Rumi Forum

We Refuse to be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews can make Peace, One Friendship at a Time
2020-07-07 | VA
On Tuesday, July 7, Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby shared the wonderful story of their upcoming book, “We Refuse to be Enemies”, about how the paths of a Muslim woman and a Jewish man crossed and led to a joint endeavour for a meaningful purpose.

Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby, a Muslim-American woman of Pakistani origin and a Jewish-American man who spent his formative years in Israel, will share their story of how they connected and embarked on a mission to bring their respective communities together in their common homeland, America.

Growing up in Pakistan, Sabeeha never met a Jew, her view colored by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his youth, Walter never met a Muslim, his opinion shaped by Leon Uris’s Exodus. What changed their perceptions? How did they fare in nurturing Muslim-Jewish communication and cooperation? Sabeeha and Walter will share their experiences of facing pushback from their communities, overcoming obstacles and bringing together Muslims and Jews to explore unexpected commonalities between their faiths; to work together to help people in need and stand together against bigotry. Finally, they will offer their vision for reconciliation.

Sabeeha and Walter have co-authored a book, We Refuse to be Enemies. How Muslims and Jews can make Peace, One Friendship at a Time, due for publication in Spring 2021. It is their hope that this book will inspire people of all faiths and ethnicities to reach out to each other and heal our nation.

Speakers of the Event

SABEEHA REHMAN is the author of the 2016 memoir, “Threading My Prayer Rug. One Woman’s Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim,” Short-Listed for the 2018 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the book also received several other nominations and awards. She is also an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal and New York Daily News. In the early 1980s, concerned about raising her sons as Muslims in the absence of a Muslim community, she set to work, and her commitment culminated in the building of a mosque on Staten Island where her family lived. Sabeeha, who holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration, served as a hospital executive for 25 years. Thereafter, responding to her grandson’s autism diagnosis, she co-founded the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association and served as its President from 2008-11. As a public speaker, she has spent several decades engaging in interfaith dialogue and now serves as a board member of the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee as well as the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association. She blogs on topics related to American Muslim experience at www.sabeeharehman.com/blog. She lives in New York City with her husband Khalid, a retired Hematologist/Oncologist.

WALTER RUBY is a veteran activist in Muslim-Jewish relations. From 2008-2017, in the position of Muslim-Jewish Relations Director at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, he organized hundreds of twinning events; bringing together thousands of Jews and Muslims in over 30 countries on five continents, including members of mosques and synagogues and Muslim and Jewish organizations. Ruby presently serves as executive director of Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT), a grassroots community of Muslim, Jewish and Interfaith activists in Greater Washington; and as Coordinator of the Washington Area Chapter of Project Rozana, which works to strengthen ties between Israelis and Palestinians through health care. Ruby is currently co-authoring a book with Muslim-American author Sabeeha Rehman entitled We Refuse To Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time. Ruby has worked as a reporter and commentator for more than 40 years, mainly for American Jewish and Israeli publications. His articles and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other media. Walter lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Tatayna.

We Refuse to be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews can make Peace, One Friendship at a Time
2020-07-07 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
Sabeeha Rehman and Walter Ruby, a Muslim-American woman of Pakistani origin and a Jewish-American man who spent his formative years in Israel, will share their story of how they connected and embarked on a mission to bring their respective communities together in their common homeland, America.
Growing up in Pakistan, Sabeeha never met a Jew, her view colored by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his youth, Walter never met a Muslim, his opinion shaped by Leon Uris’s Exodus. What changed their perceptions? How did they fare in nurturing Muslim-Jewish communication and cooperation? Sabeeha and Walter will share their experiences of facing pushback from their communities, overcoming obstacles and bringing together Muslims and Jews to explore unexpected commonalities between their faiths; to work together to help people in need and stand together against bigotry. Finally, they will offer their vision for reconciliation.
Sabeeha and Walter have co-authored a book, We Refuse to be Enemies. How Muslims and Jews can make Peace, One Friendship at a Time, due for publication in Spring 2021. It is their hope that this book will inspire people of all faiths and ethnicities to reach out to each other and heal our nation.

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

6:00 – 7:30 pmONLINE WEBINAR: Links will be provided as you register.

Free and Open to the Public – Consider supporting our work!

Speakers of the Event

SABEEHA REHMAN is the author of the 2016 memoir, “Threading My Prayer Rug. One Woman’s Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim,” Short-Listed for the 2018 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the book also received several other nominations and awards. She is also an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal and New York Daily News. In the early 1980s, concerned about raising her sons as Muslims in the absence of a Muslim community, she set to work, and her commitment culminated in the building of a mosque on Staten Island where her family lived.
Sabeeha, who holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration, served as a hospital executive for 25 years. Thereafter, responding to her grandson’s autism diagnosis, she co-founded the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association and served as its President from 2008-11. As a public speaker, she has spent several decades engaging in interfaith dialogue and now serves as a board member of the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee as well as the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association. She blogs on topics related to American Muslim experience at www.sabeeharehman.com/blog
She lives in New York City with her husband Khalid, a retired Hematologist/Oncologist.

WALTER RUBY is a veteran activist in Muslim-Jewish relations. From 2008-2017, in the position of Muslim-Jewish Relations Director at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, he organized hundreds of twinning events; bringing together thousands of Jews and Muslims in over 30 countries on five continents, including members of mosques and synagogues and Muslim and Jewish organizations. Ruby presently serves as executive director of Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT), a grassroots community of Muslim, Jewish and Interfaith activists in Greater Washington; and as Coordinator of the Washington Area Chapter of Project Rozana, which works to strengthen ties between Israelis and Palestinians through health care.
Ruby is currently co-authoring a book with Muslim-American author Sabeeha Rehman entitled We Refuse To Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time. Ruby has worked as a reporter and commentator for more than 40 years, mainly for American Jewish and Israeli publications. His articles and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other media.
Walter lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Tatayna.

Virtual Coffee Night Series: Trees and Sheep and God, Oh My! A Woman’s Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland
2020-08-06 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
When Sarah Snyder left her home in Montana to volunteer to plant trees at a private estate in Scotland, she expected a pleasurable six-month break from her humdrum life. When she arrived, however, she learned she would also be caring for a menagerie of poultry, doing rigorous household chores, and shepherding a flock of truant sheep. Her experience turned out to be a soul-forging adventure that changed her entire relationship with life—and with God—forever.
Six months turned into two years and resulted in her memoir Plant Trees, Carry Sheep: A Woman’s Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland. With self-deprecating humor, Sarah chronicles her time at the spiritual retreat, where people from all over the world came to study Ibn Arabi and Rumi. Her exposure to Islam helped her better understand the religion and see God, as well as herself, in a different light.
Sarah will discuss the retreat, tell a few stories, and answer questions.

