Rumi Forum

A Discussion of God’s Compassion and Forgiveness
2017-09-16 21:30 - 23:00 UTC | Ohr Kodesh Temple, 8300 Meadowbrook Ln, Chevy Chase , Maryland , 20815

Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism
2017-10-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Rumi Forum, 2000 P Street NW Suite #503, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism

Join us on October 11th as we sit down with Ken Bedell to talk about his new book Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism.
Date: Wednesday, October 11th, 2017
Reception: 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Book Talk: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
2000 P St NW, Suite 503 Washington, DC 20036
REGISTER HERE

Book Synopsis:
This book explains why America can realize the civil rights dream in the 21st century—if U.S. citizens take actions as individuals as well as work together for equality.
It has been more than 53 years since Martin Luther King Jr. made his “I Have a Dream” speech. Why has the United States still not been able to make King’s dream a reality after a half a century of effort and progress? Is there still hope of full participation for all in America?
In Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism, author Kenneth B. Bedell proposes a civil rights dream that grows out of American history and speaks to the 21st-century reality. He makes the case that by adopting a larger perspective of the role of racism in preserving U.S. social, cultural, economic, and political institutions and practices, Americans can understand why it has been so difficult to fulfill the promises of the 1960s civil rights dream. Bedell describes and applies sociological theories that serve to explain why racism is still prevalent in the United States and identifies the steps that are necessary to overcome racism. The book concludes with proposals for ways to apply social science to realize the civil rights dream and examples of how individuals can take action to make a difference.
Features:

Asks—and answers—the troubling question: Why have the civil rights hopes of the 1960s not yet been realized?
Demonstrates the relationship between what happens in everyday life and racism’s persistence
Provides insightful historical context for racism as it exists in the 21st century
Presents a framework for understanding how social forces preserve racism
Offers a refreshingly optimistic perspective that racism can be overcome

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Realizing-Civil-Rights-Dream-Diagnosing/dp/1440853754

Ken Bedell, author of Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism earned his doctorate in sociology from Temple University and has graduate degrees in education (New York University), theology ( the University of South Africa and Colgate Rochester/Crozer Divinity School), and in chemistry (Cornell University). Bedell is ordained in the United Methodist Church where he has served local congregation for 18 years in New York, Maryland, and Ohio. His work in the church included teaching sociology and communications at United Theological Seminary (Dayton), heading up higher education work as Associate General Secretary of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry, holding leadership positions in the Methodist Federation for Social Action and the Reconciling Ministries Network, and serving on the Board of Trustees of Rust College, a HBCU in Mississippi. As the Executive Secretary for the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities, Ken traveled extensively visiting educational institutions in Brazil, Argentina, Korea, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, and Austria. Most recently he served in the Obama administration as a Senior Advisor in the Department of Education. There he worked in the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and directed the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge. Bedell published widely on topics as varied as the history of worship, the sociology of technology, computer technology in education, and race relations. The World Association for Christian Communication published his book, Different Ships, Same Boat, as part of a series on “In Search of Common Values.”

Peaceful Communities: Faiths for Social Justice
2017-10-19 | NY
On October 19th Fairfax Presbyterian Church hosted the Rumi Forum for a discussion on social justice through the context of faith.
Date: Thursday, October, 19th
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: Fairfax Presbyterian Church
10723 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
We define social justice as a concept of fair and just relation between the individual and society and struggle over how to promote and achieve that perfect equality. There are various ways to approach social justice from embracing your community, to celebrating diversity, to listening more to others, adopting a politician, etc. For this event, however, we will approach social justice from a faith perspective. There are many elements of social justice that are referenced in various religious texts and this event aims to highlight those through the three Abrahamic faiths. By doing so, we hope that the community can learn from each other and ways to channel their religious beliefs into social justice action.

