Women's Leadership in Peace building and Social Harmony
2016-09-29 | DC
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.
Date: September 29, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Venue: Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies, 10359-B Democracy Ln. Fairfax VA 22030

Biographies:
Yeha 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.
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).
Rabbi 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.

Moderator:
Karina 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).

Religion and Democracy in Abrahamic Faiths
2016-10-26 | DC
Raouf M. Abdullah, Father Tim Heflin, Alan Ronkin joined us for an interfaith panel on Religion and Democracy on October 26, 2016.

Speakers:

Raouf 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.

Father 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.
Tim 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.
Alan 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.
As 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.
In 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.

Religion and Democracy in Abrahamic Faiths
2016-10-26 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA, 2212, United States
Join us for an interfaith panel on “Religion and Democracy” on October 26, 2016.

Register Here
Date: October 26, 2016 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Venue: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax 2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 22124
Speakers:
Father 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.
Tim 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.
Alan 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.
As 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.
In 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.

Haris Tarin was raised and educated in Southern California where he received his undergraduate education and is currently pursuing his graduate work in Washington DC.
In his capacity as the DC Director of MPAC, Haris engaged various agencies within government including the White House, Department of Justice, State Department, Department of Homeland Security and offices on Capitol Hill. Haris was among three leading young Americans President Barack Obama called in a one of its kind discussion on public policy issues; the President called and then met with Haris, specifically to discuss policies pertaining to national security, countering violent extremism, the American Muslim community and civic engagement. Haris has been published in various national and international publications including the LA Times, CNN, Washington Post and has a regular column on the Huffington Post. He has spoken at various domestic and international conferences and media outlets on topics such as National Security, Islam and governance, US-Muslim World Relations, Role of the American Muslim institutions in Policy Formation, Religion and Public Life, and Civic Engagement. Haris is an Ariane de Rothschild Cambridge Fellow and a USC/Georgetown AMCLI Fellow and is also the author of Intro to Muslim America and Rethinking the Redlines: Free Speech, Religious Freedom and Social Change.

Rumi Forum of Maryland's Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner
2016-11-28 | DC
On November 15, 2016, Rumi Forum of Maryland celebrated the annual ‘Early Thanksgiving Dinner and Interfaith Celebration of Peace’ event, dedicated to the peacebuilding efforts of Montgomery County`s interfaith community. Rev. Julia Jarvis from Interfaith Families Project, Rev. Dr. Matt Braddock from Christ Congregational Church and Jodi Rose from Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake spoke from their own perspective.

Responding to Hatred and Extremism: Solutions from Faith Traditions
2017-01-10 | DC
On January 10th Rumi Forum explored solutions derived from Abrahamic faith traditions in order to respond to hatred and extremism.
Date:
Wednesday, January 10th, 2018
Time:
6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Reception)
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Main Event)
Venue:
National City Christian Church
5 Thomas Cir NW, Washington, DC 20005

There 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.
“Change can come through conflict, but transformation comes through love” Traci Blackmon @pastortraci
Through 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.

Speakers:
Rabbi 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.

Reverend 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.
Emre 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.

Immigration Data on Demand (iDod) with Justin Lowry
2017-02-22 18:30 - 20:00 | ATFA, 14120 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly, VA, 20151, United States
Please join the Rumi Forum, Wednesday, February 22nd, 2017 at 6:30 pm for a presentation on the economic impact of immigrant groups, with particular emphasis on economic contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs with Justin Lowry of George Mason University’s Institute for Immigration Research.
The Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University aims to refocus the immigration conversation among academics, policy-makers, and the public, including the business community and media, by producing and disseminating unbiased and objective, interdisciplinary academic research related to immigrants and immigration to the United States. As a joint venture with The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) of Massachusetts, the research conducted by the IIR examines the economic impact of all immigrant groups, with particular emphasis on economic contributions of immigrant entrepreneurs possessing high levels of education or skills. The IIR’s concentration on economic questions is nuanced by a socially oriented scientific perspective.
Justin Lowry will be presenting these findings related to IIR’s Immigration Data on Demand (iDod) service. This service helps individuals and institutions examine the immigrant populations of their particular geography, and will demonstrate how immigrants provide vital contributions to the economy and society of our nation. Ultimately, the goal of the iDod project is to create collaborations and connect people with data from their particular region or sector of interest on immigrant populations.
To learn more about iDod and the IIR’s work please visit:http://iir.gmu.edu/idod/immigration-data-on-demand-idod
REGISTER HERE

Thailand and Cambodia Fellowship Trip
2017-02-24 - 2017-03-05 | DC

Interfaith Musical Event for Peace and Harmony
2017-02-27 | DC
On Monday, February 27th Rumi Forum hosted an interfaith musical event featuring performances by Hinda Labovitz, Dave Anderson, and Rana Shieh.
Performers Hinda Labovitz, Dave Anderson, Rana Shieh
Date: Monday, February 27th, 2017 630 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax
2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 22124

This 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.