Thursday, August 6, 2020

7:00 – 8:00 pm

ONLINE WEBINAR: Links will be provided as you register.

Free and Open to the Public – Consider supporting our work!

Speaker of the Event

Sarah Snyder has been a professional writer and editor since 1991 and is currently a technical writer for a global company. She also blogs at www.lunarivervoices.com and participates in oral storytelling. Her next book, a spinoff of her memoir titled The Value of Your Soul: Rumi Verse for Life’s Annoying Moments, will be published this autumn. She lives in Herndon, VA, with her husband.

Event Video

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Religious Freedom for All: Remembering the Victims of Acts of Violence
2020-08-20 18:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is the protection of the conscience and the free exercise of people’s understanding of the ultimate truth. It is not only a fundamental right but also an individual, institutional, private and public right as well. As enshrined in the First Amendment, the Articles 18,19, and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also protect the rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and association. However, not every region is always a stronghold of allowing people to live by their core values and beliefs. The rate of ill-treatment against religious institutions, people, objects, or events is increasing significantly.
On August 22, 2019, UN General Assembly recognized this by adopting a resolution declaring “International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief”.
Upholding these rights and responding to the alarming increase in persecutions of religious people and communities around the world, we believe within the scope of open, constructive, and respectful exchanges at various platforms across local, national, and international levels will be invaluable assets in confronting these ongoing acts of intolerance. To that end, Rumi Forum has invited distinguished speakers to address various dimensions of the topic.
On August 20th, our moderator Sabrina Dent and speakers Richard T. Foltin, Kirsten Lavery, and Rev. William H. Lamar IV, will share their insights on highlight mechanisms to prevent unfair treatments towards individuals, communities, and minorities.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

6:00 – 7:15 pm

ONLINE WEBINAR: Links will be provided as you register.

Free and Open to the Public – Consider supporting our work!

Moderator:
Sabrina Dent, Senior Faith Adviser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Sabrina is a life-long advocate for human rights and social justice. Throughout her career, she has worked with vulnerable populations including women and children impacted by domestic violence and abuse, youth with mental health and behavioral challenges, and racial and religious minorities. However, she developed a passion as a religious freedom advocate in 2015 when she became a Fellow with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom. Before joining the AU team, Sabrina worked as director of recruitment and admissions at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Prior to her time at the Religious Freedom Center, Sabrina served as program coordinator for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (STVU). Sabrina is the past president of the Interfaith Community of Greater Richmond. Sabrina earned her master of divinity degree and doctor of ministry degree from STVU. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech.

Speakers:
Richard T. Foltin, Fellow, Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum

Richard T. Foltin is a fellow at the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. He served in a number of positions at the American Jewish Committee, most recently as director of national and legislative affairs in the AJC’s Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C., from 2009 to 2018. Prior to coming to AJC, he was an associate with the litigation department of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, a New York law firm. Mr. Foltin serves on the governing council of the American Bar Association’s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and as co-chair of the section’s Religious Freedom Committee; he previously served as chair and co-chair of the section’s First Amendment Rights Committee. Mr. Foltin is a member of the Committee on Religious Liberty, founded by the National Council of Churches and today convened by the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum. Mr. Foltin received his B.A. in Political Science from New York University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a member of the bars of New York State, Washington DC, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

Kirsten Lavery is Supervisory Policy Analyst and Team Lead for International Law, Africa, and Latin America for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Prior to joining USCIRF, Ms. Lavery worked at the Public International Law & Policy Group and provided legal and policy assistance to civil society representatives in conflict and post-conflict states. Her work focused on transitional justice and human rights documentation, as well as legal and policy reforms to advance human rights protections. Ms. Lavery has also worked on a range of international legal issues at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, the UN Office of Human Resources Management, and the International Narcotics Control Board. Ms. Lavery previously practiced law in the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where she focused on international criminal investigations. Through her pro bono practice and prior clinic work, she has experience representing clients in immigration proceedings, including in asylum cases based on religious persecution. She holds a B.A. in Government and Spanish from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. with a specialization in International & Comparative Law from Tulane University Law School.

Rev. William H. Lamar IV, Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Rev. William H. Lamar IV is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida: Monticello, Orlando and Jacksonville. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. While he continues to advocate for his community of Washington, D.C., you can find Rev. Lamar fueling his faith by proudly supporting the Poor People’s Campaign, the Washington Interfaith Network or every Sunday at pulpit of AME Church. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of “Can These Bones,” the Faith & Leadership podcast.

Panel Discussion: "Charity In the Age of a Pandemic"
2020-09-09 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
On September 9, 2020, with our partner UNA-NCA, speakers Katherine Marshall, Kim R. Ford, Jerome Tennille, and moderator Stephen Moseley had a great discussion about how community solidarity has displayed itself in ways that we haven’t seen before to eradicate poverty in the age of pandemic.

At a time when everyone around the world is grappling with unprecedented changes and challenges in their lives, one of the most fundamental values that continue to make positive changes in our lives is generosity. The inevitable quality of giving continues bringing individuals of all backgrounds regardless of their languages, ethnicities, races, faiths, opinions together across the globe. We have witnessed various shades of generosity as they are implemented as a means of standing together in unity. Whether that’s through educating ourselves on social issues, raising awareness about humanitarian causes, supporting communities through monetary contributions, or reaching out to a neighbor next door or across the continents, every act of goodwill has touched people’s lives. In this time of uncertainty, there’s a fundamental truth that gives us hope – that together we can do extraordinary things. Together.
In 2012, September 5th was designated the “International Day of Charity” by the UN General Assembly to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 “for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”
In this spirit, on September 9, 2020, Rumi Forum and UNA-NCA invited participants to a panel highlighting how individual and/or collective initiatives keep us connected.