Speakers:
Henry G. Brinton is the Senior Pastor at Fairfax Presbyterian Church Henry grew up in Bowie, Maryland. He was active in the Christian Community Presbyterian Church throughout his youth and was ordained a deacon as a teenager. After falling in love with religious studies as an undergraduate at Duke University, he earned a Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School. In his first pastoral call, Henry served as associate pastor of First United Church of Christ in Milford, Connecticut, a 1200-member congregation with a corporate style of ministry. In 1989, Henry was called as pastor to Calvary Presbyterian Church in Alexandria. Henry writes freelance articles on religious topics for The Washington Post and USA Today and has been a writer for the preaching journal Homiletics since 1998.
Henry met his wife Nancy Freeborne in their church youth group in Bowie. They were married in 1985 and have two children, Sadie and Sam.

Hurunnessa Fariad and her family fled the war in Afghanistan in the late 1970’s and eventually settled in New York City. She attended a music major high school and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and English Literature. She is the youngest of 10 kids. She moved to Northern Virginia in 2004 and she currently lives in Sterling, Va with her 4 daughters. She was the President of her own IT company for 10 years. She served as the Vice Principal of ADAMS Radiant Hearts Academy for 8 years until she changed departments and now serves as the Outreach/Interfaith/Communications Coordinator, Branch Liaison and the ADAMS BEAT Music Director at the ADAMS Center under the leadership of Imam Mohamed Mag.

Rabbi Emeritus Bill Rudolph has been with Congregation Beth El since 1983. He served on a part-time basis about half of that period, during which he was the associate international director of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. He was number two at Hillel when it achieved the Renaissance that changed the face of the American Jewish community. He was elected as Beth El’s associate rabbi in 1996 and rabbi in 2001. Rabbi Rudolph took a leadership role in Beth El’s multi-faceted response to Middle East crises in 2002 and 2006, including two $1 million dollar rallies for the Israel Emergency Campaign. He is the recipient of the Federation’s Matthew Simon Rabbinic Leadership Award. His position with the Federation includes the Federation Board (many terms), its Planning & Allocations Committee, its Rabbinic Cabinet, and its Missions Committee. He was co-chair of the Community Division and the Affinity Division of the Annual Campaign.

Peaceful Communities: Faiths for Social Justice
2017-10-19 06:30 - 20:00 | Fairfax Presbyterian Church, 10723 Main Street, Fairfax , Virginia , 10723 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030

Civil Rights in 2017: A Discussion with Federal Civil Rights Officials
2017-11-09 18:00 - 19:30 | ATFA, 14120 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly, VA, 20151, United States

American Muslims in 2017
2017-12-07 06:30 - 20:00 | ATFA, 14120 Newbrook Dr., Chantilly, VA, 20151, United States

Responding to Hatred and Extremism: Solutions from Faith Traditions
2018-01-10 06:30 - 20:00 | National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Cir NW, Washington, DC, 20005, United States

Findings from Pew Research Center’s 2017 Survey of U.S. Muslims
2018-01-16 18:30 - 20:00 | Daniels Run Peace Church, 3729 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 22030

2018 Rumi Forum Study Trip to Australia
2018-01-19 - 2018-02-25 | NY
Applications are now open for our new study trip to Australia!
The Rumi Forum is proud to announce a new study trip opportunity for Winter 2018. This program will be held in Australia encompassing the cities of Sydney and Canberra. Applications for this trip are currently open and all eligible individuals are encouraged to apply.
You have the option of choosing from:
January 19th – January 28th
February 16th – February 25th
Throughout this program, participants will be immersed in cultural activities that celebrate local customs and traditions. In addition, this travel program will create the opportunity for participants to meet with civil society organizations, government officials, journalists, academicians and think-tank scholars, among others,

Challenges of Survival: Religious Minority Communities in a Secular Melting Pot Nation
2018-01-21 | NY
The Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society of Washington along with the Rumi Forum presented this event that examined religious minority communities in America.

January 21st, 2018

2:30 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.

Temple Rodef Shalom
2100 Westmoreland Street
Falls Church, VA 22043

America is rightfully celebrated for how it protects all religions. Yet our nation is not simply shaped by its religious freedom laws but also by a melting pot culture that has grown increasingly secular. For our minority religions, the desire to assimilate into that culture has become more of a threat with each successive generation. Come hear members of the Muslim, Jewish and Sikh communities reflect on these potentially existential challenges to the survival of their communities on these shores.

