Rumi Forum

“Refugee and Immigration Policy” with Alex Nowrasteh
2017-04-11 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | 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.

Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk
2017-04-10
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.

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

Communities Together for Civil Rights and Liberties
2017-04-06
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.

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

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

Faith Over Fear: Welcoming the Stranger
2017-03-21
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

"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.

Community Fundraiser Breakfast
2017-03-01
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

Black History Month
2017-02-28
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

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

Interfaith Musical Event for Peace and Harmony
2017-02-27
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.

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

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

Responding to Hatred and Extremism: Solutions from Faith Traditions
2017-01-10
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.

Rumi Forum of Maryland's Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner
2016-11-28
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.

Religion and Democracy in Abrahamic Faiths
2016-10-26 18:30 - 20:00 | 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.

Religion and Democracy in Abrahamic Faiths
2016-10-26
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.

Women's Leadership in Peace building and Social Harmony
2016-09-29
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).

Communities Working Together: Justice, Unity and Peace
2016-09-09
Rumi Forum partnered with several other organizations for a Fairfax Town Hall meeting on September 10, 2016.

With the continued violence against unarmed black men and women, and recent attacks on police officers across the nation, Fairfax County is inviting residents, public officials and law enforcement to engage in important and difficult conversations in order to listen and learn from one another.
To address concerns within our community, Fairfax County’s Communities of Trust Committee (COTC) will host a Town Hall Meeting with the theme Communities Working Together: Justice, Unity and Peace. This event will be an opportunity to share and discuss Fairfax County public safety initiatives, listen and respond to concerns from local residents, and discuss suggestions for growth and improvements in the area of community policing. At this forum, Police officers will talk about what it is like working on the street, and residents will discuss their encounters with police. Communities Working Together will also engage the audience to learn about their roles and responsibilities in keeping our neighborhoods safe and enhancing trust within the community. Federal, state and local leaders plan to attend.

Speakers:
Chairman Sharon Bulova, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Panelists:
Chief Ed Roessler, Fairfax County Police Department
Giulio Arseni, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Civil Rights Division
Hilary Shelton, NAACP Washington Bureau Director and Senior Vice President for Advocacy
Claire Gastañaga, Virginia American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Executive Director
Pastor Milton Harding, Centreville Baptist Church

Background:

Communities of Trust Committee (COTC), a diverse committee of residents, community leaders and public safety representatives, was established by Chairman Sharon Bulova in the aftermath of events in Ferguson, Missouri. COTC members focus on strengthening and building positive relations between public safety agencies and the communities they serve, with special emphasis on law enforcement, to advance collaboration, partnerships and outreach. Members bring issues and concerns from their respective communities to the table and discuss possible resolutions and implementation strategies. COTC organizes community forums throughout the county to facilitate interactive discussions and engagement with public safety officials and the community. They also host community Public Safety Days focused on building positive relationships between children and teens and the men and women in uniform from the Police Department, Fire & Rescue Department, Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation. So far, COTC has held four community forums and three Public Safety Days. Communities of Trust is chaired by Shirley Ginwright, President of the Fairfax County NAACP. Learn more about Communities of Trust at www.communitiesoftrust.com and on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and NewsCenter.

Details

Date:
September 10
Time:
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Cost:
Free
Website:
http://www.communitiesoftrust.com/

Venue

Centreville Bapist Church

15100 Lee Highway
Centreville, VA 20120 United States + Google Map

Unity Walk 2016: Know Your Neighbor
2016-09-09
Rumi Forum is a sponsor to this year’s Unity Walk organized by InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington on September 11, 2016.
On September 11th, 2016, people of all faiths and cultures from around the Washington, DC region will walk down Massachusetts Avenue and visit houses of worship and other religious centers in a public celebration of unity and support for everyone within our diverse community.
Today, more than ever, our message of friendship and solidarity is critical. We hope you will join us and add your voice to this powerful event.
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. Please consider contributing to the walk beyond the suggested amount if you are able.
Register for the Walk here.
Unity Walk Schedule (Subject to Change):
Walkers are invited to join the walk at anytime along the route.