Full Event Video

Screenshot from the Event

Say YES (Youth Empowered Solutions) to Human Rights - Essay Contest
2020-09-11 08:00 - 2020-11-23 23:59 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
Share your perspective on the unique contributions of youth to the discourse and action on human rights. The essays are expected to address contemporary issues that connect youth and human rights.
Questions you may want to consider may include but are not limited to;
– What are your reflections regarding the discussion on “standing by versus bystanding” in response to human rights violations?
– What are the ways the youth community can get involved in education, activism and engagement?
– In the age of a pandemic, with its challenges and opportunities, where do you see yourself making a difference in the human rights movement?
Formatting:
Please include your First Name, Last Name, College, and School Year
Length Word count:
750-1000
Font size/spacing:
Times New Roman
12 font
1.5 space
Write an original essay. Op-Ed style.
Eligibility and Criteria:
All undergraduate students nationwide are eligible to apply.
*This is not an academic paper.
DEADLINE
Sept. 11 through Nov. 13
Winners will be announced on Nov. 23
PRIZES
1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners will have the opportunity to join one of the sessions as a guest on Dec. 11th.
1st: $450
2nd:$300
3rd: $150
For essay submissions, questions, and more email to info@rumiforum.org

UNGA Conference 2020
2020-09-23 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
Celebrate UN’s 75th Year with Rumi Forum as a Global Partner of UNGA Conference 2020

The UNGA Conference 2020 will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 in the margins of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. The UNGA Conference 2020 is organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) in partnership with the JWF’s Global Partners, Member States of the United Nations, UN organs and agencies, and civil society organizations from around the world.

The UNGA Conference is the flagship event of the JWF creating a platform for diverse stakeholders to discuss the Global Agenda 2030 and offer innovative solutions, strategies, and policy recommendations, with the view of further advancing the culture of peace, human rights and sustainable development. The conference gathers together a group of panelists and high-level speakers in 3 Panel Sessions to discuss a particular agenda and propose a framework of action.

Since 2014, the JWF has proudly provided a platform for discussion for hundreds of high-level dignitaries and experts from all over the world, including Heads of States and Delegates to the UN General Assembly, UN High-Level Dignitaries (ASG, USG, PGA), UN accredited diplomats, experts, and prominent civil society actors. Last year, the UNGA Conference 2019 contributed to the SDG #17 in the revitalization of Global Partnerships by mobilizing 36 CSOs and NGOs from 24 countries.

Background

Five Years of Action Towards the SDGs: The successful implementation of SDG #17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development) remains at the focus of the UNGA Conference 2020. The JWF contributes to this mandate by mobilizing its Global Partners to share best-practices and policy suggestions on the achievement of the UN Development Agenda 2030.

In 2015, the Member States committed to a new path of inclusive, transformative and achievable development strategy for humanity and the planet with a mission of “Leaving No One Behind”. The action-oriented 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encourages all stakeholders including UN Agencies, Member States, private sector, civil society actors and experts to bridge the gap between policy and knowledge, create interlinkages between the goals and accelerate the implementation progress of the SDGs.

This year is a strategic turning point for our global community, as we all fight the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented global threat is however expected to strengthen the international communication and facilitate collaboration between the Member States of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society organizations, towards a common objective of creating peaceful and inclusive societies, where everyone is equally entitled to human rights, without discrimination.

Following a diligent consideration of policy outcomes from relevant sessions of UN WOMEN, ECOSOC, UN DESA, the Commission for Social Development and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the UNGA Conference 2020 includes the below topics.

UNGA Conference 2020: Five Years of Action towards the SDGs will include a comprehensive debate taking stock of the past 5-years of actions towards the SDGs in three areas: (1) Women Empowerment and Gender Equality, (2) SDG #16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and (3) Lessons learned from COVID-19 Pandemic: Evolving Social and Economic Development for Sustainability. Finally, the UNGA Conference will also provide a civil society perspective and assessment of major United Nations Conferences and Summits’ progress since 2015.
Click this link to share the #UN75 on Twitter! And join the conversation anywhere on social media using #UN75 and tagging the JWF:
· Twitter: @JWFoundation_
· Facebook: @JWFglobal
· LinkedIn: @journalists-and-writers-foundation-jwf

Schedule

10:00AM–10:30AM · Stage
UNGA Conference 2020 – Opening Session

10:30AM–12:00PM · Stage
Panel Session 1 – Women Empowerment and Gender Equality: 25 Years After the Beijing Declaration

12:15PM–1:45PM · Stage
Panel Session 2 – Implementing SDG #16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Sep 23 2:00PM–3:30PM · Stage
Panel Session 3 – Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Pandemic: Evolving Social and Economic Development for Sustainability

A Baptist Army Veteran's Journey with Islam
2020-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
Join our next Coffee Night speaker program featuring podcast host, award-winning author, and university lecturer Jason Howk. An army veteran of Baptist confession, Howk will share with us his stimulating story that connected his first career as a military officer to a second and no less interesting one as an interfaith speaker and lecturer on Islam.
“…Howk believes in a different approach to interfaith work. Typically, a Christian explains Christianity, a Jew explains Judaism, a Muslim explains Islam and so on. He’s flipped that formula on its head – and it’s worked.” Stephen Lanzi, Auburn Magazine.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
7:00 – 8:00 pm

ONLINE WEBINAR: Links will be provided as you register.

Free and Open to the Public – Consider supporting our work!

Moderator:

Joel O. Rainey, Ph.D.

Joel O. Rainey is currently Lead Pastor at Covenant Church in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is a sought-after speaker, and in addition to his pastoral duties, serves on the adjunct faculty of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina. Dr. Rainey has been involved in planting more than 100 new churches in North America, has trained pastors and church planters nationally, and internationally, and has intercultural experience on five continents.

In addition to the following books, The Story: God’s Grand Narrative; Our Great Hope (CreateSpace, 2017), Speaking from a Firm Foundation (CreateSpace, 2013), Planting Churches in the Real World (Missional Press, 2012), Side-Stepping Landmines: Five Principles for Pastor Search Teams (CreateSpace, 2012), he was also a contributing author to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Broadman & Holman, 2003), and has written numerous articles for publication related to the church and its global mission. His writing has appeared in the Great Commission Research Journal, SBC Voices, The Gospel Coalition, Evangelical Missions Quarterly, churchleaders.com, The Christian Post, and the Washington Post, and he has represented the evangelical perspective to news outlets such as Al Jazeera America, and the Baltimore Sun.