Speakers:
Cantor 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.

Rana 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.

Dave 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.

Interfaith Musical Event for Peace and Harmony
2017-02-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA, 2212, United States
This is 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.
Registration for this event can be found here: https://goo.gl/forms/W56potIcALO2h0t62

Black History Month
2017-02-28 | DC
Rumi Forum partnered with ATFA to celebrate the Black History Month on February 24, 2017.
For this month’s Turkish Coffee night ATFA (American Turkish Friendship Association) partnered with the Rumi Forum to honor the late Martin Luther King, Jr., in celebration of Black History Month. The presentation centered around embracing civil liberties and standing up for human rights. Shirley Ginwright, Former President of NAACP, Current President of Communities of Trust was the featured presenter.

“I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
–M.L.K

Community Fundraiser Breakfast
2017-03-01 | DC
On Sunday, February 19, 2017, in celebration of community, Rumi Forum partnered with the American Turkish Friendship Association for a fundraiser breakfast.
Rumi Forum and the American Turkish Friendship Association served a delicious Sunday morning Anatolian breakfast to benefit the Trust Committee of Fairfax and the Lamb Center. Proceeds collected from the event were donated to these organizations that provide valuable services to the local community. Thank you to all those that participated in this event.
The Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee
The Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee is a diverse citizen group focused on strengthening and building positive relationships between public safety agencies and the communities they serve, in order to advance collaboration, partnerships, and outreach.
More information can be found here: http://communitiesoftrust.com/

The Lamb Center

For more than a decade, the Lamb Center – sponsored by about 50 local churches – in Northern Virginia is where the area’s homeless can gather during the day for job counseling,
food, and a hot shower or laundry. The Lamb Center is a non-profit organization located in Fairfax, Virginia.
More information can be found here: https://www.thelambcenter.org

"Spirituality: Key to Future Inter-religious Relations"
2017-03-07 18:30 - 20:00 | ATFA, 14120 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly, VA, 20151, United States
Join us for a presentation with Dr. Leo D. Lefebure on Tuesday, March 7th 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Faith Over Fear: Welcoming the Stranger
2017-03-21 | DC
The Washington National Cathedral, in partnership with Rumi Forum and several local organizations, hosted a night of interfaith dialogue on March 21st, 2017.
Faith Over Fear: Welcoming the Stranger
Tuesday, March 21st, 2017
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location:
Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016
The 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.
6:30 p.m. Registration and introductions
7:00 p.m. Program begins

Faith Over Fear: Welcoming the Stranger
2017-03-21 18:30 - 21:00 | Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C., DC, 20016, United States
The Washington National Cathedral, in partnership with Rumi Forum and several local organization to host a night of interfaith dialogue, March 21st, 2017

Morocco Fellowship Trip
2017-03-25 - 2017-03-31 | DC

Communities Together for Civil Rights and Liberties
2017-04-06 | DC
The Rumi Forum hosted a community panel event on Thursday, April 6th, 2017 that involved an engaging discussion on civil rights and liberties.

Rumi Forum Presents
Communities Together for Civil Rights and Liberties
Thursday, April 6th, 2017
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m
Busboys and Poets (Brookland)
625 Monroe St NE
Washington, DC 20017
“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)
The 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.

On 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Following 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.

The 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.
Speaker Bios:
The 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.
Kristen 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.

Monica 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.
Prior 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.

Rabbi 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.
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 University of Washington and Doctoral level courses in Jewish Studies from Spertus College in Chicago.

Talib 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.
Imam 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.

Communities Together for Civil Rights and Liberties
2017-04-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Busboys and Poets, 450 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States

Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk
2017-04-10 | DC
The Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk was held on May 21st, 2017 with the mission of bringing faith communities together to appreciate each other and feel part of the same whole despite our differences.
Throughout the approximately 3 miles walk the group visited 8 different house of worship in the Fairfax community where they had the chance to engage members of the community of different backgrounds in constructive dialogue in an effort to get to know and appreciate each other. It is important in today’s world to reach out to our neighbours who may be strangers in order to unify as a community that is all part of the same whole.
The walk took place on May 21st between 2 PM and 5 PM. The group started at the Fairfax United Methodist Church and continued by visiting St Leo the Great Catholic Church, Daniels Run Peace Church, Ezher Mosque, Truro Anglican Church, Fairfax Presbyterian Church, Fairfax Baptist Church, and end with the Christ Lutheran Church. At each stop, the group spent 5 minutes learning about that faith tradition. Please note that since there was no Jewish temple or a non-Abrahamic place of worship within the walking distance of this route, those faith traditions were invited to have a space in some of the churches along this route.