Panelists:
Nisa Muhammad
Assistant Dean for Religious Life at Howard University

Gagan Narang
Director- Organizational Development and Learning at Public Company Accounting Oversight (PCAOB)

Dr. Ira Weiss
A scholar who frequently lectures on Palestinian-Israel relations

Maine Girls Film Screening
2018-01-21 11:30 - 13:30 | Little River United Church of Christ (LRUCC), 8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 22003, United States

Challenges of Survival: Religious Minority Communities in a Secular Melting Pot Nation
2018-01-21 14:30 - 17:00 | Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100 Westmoreland St., Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States

Voices of the Heart: Forgiveness
2018-02-07 | NY
On Friday, March 16th we started our new small discussion series: Voices of the Heart. The first topic we discussed was centred around forgiveness.
March 16th, 2018

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Ezher Mosque
10359 B Democracy Lane
Fairfax VA 22030

Learn more and do more with our new discussion series: Voices of the Heart. This new initiative is meant for you and others to gain a deeper understanding of the people who surround you and for you to present to them your perspective on your faith, your life, and your traditions. This small round table discussion setting is designed for attendees to meet one another and immerse themselves in conversations about social problems, community issues, and other topics relevant to society from the basis of their faith or non-faith.
“The lamps are different, but the light is the same” ~ Rumi
Our first discussion topic will center around forgiveness and its importance. What has God taught us about forgiveness? How do we practice that in our daily lives? To be able to forgive is a skill that is extremely powerful because it not only is the healthiest thing that you can do for your physiology and your spirituality but in that, you have the opportunity to practice patience, maturity, and strength. As humans we are all prone to make mistakes that might intentionally or unintentionally hurt those around us, so how do we go about practicing this act of self-love and peace? What do our traditions tell us and what can we teach others? Join us March 2nd as we explore this topic!
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Interfaith Dialogue: Maintaining Religious Identity in a New Culture
2018-02-14 | NY
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, in partnership with the Rumi Forum, hosted this small-table discussion event on March 25th, 2018.

Sunday, March 25th, 2018

3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax
2709 Hunter Mill Rd.
Oakton, VA 22124

We hosted small-table discussions of complex issues of adapting to American society. The dialogue focused on interfaith interaction with regard to belief systems. Conversations were facilitated by representatives from UUCF and the Rumi Forum.

Jews—A Success Story: Lessons for other Minorities
2018-03-15 11:30 - 13:15 | Rumi Forum, 2000 P Street NW Suite #503, Washington, DC, 20036, United States

Religious Literacy: "Jews-A Success Story: Lessons for other Minorities"
2018-03-15 11:45 - 13:15 | Rumi Forum, 2000 P Street NW Suite #503, Washington, DC, 20036, United States
On March 15th Department Chair of Religion at George Washington University, Robert Eisen joined the Rumi Forum for a presentation on Jews and how they have survived centuries of persecution and thrived in the West.
Date:
Thursday, March 15th, 2018
Time:
11:45-12:15 (Reception)
12:15-1:15 (Program)
Location:
Rumi Forum
2000 P St. NW
Suite #503
Washington, DC 20036

Over time, Jews have endured great hardships and overcome challenging obstacles in order to be a successful minority religion in the West. Today, Jews make up roughly 2% of the total population in North America while other Western countries such as France (2%), and the United Kingdom (2%) retain similar shares of the global Jewish population. From the adversities that accompany maintaining a religious minority identity, Jews have amassed achievements in economic, intellectual and artistic spheres. In this talk, Professor Robert Eisen will share insights from a book he is currently writing about this occurrence. He will explain from an academic standpoint how Jewish religion and culture evolved over the centuries and prepared Jews for the challenges of the modern period. He will also attempt to share insights about what people from other cultures can learn from the success of Jews in the modern West.