Speaker:
Jason Criss Howk, Retired U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer

Jason spent over twenty years focused on the Broader Middle East and Islam in the Department of Defense. He is currently the host of “We’re Just Talking About It,” a podcast that explains Islam to non-Muslims in plain English.
For over 5 years he has led religious dialogue discussions about Islam across the United States to dispel myths and stereotypes about Muslim cultures. He is the award winning author of The Qur’an: A Modern-English Chronological Interpretation and numerous other works. Jason is an Islamic studies professor at the USAF Special Operations School.
For over 29 years he has conducted defense, diplomacy, education, and intelligence missions globally. Jason holds a MA in Middle East and South Asia Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. Jason studied Dari (Afghan Farsi) and Arabic at the Defense LanguageInstitute and is a Malone Fellow in Arab and Islamic Studies.
Jason was a term-member in the Council on Foreign Relations and is sought by various journalists for his insights. For his work on Afghanistan over a 12 year period Major Howk was awarded two Bronze Star Medals and the Legion of Merit from the U.S. Department of Defense. For his direct work with Afghan officials he was awarded the Afghanistan Governmental Success Medal from the President of Afghanistan.

Nonviolence: A strategic and moral compass in extraordinary times
2020-10-02 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Halifax) | ONLINE EVENT
Grievance and deprivation, perceived or real, tempt groups into violent behavior. Rapid change, social upheaval, and uncertainty make violent expressions of social discontent even more likely. It is in those moments that we are called to demonstrate a heightened sense of restraint and sound judgment. It is in those moments that nonviolence presents as a timely and timeless concept for contemporary societies. And yet, while few would disagree about the virtue of nonviolence, a similarly firm belief and understanding about its power, strategy, and discipline is much harder to locate.
The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and Rumi Forum, proudly inspired by two masters of nonviolent action, are co-hosting this event on Gandhi’s birthday, the International Day of Nonviolence. The program features a panel from scholarly as well as practitioner backgrounds. Our speakers will guide an exploration of the current state of nonviolent action around the globe, its growing relevance amid social unrest, and efforts to make it an inherent element of individual and collective behavior.

Friday, October 2, 2020

12:00 – 1:30 pm

ONLINE WEBINAR: Links will be provided as you register.

Free and Open to the Public – Consider supporting our work!

Moderator:
The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr.
Canon Missioner, Washington National Cathedral

The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. began his tenure at the Washington National Cathedral in April 2018. In his role as Canon Missioner, Dr. Hamlin oversees the Cathedral’s outreach and social justice initiatives, including gun violence prevention and racial justice and reconciliation. In particular, Dr. Hamlin assists in the building of partnerships and the equipping of the Cathedral community and the congregation to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
Prior to his arrival at the Cathedral, Dr. Hamlin served as the Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. for 22 years. Under his leadership, the congregation was strengthened numerically and spiritually while numerous ministries, discipleship classes and mission efforts were organized to meet the needs of the congregation and the community locally, regionally and nationally. Dr. Hamlin received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (1983) from the Howard University School of Business, Master of Divinity Degree (1994), and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Howard University School of Divinity (1996). He has served and been appointed to numerous community, faith based and governmental boards, commissions, agencies.
Dr. Hamlin is married to Machell Nicholson Hamlin, Esquire, assistant vice president of staff counsel for the GEICO Corporation, and they are the proud parents of one son, Leonard L. Hamlin, Jr.
Speakers
Hardy Merriman
President and CEO, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict

He has worked in the field of civil resistance for over 18 years, presenting at workshops for activists and organizers around the world; speaking widely about civil resistance movements with scholars, journalists, and members of international organizations; and developing resources for practitioners and scholars. His writings have been translated into numerous languages. From 2016-2018 he was also an adjunct lecturer at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University).
Title of presentation:
“Civil Resistance: Powerful, Underrecognized, and Crucial in this Moment”

Dr. Mary Elizabeth King

Director, James Lawson Institute

Mary Elizabeth King is a political scientist and author of acclaimed books on civil resistance, most recently “Gandhian Nonviolent Struggle and Untouchability in South India: The 1924–25 Vykom Satyagraha and the Mechanisms of Change.” She is professor of peace and conflict studies at the UN-affiliated University for Peace; Distinguished Rothermere American Institute Fellow at the University of Oxford, Britain; and director of the James Lawson Institute. Her academic specialty in the study of nonviolent action dates to four years working in Atlanta and Mississippi for the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement on staff of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC. There she learned the basics of nonviolent struggle from the Reverend James M. Lawson in this profound experience that would define her life. Her website is
maryking.info.
Title of presentation:
“Rediscovering How Gandhi Put Nonviolent Methods on the World Political Map”

Rivera Sun
Editor, Nonviolence News

Author/Activist Rivera Sun is the editor of Nonviolence News and a nationwide trainer in strategy for nonviolent change. She has written numerous books and novels, including The Dandelion Insurrection and The Way Between. She serves on the Advisory Boards of World Beyond War and Backbone Campaign. Her writings on nonviolence as syndicated by Peace Voice and have appeared in over 100 journals. www.riverasun.com.
Title of presentation:
“Challenges – And Possibilities – Of Teaching Nonviolence As A Way Of Making Change”

30 Days with King
2020-10-15 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
Rumi Forum is proud to announce the book talk, Thirty Days With King David, by pastor, educator and leadership coach Larry Buxton.
King David ranks among the world’s greatest heroes for defeating Goliath and for preaching Psalms. He is honored by Jews, Christians and Muslims. In turbulent times, he united a nation—and his hard-earned wisdom can bring us together today. In this book, pastor, educator and leadership coach Larry Buxton shows us how David embodies 14 crucial values shared by effective leaders to this day.
Buxton dedicates this book “to everyone who believes that the character of any leader is of critical importance to our nation, our institutions, our congregations and our homes; and to all those who seek to let God shape their character as more virtuous human beings, that their influence may spread to heal our world.”

Thursday, October 15, 2020
6:00 – 7:00 pm

ONLINE WEBINAR: Links will be provided as you register.

Free and Open to the Public – Consider supporting our work!

Speaker:
Rev. Dr. Larry Buxton, Pastor & Author

The Rev. Dr. Larry Buxton has been a United Methodist pastor for 45 years and has just published his second book, 30 Days With King David: On Leadership. He was a member of a Christian-Muslim breakfast group at Ezher Bloom Mosque for two years, visited Turkey in 2015, and participated in many interfaith conversations prior to his “first retirement” in 2016. He and his wife Beverly, a leadership development and communications coach, enjoy two married sons and two grandchildren. Larry likes traveling, reading about rock music history, and rooting for the Washington Nationals.

Scriptural Reasoning: "Abraham’s Hospitality"
2020-12-03 18:30 - 19:45 UTC | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
You can find this month’s themed text pack here.
We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use www.scripturalreasoning.org content.