“Refugee and Immigration Policy” with Alex Nowrasteh
2017-04-11 18:30 - 20:00 | ATFA, 14120 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly, VA, 20151, United States
Mr. Nowrasteh will be presenting on current refugee and immigration policy on Tuesday, April 11th.
Alex Nowrasteh is an immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. His popular publications have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Washington Post, the Houston Chronicle, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, and elsewhere. His academic publications have appeared in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, the Fletcher Security Review, and Public Choice. Alex has appeared on Fox News, Bloomberg, and numerous television and radio stations across the United States. He is the coauthor, with Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies, of the booklet Open Immigration: Yea and Nay (Encounter Broadsides, 2014).
He is a native of Southern California and received a BA in economics from George Mason University and a Master of Science in economic history from the London School of Economics.

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Fellowship Trip
2017-04-23 - 2017-04-30 | DC

Women of Faith's Contribution to Society: Role Models from History
2017-05-03 | DC
The Rumi Forum hosted a panel event at Temple B’nai Shalom for a presentation on women of faith and their contribution to society.
Date & Time:
May 3rd, 2017
6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Venue:
Temple B’nai Shalom
7612 Old Ox Road
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
The 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.

Reverend 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.
Riham 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Speakers:
Rabbi 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.

The 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.

Riham 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.
Prior 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.

Check out the full story, featured in the Burke Connection: https://rumiforum.org/seeking-that-which-unites-us/

Women of Faith's Contribution to Society: Role Models from History
2017-05-03 18:30 - 20:00 | Temple B’nai Shalom, 7612 Old Ox Road , Fairfax Station, VA, 22039, United States
Join the Rumi Forum on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017 at Temple B’nai Shalom for a presentation on women of faith and their contribution to society, with various examples throughout history. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and concludes at 8 p.m.
Speakers to include: Rabbi Laura Rappaport, The Reverend Meg Peery McLaughlin, and Riham Osman
REGISTER HERE

Brazil Fellowship Trip
2017-05-12 - 2017-07-20 | DC

Women’s Participation in the Decision-Making Processes and Economic Life
2017-05-16 | DC
On May 12th, Sharon Kotok joined the Rumi Forum and ATFA for a discussion on women’s participation.
Sharon Kotok, former foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State discussed how women participate in the political decision-making process.
When: Friday, May 12th 7.00pm -9:00pm
Where: 11200 Waples Mill Road Suite 360, Fairfax, VA 22030
Speaker’s Bio:
Sharon Kotok was a foreign affairs officer at the U.S. Department of State. For over 20 years, she worked with the United Nations on a number of global issues including the advancement of women’s rights, a more effective UN response to humanitarian emergencies, better delivery of food aid, and an improved UN role in agricultural development. She negotiated on behalf of the United States several UN documents, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women. In 2000-2001, she was detailed to the White House to be part of the World Conference Against Racism Task Force. She retired from the State Department in 2008, but returned in 2009, to work in the Office of Global Women’s Issues, where she was part of the team that developed the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. In 2013 and 2014, she was appointed to be a member of the U.S. delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk
2017-05-21 14:00 - 17:00 | Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Ave, Fairfax , VA, 22030
We invite you to join us for the “Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk” with the mission of bringing faith communities together to appreciate each other and feel part of the same whole despite our differences on May 21st, 2017.
Throughout the approximately 3 miles walk we will visit 8 different house of worship in the Fairfax community where you will have the chance to engage members of the community of different backgrounds in constructive dialogue in an effort to get to know and appreciate each other. It is important in todays world to reach out to our neighbors who may be strangers in order to unify as a community who is all part of the same whole.

The walk will take place on May 21st between 2 PM and 5 PM. We will start at the Fairfax United Methodist Church and continue with visiting St Leo the Great Catholic Church, Daniels Run Peace Church, Ezher Mosque, Truro Anglican Church, Fairfax Presbyterian Church, Fairfax Baptist Church, and end with the Christ Lutheran Church. We will spend 5 minutes at each stop refreshing and learning about that faith tradition. Please note that since there is no Jewish temple or a non-Abrahamic place of worship within the walking distance of this route, those faith traditions will be invited to have a space in some of the churches along this route. Members of these traditions are encouraged to join us for walking together for our community.

Ramadan 2017
2017-05-27 - 2017-06-24 | Rumi Forum, 2000 P Street NW Suite #503, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
Throughout the duration of Ramadan we will be organizing and hosting iftar dinners in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Contact iftars@rumiforum.org for more information.