Speaker:
Robert Eisen is a Professor of Religion and Judaic Studies and Chair of the Department of Religion. The focus of his most recent research approaches to peace and violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Eisen is the author of four books that reflect his varied interests: Gersonides on Providence, Covenant, and the Chosen People (State University of New York Press, 1995); The Book of Job in Medieval Jewish Philosophy (Oxford University Press, 2004); The Peace and Violence of Judaism: From the Bible to Modern Zionism (Oxford University Press, 2011); Religious Zionism, Jewish Law, and the Morality of War (Oxford University Press, 2017). He also co-edited Philosophers and the Jewish Bible (University of Maryland Press, 2008) with Charles Manekin. Eisen is currently working on a book about why Jews have been remarkably successful in the modern Western world economically, intellectually, and culturally. Eisen has received a number of grants and awards to support his research, including a Fulbright research grant at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1999-2000. He was also given a teaching award in 2005 from George Washington University in recognition of his contributions in the classroom. Eisen is active in adult education initiatives. He served from 1991-2008 on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Jewish Studies which brings lecturers to Washington from academic institutions all over the world.

Voices of the Heart: Forgiveness
2018-03-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Ezher Mosque, 10359 B Democracy Lane, Fairfax, VA, 22030

International Festival of Language and Culture USA 2018
2018-03-22 | NY
The International Festival of Language and Culture USA 2018 was held at The Hylton Performing Arts Center of George Mason University on April 20, 2018. On behalf of the Rumi Forum, in collaboration with the Enes Kanter Light Foundation, we would like to invite you to the 16th annual International Festival of Language and Culture. We are excited to announce that this year over 100 students from 20 countries will perform “Colors of the World”. During the show, audience members will be exposed to an array of cultural traditions, dance, songs, and poetry. The multicultural diversity of our world, as well as the extraordinary youth talent, are sure to inspire dialogue and change in our own communities. We are honored to make D.C. one of the many world capitals co-hosting the 16th annual International Festival of Language and Culture. We hope to see you there!

Panel Discussion: "Challenges to Christianity in the US-Lessons for other faith communities"
2018-03-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Westminster Church, 400 I Street SW20024, Washington, DC, 20024, United States
On March 22nd, 2018 we discussed what challenges Christianity faces in 21st century America with a group of distinguished panelists.

Rumi Forum and faith leaders discussed the challenges and lessons of Christianity in America. On March 22nd, panelists presented their own narratives and facilitated strategical interfaith applications for the community. Speakers included Joel Rainey, lead pastor of Covenant Church in Shepherdstown West Virginia, Brian Hamilton, co-pastor of Westminister DC and former professor of sociology in addition to Patrick Carolan, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network and co-founder of the Global Catholic Climate Movement. The event was moderated by William Dinges who shared his expertise in religion in America.
Speakers:
Joel Rainey, the lead pastor of Covenant Church in Shepherdstown West Virginia, is located in the tri-state area of Maryland, West Virginia, and the NOVA/Washington DC area. The author of three books, Dr. Rainey is a former missionary and evangelical denominational executive with intercultural experience on 5 continents. He has led efforts to plant more than 100 new evangelical churches in the US and around the world. He lives in Shepherdstown with his wife Amy and their three children.

Brian Hamilton, co-pastor of Westminster DC with his partner Ruth, was ordained on Sept. 9, 1992, and has served parishes in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Westminster. He’s a second-career pastor, working before as a sociology professor and community developer. Brian grew up in Princeton, Maine. He received his BA in Sociology from Eastern Baptist College. He received his Master of Divinity from Union Theological in New York City.

Patrick Carolan has been executive director of the Franciscan Action Network since 2010. He is also a co-founder of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, an organization working on global climate justice issues as well as Faithful Democracy, a faith coalition focused on the issue of Money in Politics, working to educate on the corruptive influence of big money on our democracy. He is a recipient of the 2015 White House Champion for Change Award for his work in the Climate Change arena, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Earth Ethics and is personally dedicated to social justice to bring about individual and societal transformation.