Say YES (Youth Empowerment Solutions) to Human Rights
2020-12-11 | VA
On December 11, young leaders gathered and engaged in stimulating exchanges on how we can grow and be better supporters of Universal Human Rights!
To be young in 2020 is powerful because we are witnesses to the drastic changes that can happen in a short amount of time – good and bad. We have learned that our actions and inactions have an immense impact which is augmented when we unite with others.
In this context, it is a call to our world’s youth, who can often feel small as they battle to find their voice amidst issues that seem larger than life. Rumi Forum is dedicated to listening to these rising voices, which is why we planned a virtual event for International Human Rights Day on December 11th, 2020.
Check out our bi-weekly blogs, which will serve as one of our mediums for sparking discussions around various topics of human rights and disseminating updates for the main event.
Solving Old Problems with Fresh Perspectives: A Call to Youth Leaders
Collecting the Youth Perspective Together: #RISE4Rights
What do you think about human rights? – Make your voices be heard!
Institutions and Individuals Working in Support of Universal Human Rights
R.I.S.E and Recover
Small Steps to Change the World
PANELISTS:
Hazami Barmada
Hazami is the founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation, an innovative US-based non-profit organization which works to unlock human potential and democratize access to the power that shapes the world. Most recently, Hazami served as the Coordinator for the United Nations World Humanitarian Summit of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon. She has also served as Strategy and Communications Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, as a member of the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda “Strategy Hub”, and co-chair of the Communications Working Group for the United Nations Interagency Network on Youth Development. She was a member of the organizing team of the UN Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security. She has been a Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships and Communications for United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) leveraging innovation to activate youth around the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.
Hazami received a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard where she was a Fellow in Public Policy and Management, recipient of the Harvard Center for Public Leadership’s Certification in Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences. Hazami is a passionate humanitarian and human rights advocate and is the Founder of the Harvard Humanitarian Leadership and Policy Program and is a Citizen Diplomat with the US Department of State.

Alexander Cromwell, Ph.D.

“Encountering the ‘Other’: Youth Peacebuilding across Enemy Groups”?
Alexander Cromwell is a Professorial Lecturer and the Associate Director, Dean’s Scholars and Experiential Learning at the Elliott School. In this role, he teaches the three required research methods courses in the Dean’s Scholars sequence and the internship-for-credit professional development pilot course. He also teaches conflict resolution at the graduate and undergraduate level and a short-term abroad course to Southeast Asia.
Cromwell’s research focuses on education in conflict contexts, and he has conducted research on the impact of encounter-based peace education programs with Pakistani, Afghan, Indonesian, and US youth. He has over 10 years of experience with youth programming, and has worked with groups from the Middle East, South and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States. For the past few years he has served as a peacebuilding facilitator for Project Common Bond, a camp that works with youth who lost a family member through war, terrorism, or violence. He previously taught courses at American University and George Mason University, where he received his PhD.

Rev. Ebony Grisom
Rev. Ebony Grisom is the Interim Director of Protestant Christian Ministry and the Protestant Chaplain on the Law and Main Campuses at Georgetown University. Prior to her arrival, Rev. Grisom served in a faith-based anti-poverty non-profit, where she equipped faith leaders and people of faith to act against the sin of poverty, and served at two Baptist churches in New England. In addition to her work at Georgetown, she is the Co-Convener of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA’s Convening Table on Joint Action and Advocacy for Justice and Peace. Her call melds her experience in higher education and the parish, allowing her to minister to God’s People at the intersection of the Church and the academy.
Rev. Grisom received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in African-American/African Studies and a Master of Arts from Providence College in American History. She earned a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Christian Education and a certificate in Gender, Theology and Ministry from Duke Divinity School. Rev. Grisom is ordained in the American Baptist Churches, USA.

Film Screening and Discussion: Purple
2020-12-18 | VA
PURPLE tells the story of everyday Americans with opposing viewpoints addressing their differences head-on and discovering the concerns and humanity that lie behind each other’s positions. Designed to build greater empathy and recognition in the face of deepening U.S. divides, PURPLE models a rare conversation that uplifts and inspires even while going toward the heat of passionate political differences.​​
The film takes place in rural Wisconsin and Iowa, two swing states where “red” and “blue” still live in the same neighbourhoods and where many people feel unrepresented by the two-party system. This politically pivotal region was home to the greatest concentration of counties that flipped Obama-to-Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Here is the teaser link of the film:

Here is your official link to the film:

Scriptural Reasoning: "Abraham`s Journey"
2021-01-14 18:30 - 19:45 UTC | Zoom

Resisting Injustice Peacefully: Jewish and Muslim Perspectives
2021-01-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
“Few are guilty, but all are responsible.” So said Abraham Joshua Heschel, reminding us of one the key teachings of our Abrahamic Prophets. We are indeed all responsible for confronting and resisting injustice. But how do we do this wisely, effectively, and morally? Rumi Forum and JIDS will bring in two diverse experts to provide insights on this question.
Dr. Sophia Pandya is currently a full professor and department chair at California State University at Long Beach, in the Department of Religious Studies. She has written extensively on the topic of resistance efforts in the Muslim world. Rabbi Michael Pollack is a graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and now serves as the Executive Director of March on Harrisburg. It is our hope that by having an interfaith dialogue led by an esteemed academic and a community activist who fights injustice in the trenches, we can truly honor the spirit of Dr. King in addressing such a hallowed topic.

Saints, Sultans and Spies: The Extraordinary History of the Humble Coffee Bean
2021-01-28 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
“From the secretive circles of Yemen’s ancient Sufi mystics to the Constantinople court of the Ottoman Sultans to the backstreets of Mercantile London, coffee has changed every society that fell under its heady sway. Abdul-Rehman Malik has spent a lifetime searching for the soul of coffee. Join us as we explore the culture, politics, spirituality and the extraordinary history of the world’s most second traded commodity – and learned how a humble bean – quite literally – changed the world.”
Speaker:

Abdul-Rehman Malik is an award winning journalist, educator and cultural organizer. A Lecturer and Associate Research Scholar at the Yale Divinity School, he also serves at the Program Coordinator at Yale University’s Council on Middle East Studies, and is responsible for developing curricula and partnerships with public schools to promote better cultural, language and religious literacy about the Middle East to educators and students alike. Abdul-Rehman also serves as Director of the Muslim Leadership Lab, an innovative student leadership program being incubated at the Dwight Hall Center of Social Justice at Yale. His work has spanned the UK, United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Mali, Morocco, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia and beyond.
Full Bio: https://divinity.yale.edu/faculty-and-research/yds-faculty/abdul-rehman-malik

