Education at all levels and at a number of social service agencies. Batya lives in Washington D.C. with her husband\, Rabbi Gil Steinlauf\, and their three children\, Elana\, Noah and Meirav. \nThe Rev. Dr. Carol Flett\, Ecumenical & Inter-religious Officer for the Episcopal diocese of Washington\, served as a parish priest for 25 years in Massachusetts and the Washington area. She earned a Doctorate of Ministry in 2000\, focusing on congregational development and anti-racism education. Post-911\, she began using her anti-racism education training to develop interfaith dialogues through the Massachusetts Council of Church\, and in DC\, at the Washington National Cathedral. She initiated the Bethesda-Rockville Interfaith group\, and in DC\, continues to coordinate the Abrahamic Roundtable and the Daughters of Abraham book group. She enjoys travel and has visited Israel four times\, joined an interfaith group that traveled in Spain\, and an interfaith group that traveled in Turkey. She and her husband have visited in Spain\, France\, Italy\, England\, Scotland\, Ireland\, Mexico and Honduras. \nAisha Rahman\, Esq. is Executive Director of KARAMAH and also serves as the head of the organization’s Family Law Division. Ms. Rahman received her higher education at Emory University and The University of Tennessee College of Law\, where she was a staff editor of the Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy and headed the Muslim Law Student Association. Ms. Rahman came to KARAMAH from Legal Aid of East Tennessee where she was a staff attorney litigating cases on domestic violence. In her hometown of Knoxville\, Tennessee\, Ms. Rahman chaired the Social Justice Committee of the Shura (consultative council) at the Muslim Community of Knoxville\, an important leadership position.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/social-justice-in-theology-and-practice-the-abrahamic-traditions/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20131006
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20131007
DTSTAMP:20260417T172248
CREATED:20131006T202836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T203002Z
UID:17438-1381017600-1381103999@rumiforum.org
SUMMARY:"The Concept of a Just War According to the Teachings of Judaism\, Christianity & Islam"
DESCRIPTION:Marc Gopin\, Ian S. Markham and Imam Abdullah Antepli discussed the varying perceptions of a “just war” in the 3 Abrahamic religions.  \nThe discussion was addressed by the 3 scholars in a chronological order\, reflecting the evolution of the concept. In the end\, many similarities were found regarding how the 3 religions conceptualized the legitimate use of violence. \n \n\nhttp://traffic.libsyn.com/rumiforum/The_Concept_of_a_Just_War_According_to_the_Teachings_of_Judaism_Christianity__Islam.mp3 \nEvent Summary:  \nMarc Gopin\, the director of the Center for World Religions\, focused on the Jewish perspective of just war.  He began by noting that just war is a highly developed intellectual subject\, and briefly explained some of the conflicting viewpoints expressed in the different biblical books including the book of Genesis\, Deuteronomy\, and Samuel.  He highlighted the controversies by quoting the commands in the book of Deuteronomy to kill men\, women\, and children in the Canaanite nations\, but on the other end of the spectrum\, he recalled that there are many statements against war in the books of the Prophets. Judaism\, in its true nature\, is rabbinic Judaism which is formulated in its details and its legal structures by rabbis. Gopin also referenced the different types of wars: obligatory war and permissible war.  Old theories of just war focused on kings and authorities that were not elected\, where people had absolutely no voice. He concluded that even though the theories of just war in Judaism have very rich ethics of violence and nonviolence\, ancient just war theory is not relevant to today because most conditions to declare war are ancient and not present in the modern world. \nTo elucidate just war theories in Christianity Ian S. Markham began by emphasizing the great challenge to talk about the tradition as a whole. Markham then focused on pacifism\, the teaching of Jesus. He called attention to the fact that Jesus found the principle of an eye for an eye insufficient\, although a good one. Additionally\, Jesus claimed that in cases of violence one is to turn their cheek\, that is\, to go farther in peace than returning equal violence. Augustine of Hippo is one of the most significant figures to develop the tradition of just war. Later Markham revealed the two key conditions for just war; first the war needs to be established by an appropriate authority and second\, the cause needs to be self-defense. The main goal of the restrictions or rather rules for just war is to promote peace. Just war principles could extend to action that needs to be taken to prevent the preventable and be legitimate. Sometimes the only way to prevent war and bring peace is to pause and to think about options other than war. \nImam Abdullah Antepli began his explanation by reminding the audience of a horrible event\, 9/11. He underlined how the concept of war\, violence\, destruction\, and terrorism is now used as a synonym for Muslims and Muslim theology. Antepli explained the 4 major Islams and how for each and every category there are different dynamics involved with just war. He described the first Islam as theology\, second Islam as Muslims/people\, third Islam as history and fourth Islam as a source of fear. Just war is discussed in detail and canonized in the Quran. He stressed that revenge is not the way to go and just like Gopin\, he stated that most of this literature today is irrelevant because of the modern warfare and technology. \nMarc Gopin is the Director of the Center for World Religions\, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC)\, the James H. Laue Professor at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University and co-owner of MEJDI\, a peace tourism business. Gopin has pioneered projects at CRDC in Afghanistan\, Iran\, Syria\, Palestine\, and Israel. \nIan S. Markham currently serves as Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria\, Virginia and as Priest Associate at St. Paul’s Church in Alexandria. Prior to Dean Markham’s appointment in 2007\, he served as Dean and Professor of Theology and Ethics at Harford Seminary in Connecticut\, and as Visiting Professor of Globalization\, Ethics\, and Islam at Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. Dean Markham’s awards include the Robertson Fellow 2006; Teape Lecturera in India 2004; Claggett Fellow attached to Washington National Cathedral in 2000; and Frank Woods Fellow at Trinity College\, Melbourne in 1997. With degrees from London\, Cambridge\, and Exeter Universities he is the author and editor of numerous books including A Theology of Engagement; Truth and the Reality of God; Do Morals Matter; Understanding Christian Doctrine\, and Liturgical Life Principles. \nImam Abdullah Antepli completed his basic training and education in his native Turkey. From 1996-2003 he worked on a variety of faith-based humanitarian and relief projects in Myanmar (Burma) and Malaysia with the Association of Social and Economic Solidarity with Pacific Countries. He is the founder and executive board member of the Muslim Chaplains Association and a member of the National Association of College and University Chaplains. From 2003 to 2005 he served as the first Muslim chaplain at Wesleyan University. He then moved to Hartford Seminary in Connecticut\, where he was the associate director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program & Interfaith Relations\, as well as an adjunct faculty member.
URL:https://rumiforum.org/event/the-concept-of-a-just-war-according-to-the-teachings-of-judaism-christianity-islam-2/
LOCATION:VA
CATEGORIES:Panel Discussions,Speaker Series
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