William D. Dinges is an Ordinary Professor of Religious Studies in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and a fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America. He received his Ph.D. in American Studies in 1983 from the University of Kansas. He has been on the faculty at Catholic University for the past thirty-one years. Dr. Dinges’ research interests include a variety of religion and culture topics: Religion in America (Catholicism in particular), religious movements, religion and globalization, fundamentalism, and religion and ecology. He has published articles on these and related topics in Sociological Analysis, U.S. Catholic Historian, Journal of Contemporary Religion, Religion and American Culture, The Way, The Living Light, America, Commonweal, and in other scholarly and popular journals and anthologies.

Challenges to Christianity in America
2018-03-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Westminster Church, 400 I Street SW20024, Washington, DC, 20024, United States

Interfaith Dialogue: Maintaining Religious Identity in a New Culture
2018-03-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd., Oakton, VA, 22124

Panel Discussion: "Exploring an Interfaith Connection Between Faith and Food"
2018-03-29 | US Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC, 20250, United States
Rumi Forum assisted the US Department of Agriculture with organizing an Abrahamic panel of faith and food on March 29, 2018. The panel discussion, titled “Faith and Food: Exploring an Interfaith Connection Between Faith and Food“, examined the deep connection that faith communities have with food and agriculture.
Dr. Herbert Brown from Black Church Food Security Network, Imam Albert Sabir from the Nation’s Mosque, and Cantor Hinda Labovitz from Ohr Kodesh Congregation talked about the connection between faith and food. The panel was moderated by Peter Kovach.

Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk 2018
2018-04-06 | NY
The Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk 2018 will be held on May 6th, 2018 with the mission of bringing faith communities together to appreciate each other and feel part of the same whole despite our differences.
May 6th, 2018
2 PM to 5 PM
Fairfax United Methodist Church
10300 Stratford Ave, Fairfax, VA 22030
REGISTER HERE
The walk will take place on May 6th between 2 PM and 5 PM. The group will start at the Fairfax United Methodist Church and will continue by visiting Christian Science Church, Daniels Run Peace Church (also hosting the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia), Ezher Mosque, Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia, Truro Anglican Church, Fairfax Presbyterian Church, Fairfax Baptist Church (also hosting the Calvary Hill Baptist Church), and end with the Christ Lutheran Church. At each stop, the group will spend 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, those faith traditions were invited to have a space in some of the churches along this route.
Participants will park at the Fairfax United Methodist before the walk. When the walk ends at the Christ Lutheran, there will be a shuttle bus service to the Fairfax United Methodist.
You can join the walk starting from the Fairfax Presbyterian as well. However there will be no shuttle service from Christ Lutheran back to the Fairfax Presbyterian.

Welcoming the Stranger: How can Faith and Democracy Work Together?
2018-04-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 3115 P St NW, Washington, Washington D.C., 20007, United States

Panel Discussion: “Abrahamic Perspectives on Preserving the Environment”
2018-04-21 17:00 - 18:30 | Congregation Ner Shalom , 14010 Spriggs Rd., Woodbridge, VA, 22193, United States
On April 21st, 2018, Rumi Forum organized an interfaith conversation on the environment from the perspectives of the three Abrahamic religions.
The biblical starting point for any discussion of religious environmental stewardship is anchored around the Book of Genesis. Likewise, The Holy Qur’an and Sunnah are a guiding light for Muslims to promote sustainable development within their home countries and around the world. In modern times, however, the Abrahamic vision of the relationship between God, man, and nature becomes muddled. In light of these contemporary confusions about the true nature of stewardship, and because the concept is so central to the concern of religious tradition, this panel will hope to shed light on the common concerns, beliefs, and aspirations of environmental stewardship.
Speakers:

Elizabeth (Lizz) Goldstein is a native of Branford, CT, in New Haven county. She completed her undergraduate studies in 2010 at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, where she studied the sociology and anthropology of violence and how the environment plays a role in violent conflicts. She spent the Fall 2008 semester in Israel at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. In 2016, Lizz graduated from the Academy for Jewish Religion in Yonkers, NY in May as an ordained rabbi. She moved down to Virginia to serve as the rabbi of Congregation Ner Shalom shortly after ordination. As an activist, Lizz has been involved in many Tikkun Olam projects, was a Global Justice Fellow with American Jewish World Service, and has advocated on behalf of the environment, as well as for people. She is dedicated to a career of drawing from Jewish history and values to work toward social justice and is happy to share some of those lessons and values with others.