In the Name of Human Fraternity
2021-02-04 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Dialogue as the path, cooperation as the code, understanding as the method.
The Legacy
It is hard to exaggerate the legacy of the meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik Al-Kamil in 1219, a historical encounter that took place in the midst of the Fifth Crusade. This event is still remembered as a landmark of religion’s transformative power despite differences even during the most unwelcoming moments. On 3-5 February 2019, His Holiness Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb signed “A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” in the United Arabic Emirates to mark the 800th anniversary of the iconic meeting.
The Document
The Human Fraternity Document, rather than being a symbolic commemorative text, draws inspiration from the past for concrete future action. It is realistic in admitting the challenges humanity faces today, straightforward in highlighting the vital role of religion while addressing them, inclusive in recognizing the role that various stakeholders can play in the solution, and interdisciplinary in inviting many forms of human expertise to the universal endeavor. In an act of due recognition of this initiative by the global community, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 15 2020 (A/75/L.52) that proclaims February 4 as the “International Day of Human Fraternity”, to be observed each year beginning in 2021.
The Event
The eminent signatories of the Human Fraternity “ask that this Document become the object of research and reflection in all schools, universities and institutes of formation”. Rumi Forum welcomes this call by hosting the panel “In the Name of Human Fraternity” on the first International Day of Human Fraternity. Join us for a spectrum of reflections by a panel of prominent Catholic and Muslim speakers and an interactive session that will follow. The panel aims to observe the first International Day of Human Fraternity by highlighting the operational vision of the Human Fraternity Document rather than being a ceremonial text of goodwill.
Speakers
Dr. Pim Valkenberg, Catholic University of America
The Document on Human Fraternity and Pope Francis: Initiatives toward Encounters of Friendship

Dr. Zeki Saritoprak, John Carroll University
On the Necessity of Human Fraternity: Theological and Practical Reflections

Genevieve Mougey, Director of the Office for Social Concerns, Archdiocese of Washington
The Work of Social Friendship, Dialogue, and Pastoral Applications: A Catholic Perspective on Interfaith Dialogue

Scriptural Reasoning: "Beginnings-1"
2021-02-11 18:30 - 19:45 (America/New_York) | Zoom

The Value of Your Soul
2021-02-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Using Rumi Poetry to Flip the Modern-Day Script
Join author S. A. Snyder for an online discussion of her latest book, “The Value of Your Soul:
Rumi Verse for Life’s Annoying Moments.” Drawing from her 2019 memoir of living at a spiritual retreat in Scotland, this new book is a witty collection of short tales. With the help of select verses from Rumi, Snyder teases out some lessons learned from her funny experiences and offers a soupçon of homespun guidance for coping with people, situations, and life.
Her witty style and unique experiences combine to make this a fun, light read with a reminder not to take life too seriously. She’ll introduce her new book, read select passages, and answer questions.
Attendees can buy signed copies of her books at a special price.
Learn more about the book at https://www.lunarivervoices.com/books/value-of-your-soul/.

Scriptural Reasoning: "Beginnings-2: Humanity"
2021-03-11 18:30 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others’ and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Beginnings-2: Humanity

This month’s study leader

The Rev. Dr. Larry Buxton has been a United Methodist pastor for 45 years and has just published his second book, 30 Days With King David: On Leadership. He was a member of a Christian-Muslim breakfast group at Ezher Bloom Mosque for two years, visited Turkey in 2015, and participated in many interfaith conversations prior to his “first retirement” in 2016.
He and his wife Beverly, a leadership development and communications coach, enjoy two married sons and two grandchildren. Larry likes traveling, reading about rock music history, and rooting for the Washington Nationals.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Tears Teacher
2021-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
You are invited to a screening and discussion of Tears Teacher, the story of Hidefumi Yoshida who promotes the healing power of crying by travelling across Japan to help people shed tears. Yoshida is a firm believer that we all can benefit from weeping more often. During this 11- minute documentary, the self-described tears teacher tells how he touches on themes of emotional health, vulnerability, stigma, and strength. Following the screening, we will have an interactive session where all participants will be able to share reflections and comments. Do not miss this stimulating exchange!

Women Leading Change: The Intersection of Faith & Empowerment
2021-03-18 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | https://ngocsw65forum.us2.pathable.com/meetings/virtual/eZodCkvbnKZBtamks
This panel is intended to explore the connection between faith and women empowerment with a particular focus on women leadership. Our aim is to highlight the potential of faith in efforts for women’s participation in decision making, elimination of violence, achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls within the framework of the SDG5. The event will shed a spotlight on the role of women leaders of faith as key stakeholders and entrepreneurs of change in achieving these goals. This event is co-hosted by the UNA-NCA, which will specifically explore the effort to adopt CEDAW at the municipal level.
Everyone must register as an advocate via Eventbrite
Click here for the Eventbrite Registration
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ngo-csw65-forum-advocate-registration-tickets-137312871495
After the registration, NGO CSW will send a sign-in link to the virtual platform. The “Sign-in Link” inside the email is a unique authorization link that takes you to register your account. When you finalize your registration please click on the event link.
Click for our event
https://ngocsw65forum.us2.pathable.com/meetings/virtual/eZodCkvbnKZBtamks
Speakers
Samirah Majumdar, Pew Research Center, Research Associate
Samirah Majumdar is a research associate at Pew Research Center, where she focuses on global restrictions on religion. Samirah holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College. She is a contributing author to Pew Research Center reports including “A Closer Look at How Religious Restrictions Have Risen Around the World,” “Global Uptick in Government Restrictions on Religion in 2016,” and “Global Restrictions on Religion Rise Modestly in 2015, Reversing Downward Trend.”

Dr. Semiha Topal, William & Mary University, Religious Studies, Visiting Assistant Professor
Semiha Topal received her PhD from Arizona State University in Religious Studies in 2012. She holds an MA degree in Gender Studies and Religion from SOAS-University of London in UK. She specializes in the question subjectivity, self-construction and women’s agency in contemporary Muslim societies, particularly Turkey and the Middle East. Her current research examines women and piety in Islam, focusing on cases of de-veiling in Turkey. She teaches courses on introduction to Islam, women and gender in Islam, and Islam & secularism.

Gayatri Patel, CARE International, Director of Advocacy
Gayatri Patel represents CARE directly with senior officials in the U.S. Administration and Congress, spearheads advocacy for gender equality in foreign assistance, development, and humanitarian policy, and works to advance legislation/policy related to women’s economic empowerment, gender-based violence, gender in emergencies, and child marriage. She also previously served as a Foreign Affairs Officer for the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration and for the Bureau for International Organizations. She serves as the Vice-Chair of Advocacy of the UNA-NCA.