Walk-in registration, Resource Fair, and Donation Drop-off: 12:30-1:30 pm at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Opening ceremony: 1:30pm at Washington Hebrew Congregation
The program will include: Greetings by Rabbi Lustig, Washington Hebrew Congregation, a prayer offered by a leader from the Sikh Gurdwara DC, and a musical send off by David Shneyer and a group of musicians from Kehila Chadasha.
Open House Block 1: 1:50pm-3pm
Embassy Church
Annunciation Catholic Church
Sikh Gurdwara
Washington National Cathedral
St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Open House Block 2: 3pm-4:15pm
Community of Christ Church
Soka Gakkai- USA, Buddhist Cultural Center
St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the United States
Indian Consulate
Closing Ceremony: 4:30pm, The Islamic Center of Washington, DC
The program will include: Remarks by Rev. Jim Winkler, President of the National Council of Churches, and a performance by Mosaic Harmony, a local interfaith choir.
Each house of worship will have their own programming including a demonstration of religious rituals, a tour of the building, an offering of traditional foods, and an introduction to the religion and its practices. For more information about our resource fair or our services projects that will be happening during the walk, please see below.
Thank you to our sponsors:
All Dulles Area Muslim Society
Community of Christ
Dar al Hikrah
Department of Human Services, Washington, D.C. Government
Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land
Islamic Relief USA
Islamic Society of North America
Metropolitan Memorial UMC
Muslim Community Center
The Nation’s Mosque, Masjid Muhammad
Rock Spring Congregational UCC
Rumi Forum
Thank you to our regional partners:
Fairfax County Community Interfaith Coordination
Loudoun Interfaith BRIDGES
Mayor’s Interfaith Council of Washington, DC
Montgomery County Faith Community Working Group
Unity in the Community
Additional Activities:
Resource Fair: This is an excellent opportunity to share information about your organization with a diverse cross-section of people from throughout the greater DC area. For more information about the fair, or if you would like to take part, please email us at: unitywalk@ifcmw.org. The last day to sign up for the fair is Monday, September 5th.
Service Projects: We will have two service projects at the Unity Walk this year. The first will be at Washington Hebrew Congregation (WHC) between 12:30pm and 1:30pm. Together with WHC and Friendship Place, we will be collecting long underwear to help men, women, and children in need in the DC area. We invite all walkers to donate a pair (or more) of long underwear when they arrive at WHC. Sizes XL and larger are best, although all sizes are welcome.
The second will be apple bagging at Annunication Catholic Church, between 2pm and 3pm. This project is part of an ongoing gleaning program at The Society of St. Andrew in Virginia.
To serve as a volunteer during the day, please email us at: unitywalk@ifcmw.org
More questions about the walk? Visit our FAQ page for answers!
Additional contributions to the 2016 Unity Walk or to the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington are always welcome.
Click here for the press release for the walk

Source: http://ifcmw.org/unity-walk/

Abrahamic Discussion Series-Religious Freedoms and Minority Rights
2016-04-06
On April 6, 2016, the Rumi Forum held a discussion concerning religious freedom and minority rights with a distinguished Abrahamic panel.

April 6, 2016 6:30 PM- 8:00 PM
ATFA 3949 University Dr. Fairfax VA 22030
Rabi 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.
Rev. 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?”
Rabia 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.
Rev. 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.
Rabia 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.
Rabbi 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.

NOVA Region Responds to Syrian Refugee Crises
2016-03-29 18:30 - 20:00 | ATFA, 14120 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly, VA, 20151, United States

Welcoming the Stranger: Refugees and Immigrants in Our Midst
2016-02-25
On February 25, 2016, the Rumi Forum hosted an Abrahamic Discussion Series panel on the issue of refugees and immigrants.
Naseem Rizvi, Dr. Patricia Maloof, Rabbi Gerry Serotta and Sandra Chisholm discussed the issue from the viewpoint of Abrahamic traditions.
Date: February 25, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Venue: ATFA 3949 University Dr. Fairfax, VA 22031

Naseem 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.
Dr. 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.
Rabbi 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.
Sandra 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.

Sacrifice and Selflessness in Abrahamic Traditions
2015-11-09
Rumi Forum organized an Abrahamic Table Discussion on “Selfless and Sacrifice” in partnership with the American Turkish Friendship Association (ATFA).

Imam 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.
The 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.
Rabbi 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.

Social Justice in Theology and Practice - the Abrahamic Traditions
2014-02-25
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.

Rabbi 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.
The 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.
Aisha 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.

"The Concept of a Just War According to the Teachings of Judaism, Christianity & Islam"
2013-10-06
Marc Gopin, Ian S. Markham and Imam Abdullah Antepli discussed the varying perceptions of a “just war” in the 3 Abrahamic religions.
The 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.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/rumiforum/The_Concept_of_a_Just_War_According_to_the_Teachings_of_Judaism_Christianity__Islam.mp3
Event Summary:
Marc 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.
To 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.
Imam 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.
Marc 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.
Ian 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.
Imam 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.

Ambassadors Speaking: Iraq, A Personal View
2009-06-30 16:00 - 17:30

Global Financial Crisis and the Fate of Capitalism
2009-06-25 16:00 - 17:30

Emir Abdelkader--Fanatic or Freedom Fighter? His Relevance for Today
2009-06-02 16:30 - 18:00
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.
Abraham`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 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.
Speakers:
Rabbi 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.
Rev. Charles Watson, Jr. is a faculty at 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.

Dr. 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.