D.C. Unity Walk 2017
2017-08-22 | DC
Join the Rumi Forum and thousands of others for this years’ Unity Walk! September 10th, 2017
May we see the day when war and bloodshed cease, when a great peace will embrace the whole world. When nation will not threaten nation, and humanity will not again know war. For all who live on earth shall realize we have not come into being to hate or to destroy. We have come into being to praise, to labor and to love.
-Rabbi Nathan Sternhartz of the Ukraine (1780-1845)
#knowyourneighbor

Sunday, Sept 10th 12:30-5 pm
Resource Fair 12:30-1:30 pm
Walk begins 1:30 pm
Opening Ceremony:
Washington Hebrew Congregation
Closing Ceremony:
Islamic Center of Washington
The Unity Walk is open and free to everyone. There is a suggested donation of $25 for adults and $10 for students, seniors, and those of limited income.
Service projects will include:
– Apple-bagging at Annunciation Roman Catholic Church
– Green service project at the Apostolic Nunciature to the United States
The Unity Walk cares about our planet!
Don’t forget that bringing your own water bottle and utensils goes a long way in making our region friendly towards the environment.
Register Now!

Interfaith Picnic at the National Cathedral

Saturday, September 9th 5-8 pm
Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Bring a meal to this interfaith, intergenerational picnic with music, art and activities on the Cathedral’s west front. Get to know neighbors from the community and around the region as we share a meal and celebrate together.
Ending with Havdalah (the Jewish ritual that marks the end of Shabbat)
Register Here

Volunteer Opportunities:
We are looking for volunteers to help at the Unity Walk and the Interfaith Picnic.
If you are interested or have any questions about volunteering for the Unity Walk, please contact us at unitywalk@ifcmw.org
If you’re interested in volunteering for the picnic – find out more and sign up HERE
Resource Fair Opportunities:
Share what your organization does with others! Have a table at the Unity Walk resource fair from 12:30-1:30 pm at the Washington Hebrew Congregation.
The resource fair gives you an excellent opportunity to share information about your organization with walk participants.
A table is just $75, or can be included in the higher level donations (see below for more details).
More Pre-Walk Opportunities:
Houses of worship along Massachusetts Avenue invite members of the general public to attend services and learn more about different religious traditions the week of the Unity Walk.
Participating houses of worship include Washington Hebrew Congregation, St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, Annunciation Catholic Church, and Sikh Gurdwara DC.

ATTENTION College Students!
American University invites YOU to a special Bagel Brunch on the AU campus on the morning of the walk, Sunday, September 10th.
Meet other local students committed to creating a campus community that promotes respect for all faiths and cultures. Enjoy great conversation, free food and exciting entertainment.

Support the Walk!
The Unity Walk is a signature IFC event. Your contribution will help sustain
the year-round work that fits with the goals and aspirations of the IFC.
Please consider donating at any of the following levels:
Suggested Donation: $25 for adults and $10 for students, seniors, and those of limited income.
IFC Neighbor: $50 and up. You will receive a Unity Walk Thank-You gift the day of the walk.
Resource Fair Participant: $75 for a table. This is a prime opportunity to share information about your organization with a diverse cross-section participants from throughout the greater DC area.
Other Sponsorship Opportunities:
IFC Partner: $100-$250.
IFC Sponsor: $250-$500
IFC Patron: $500-$1,000
These include a table at the resource fair and a Thank-You in our promotional materials.
Contribute online:
Sponsorship or Donation: Donation Box (Please select “Unity Walk” on the Donate drop-down menu).
Resource Fair: Donation Box (When signing up, please enter your organizational name at the first name prompt and “resource fair” at last name prompt.)
Contribute by check:
Mail your contribution to The Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington 100 Allison St NW, Washington DC 20011
THANK YOU!

The Syrian Refugees Crisis: The Need for a Strategy
2017-09-06 18:30 - 20:00 | ATFA, 14120 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly, VA, 20151, United States
Join the Rumi Forum September 6th, 2017 for a presentation on Syrian refugees with Radwan Ziadeh a Syrian democracy and human rights advocate.

D.C. Unity Walk
2017-09-10 13:00 - 17:00 | Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC, 20016, United States
Sunday, Sept 10th 12:30-5 pm
Resource Fair 12:30-1:30 pm
Walk begins 1:30 pm
Opening Ceremony:
Washington Hebrew Congregation
Closing Ceremony:
Islamic Center of Washington
The Unity Walk is open and free to everyone. There is a suggested donation of $25 for adults and $10 for students, seniors, and those of limited income.

A Discussion of God’s Compassion and Forgiveness
2017-09-16 | DC
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.
Interfaith Panel on God’s Compassion and Forgiveness
Event Time: 9 PM to 10:30 PM
–Break for Refreshments–
Service Time: 11 PM
Ohr Kodesh Temple
8300 Meadowbrook Ln, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

This 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.

Background on the Jewish High Holy Days
Although 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.
The 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.
Background Source: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-high-holidays/
Temple Information: http://www.ohrkodesh.org/
Speakers:
Imam 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.

The 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.

Rabbi 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.