Moderator

Jill Christianson, UN Association of the National Capital Area, Board Chair-Elect
Jill has served most recently as a Board Member-at-Large for the UNA-NCA and is an active member of the Human Rights Committee. She also chaired the UNA-NCA Nominating Committee (2019), which filled key positions to support the association’s diversity and growth. For more than a decade, Jill served as the Senior Professional for International Relations at the National Education Association (NEA). Gender justice is prominent in Jill’s intersectional and intergenerational work, including at the UN`s CSW.

Scriptural Reasoning: "Cain and Abel"
2021-04-01 18:30 - 19:45 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others’ and one’s own scriptures, as well as the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Cain and Abel

This Month’s Study Leader

Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky is the JCRC’s Director of Intergroup Relations/JCRC Rabbi in Residence. She studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and was ordained in 2012. She also holds a Master’s degree from the Davidson School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Sharofsky was the deputy director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council, where she worked with Jewish military personnel and veterans.
Rabbi Sharofsky is the recipient of the 2016 JPRO Network Young Professional Award for her dedication to the Jewish community through her work in the Jewish nonprofit field. She is a Rabbis Without Borders fellow, 2018 cohort. She currently serves on the Executive Council of the Rabbinical Assembly.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Combating Prejudice from Inside and Outside Our Communities
2021-04-22 18:00 - 20:15 (America/New_York) | Zoom
This event is a Muslim-Jewish interfaith dialogue for college students and young professionals in the DMV area. The conversation, which will feature guest speakers, will center around combating antisemitism and Islamophobia from the outside while also addressing prejudice and misunderstanding within our own communities. We hope to bring Muslim and Jewish young adults together to learn about one another’s faiths and experiences and to use this knowledge and empathy to become better allies united against hatred. Amidst rising antisemitism and Islamophobia throughout the United States, we need to have these conversations and advance Muslim-Jewish solidarity. Our partners in carrying out this event will be Jewish and Muslim institutions across DMV area college campuses, faith organizations for young professionals, and interfaith institutions.

Speakers
Sabeeha Rehman

Sabeeha Rehman is the author of the 2016 memoir, “Threading My Prayer Rug. One Woman’s Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim,” Short-Listed for the 2018 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, the book also received several other nominations and awards. She is also an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal and New York Daily News. In the early 1980s, concerned about raising her sons as Muslims in the absence of a Muslim community, she set to work, and her commitment culminated in the building of a mosque on Staten Island where her family lived.
Sabeeha, who holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration, served as a hospital executive for 25 years. Thereafter, responding to her grandson’s autism diagnosis, she co-founded the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association and served as its President from 2008-11. As a public speaker, she has spent several decades engaging in interfaith dialogue and now serves as a board member of the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee as well as the NY Chapter of the National Autism Association. She blogs on topics related to American Muslim experience at www.sabeeharehman.com/blog.
She lives in New York City with her husband Khalid, a retired Hematologist/Oncologist.

Walter Ruby

Walter Ruby is a veteran activist in Muslim-Jewish relations. From 2008-2017, in the position of Muslim-Jewish Relations Director at the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, he organized hundreds of twinning events; bringing together thousands of Jews and Muslims in over 30 countries on five continents, including members of mosques and synagogues and Muslim and Jewish organizations. Ruby presently serves as executive director of Jews, Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT), a grassroots community of Muslim, Jewish and Interfaith activists in Greater Washington; and as Coordinator of the Washington Area Chapter of Project Rozana, which works to strengthen ties between Israelis and Palestinians through health care.
Ruby is currently co-authoring a book with Muslim-American author Sabeeha Rehman entitled We Refuse To Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time. Ruby has worked as a reporter and commentator for more than 40 years, mainly for American Jewish and Israeli publications. His articles and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and other media.
Walter lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Tatayna.

Ramadan Iftar Series 2021
2021-05-13 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | VA
Similar to last year, in the very spirit of Ramadan in 2021, Rumi Forum coordinated the virtual iftar series throughout Ramadan. We cordially invited everyone as we matched Muslim and non-Muslim friends, families, students, and professions to build new friendships and break bread together at iftar time.
We had the pleasure of meeting with members and friends of Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Christian Science Church, LDS Church Annandale Stake, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, DC United Hindu Temples, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Braver Angels Fairfax County Alliance, Congregation Adat Reyim, and many more. Although zoom has not the taste feature yet, this gathering spoke truly about the joy of friendship, solidarity, and neighborhood. Each iftar dinner was one of the living examples of communal harmony and solidarity with new friends. They were exceptional evenings filled with friendship, lively conversation, joy, and spirituality!

2nd Interfaith Leadership Forum: Human Dignity and Solidarity
2021-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
About the Event
Fratelli Tutti (All brothers and sisters), subtitled “on Fraternity and Social Friendship” is the third encyclical of Pope Francis. The document was signed on October 3, 2020, during Pope Francis’s visit to the top of his namesake St. Francis of Assisi, and was released on his feast day. It borrows its title from St. Francis’s Admonitions.
Fratelli Tutti is Catholic in terms of its origin, yet universal in terms of its substance. The encyclical addresses a set of contemporary global challenges that threaten global peace and highlights “fraternity” as a remedy to build a just world. As a sign of recognition of its global appeal, the United Nations declared February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity beginning in 2021.
Fratelli Tutti is the focal point of the 2nd Interfaith Leadership Forum. This conversation will bring together a diverse array of faith leaders and scholars in the DMV area and beyond for an interactive exchange on some of the most pressing issues of our age. As the search for answers on how to emerge better into a post-pandemic society continues, a collective reflection on Fratelli Tutti can renew hopes and illuminate the way forward.
Breakout Session Themes and Co-Chairs
Social and economic justice:

Kim Lamberty – Director of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC), Society of the Sacred Heart
Ann Delorey – Program Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington

Racism, ethnocentrism, and white nationalism:

Rev. Beverly Goines – Assistant Pastor, National City Christian Church in Washington
Rev. David Lindsey – Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington Immigration

Immigration:

Rev. Sharon Stanley-Rea – Director, Refugee & Immigration Ministries (RIM), Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Elket Rodriquez – Immigration Attorney, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Advocacy

War and conflict resolution:

Amr Abdalla – Professor Emeritus, University of Peace
Ibrahim Anli – Executive Director, Rumi Forum

This virtual program is sponsored by Interfaith Leadership Forum, including

Full Event Video

Scriptural Reasoning: "Clothing and Modesty"
2021-05-27 18:30 - 19:45 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures and the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Clothing and Modesty