Taalibah Hassan, M.Ed., has been a guest speaker on Islam since the 1980’s and is an experienced interfaith dialogue facilitator. She co-authored the chapter “Dialogue as A Way to Know the Other,” in the book Faithful Neighbors (2016). Taalibah serves on the Board of Directors of the Muslim Association of Virginia, which has the largest mosque in Prince William County. She is the Vice President. The Muslim Association of Virginia not only oversees the daily, Friday Congregational, and Holiday Eid prayers but also Qur’an classes and has both Boy and Girl Scout troops. The Association has a variety of programs that support the religious and social needs of the community, of more than three thousand people. She also chairs the Interfaith committee that holds several programs each year to educate people about Islam and Muslims. Taalibah has a Graduate Certificate in Muslim-Christian Studies from the Washington Theological Consortium. She is currently enrolled at Hartford Seminary in the Imam and Muslim Community Leadership Certificate program. She is a retired Biology teacher and resides in Dale City with her husband of forty –one years and has two adult children.

Rev. Dr. Lisa Kenkeremath serves as Manassas Presbyterian Interim Pastor. She has served pastorates in the Washington, DC area since 2001, most recently as Interim Pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Springfield, VA. She holds M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, respectively, and has studied in Jerusalem and Aberdeen, Scotland. She is also the author of the book, Relentless Mercy, which is a collection of sermons seeking to illuminate the ways in which God, in mercy, acts to touch, heal, and repair our broken hearts and broken world. Lisa and her husband, Deepak Kenkeremath, have two adult sons and live in Falls Church, VA.

Voices of the Heart: Time
2018-04-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Ezher Mosque, 10359 B Democracy Lane, Fairfax, VA, 22030

Fairfax Unity Walk
2018-05-06 | NY

Voices of the Heart: Time
2018-05-14 | NY
Voices of the heart table discussion series continued with the theme of time on April 27, 2018. Participants talked about time from their faith and cultural perspectives.

Religious Literacy: "Leil Shavu'ot and Suhoor"
2018-05-20 02:00 - 04:00 | Ohr Kodesh Temple, 8300 Meadowbrook Ln, Chevy Chase , Maryland , 20815
Rumi Forum was hosted by the Ohr Kodesh Congregation on May 20, 2018, for a joint celebration of Shavu’ot and Suhoor.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot, also known as “A Night of Jewish Learning,” is an opportunity to show that participants are ready to receive the Torah. Throughout the night, people will gather to study the sacred text, and facilitate a deeper connection with their faith. By staying awake during the anniversary of the Revelation, followers signal to the heavens that they are ready to receive blessings from above. In the morning, many share a Suhoor meal to precede their Ramadan fast.
Rumi Forum prides itself on its interfaith collaborations. We find it increasingly important to celebrate events in conjunction with faith-based communities. There is no better way to connect with another by sharing the joy your faith brings. Oftentimes, the prevailing commonalities which can bridge neighborhoods, are overshadowed by unfounded assumptions. Celebrate common points that everyone, regardless of race, gender, and sexuality can enjoy. By inspiring community dialogue, we hope to take another step forward in creating a peaceful, tolerant, environment for all to enjoy.

Rumi Forum Volunteers at the Lamb Center
2018-06-22 | NY
Rumi Forum volunteers served lunch at the Lamb Center on June 6. Rumi Forum volunteered at a food bank at The Lamb Center in Fairfax. The Lamb Center is considered a home and a place of refuge to many unfortunate individuals in Fairfax. We were honored to meet these individuals and serve them with our brothers and sisters at The Lamb Center.