This Month’s Study Leader

Dr. Nisa Muhammad is Howard University’s Assistant Dean for Religious Life. She is responsible for religious programming, advocates for the religious needs of Muslim students, faculty, and staff, teach nonacademic classes on the Islamic tradition, and works closely as part of the staff in the Office of the Dean of the Chapel to foster interfaith dialogue and cooperation. She organizes Muslim worship and devotion services, counsels and advises students, and answers questions from race to religion to relationships. She is the advisor to the Muslim Students Association, the Juvenile Justice Advocates, and the Chess Club. Dr. Muhammad is the president of the Association of Muslim Chaplains and on the board of the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Book Talk: Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination
2021-06-03 18:00 - 19:15 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
Arson and vandalism at houses of worship. Bullying at schools and harassment at the grocery store. Political scapegoating and institutionalized discrimination. Muslims in the United States and beyond have faced Islamophobia in a range of forms. This groundbreaking book argues that Christians though they are not the targets of Islamophobia should be at the forefront of efforts to end the prejudice and discrimination that Muslims face. Writing for Christians of all denominations, Jordan Denari Duffner offers an introduction to Islamophobia, discusses the unfortunate ways that Christians have contributed to it, and offers practical steps for standing in solidarity with Muslims. Viewing Islamophobia as both social justice and a religious freedom issue, Duffner makes the case that the Christian faith calls us to combat religious discrimination even when it is not directed toward our own faith community. She weaves together insights from Catholic social teaching, examples from Protestant leaders, and expertise from Muslim scholars and activists, resulting in a compelling book that will be of interest to academic and lay audiences alike.
Speaker/Author

Jordan Denari Duffner is an author, educator, and scholar of Muslim-Christian relations. Her books are Islamophobia: What Christians Should Know (and Do) about Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Finding Jesus among Muslims: How Loving Islam Makes Me a Better Catholic. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in theology and religious studies at Georgetown University and is an associate of the Bridge Initiative.

Moderator
Susan Douglass received a Ph.D. in world history from George Mason University in 2016 and holds an M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. Her research field is education history and policy in teaching about the world and world religions. She works on instructional design, and has published widely on American textbooks and curriculum standards policy, and has authored teaching resources for Unity Productions Foundation films, grant projects for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the British Council, and the National Center for History in the Schools and others. She is currently K-14 Education Outreach Coordinator at CCAS and has conducted teacher workshops for ACMCU since 2007.
Full Event Video

Scriptural Reasoning: "Covenant"
2021-06-17 18:30 - 19:45 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is a practice where Christians, Jews, and Muslims study each other’s sacred texts. SR participants meet once a month to read short passages from their respective scriptures on a certain topic. Facilitated by a study leader, each session is an opportunity to listen and share various perspectives. SR sessions help participants reflect on a curious list of topics within the Abrahamic tradition. The result is often a deeper understanding of others and one’s own scriptures and the development of strong bonds across faith communities.
Scriptural Reasoning – Introduction Reading Material: Covenant

This Month’s Study Leader

Rev. Richard L. Tafel is a transformative leader in the areas of faith, politics, and social impact. Tafel is also pastor of Church of the Holy City in Washington DC, where he is launching one of the first spiritual entrepreneur hubs. He represents the Swedenborgian Church of North America on the governing board of the National Council of Churches where he leads the annual Christian Muslim dialogue. Rich is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and served as Assistant Minister at the Memorial Church at Harvard University.
Rich is also the Managing Director of Raffa Social Capital Advisors where he matches impact investors to vetted social ventures. Partnering with investors his team provides back-office support, public policy, and strategic coaching to social ventures. He launched the first state-wide social entrepreneur competition in the USA in Michigan in 2014.
Rich is also the Director of the American Project at Pepperdine School of Public Policy in Malibu CA. This project is sponsored by the Democracy Fund bringing together leading thinkers to imagine new, center-right solutions to America’s broken political system. Tafel has a long history of fighting for civil rights. He has appeared on most major political programs. Before moving to Washington DC, Tafel was Adolescent Health Director for the State of MA.

We would like to thank Rose Castle Foundation for their permission to use their content.

Book Talk: No Power Over God's Bounty
2021-06-24 19:00 - 20:15 (America/Halifax) | Zoom
The Qur’an often addresses Jews and Christians as “People of Scripture” to indicate that they have received revelation from God. Yet, while acknowledging the special relationship and knowledge that this revelation brings, the Qur’an at the same time criticizes the People of Scripture for not remaining true to God’s guidance and claiming special power over God’s gifts. The mixture of acknowledgment and criticism is based on actual encounters with Jews and Christians at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an. This Christian commentary on the 31 texts in which the Qur’an discusses and addresses the People of Scripture includes the Muslim tradition of interpretation of these texts and adds Christian resonances in order to contribute to the future dialogue between Muslims and Christians on the common heritage and the differences between them.
Speaker:
Dr. Pim Valkenberg studied theology and religious studies in the Netherlands, where he was involved in the dialogue between the three Abrahamic religions at the Radboud University of Nijmegen where he worked for twenty years until he came to the United States with his family to work at Loyola University Maryland and, since 2011, the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. His fields of specialization are comparative theology, interreligious dialogue, and Christian – Muslim relations. Among his publications are World Religions in Dialogue (2014, 2017), Renewing Islam By Service: A Christian View of Fethullah Gülen and the Hizmet Movement (2015), and Nostra Aetate: Celebrating Fifty Years of the Catholic Church’s Dialogue with Jews and Muslims (2016). His latest book is published in 2021 by Peeters in Leuven: No Power over God’s Bounty: A Christian Commentary on the “People of Scripture” in the Qur’ān.

Discussant:
Dr. Zeki Saritoprak is Professor and the Bediüzzaman Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University. He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology from the University of Marmara in Turkey. Professor Saritoprak is the author of Islam’s Jesus (University Press of Florida, 2014) and over thirty academic articles and encyclopedia entries on topics in Islam. He has served as guest editor for issues of the journals Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations and the Muslim World. He is editor and co-translator of Fundamentals of Rumi’s Thought: A Mevlevi Sufi Perspective (in English; New Jersey: The Light, 2004) and the editor of a critical edition of al-Sarakhsi’s Sifat Ashrat al-Sa’a (in Arabic; Cairo, 1993). He is currently preparing a book on Islamic spirituality tentatively titled Islamic Spirituality: Theology and Practice for the Modern World.
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