Rumi Forum

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

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.

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

Interfaith Dialogue: Maintaining Religious Identity in a New Culture
2018-02-14 | MD
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.

Voices of the Heart: Forgiveness
2018-02-07 | MD
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.

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

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 | MD
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

2018 Rumi Forum Study Trip to Australia
2018-01-19 - 2018-02-25 | MD
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,

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

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

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

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

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

Peaceful Communities: Faiths for Social Justice
2017-10-19 | MD
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.

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.”

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

A Discussion of God’s Compassion and Forgiveness
2017-09-16 | MD
On Saturday, September 16th, 2017 we hosted an interfaith panel around the discussion of God’s Compassion and Forgiveness at the Ohr Kodesh Temple co-sponsored by the Beth El Congregation of Montgomery County.
Interfaith Panel on God’s Compassion and Forgiveness
Event Time: 9 PM to 10:30 PM
–Break for Refreshments–
Service Time: 11 PM
Ohr Kodesh Temple
8300 Meadowbrook Ln, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

This program was part of the celebrations marking the start of Jewish High Holy Days held at Ohr Kodesh Temple in Chevy Chase. Every year on the Saturday night preceding Rosh Ha-Shanah, they have a late-night service called “Selichot” and this year we had an interfaith panel as part of that service to include speakers from each of the Abrahamic faiths who discussed God’s compassion and forgiveness from each of their faith’s viewpoints.

Background on the Jewish High Holy Days
Although the High Holidays themselves–the two days of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) — occupy three days only, they lie within a web of liturgy and customs that extend from the beginning of the preceding Hebrew month of Elul through Yom Kippur. The focus of this entire period is the process of teshuvah, or repentance, whereby a Jew admits to sins, asks for forgiveness, and resolves not to repeat the sins. Recognizing the psychological difficulty of self-examination and personal change, the rabbis instituted a 40-day period whose intensity spirals toward its culmination on Yom Kippur, a day devoted entirely to fasting and repentance.
The High Holiday period begins on the first day of the Jewish month of Elul. In the Ashkenazi tradition, during this month of soul searching, the shofar, or ram’s horn, is blown each morning except on the Sabbath, to call upon listeners to begin the difficult process of repentance. Also in Elul special haftarot–prophetic portions–focusing on consolation acknowledge the vulnerability of an individual grappling with personal change. During the week before Rosh Hashanah, intensity increases as traditional Jews begin reciting selichot, prayers that involve confessing sins and requesting God’s forgiveness and help. On the Sabbath before Rosh Hashanah, the selichot is chanted at midnight, rather than their usual early morning hour.
Background Source: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-high-holidays/
Temple Information: http://www.ohrkodesh.org/
Speakers:
Imam Ali Siddiqui Classically educated Imam, Khatib, Interfaith Leader, organizer, Chaplain, and Advocate for Mutual Understanding and Respect, Peace, Economic Justice, and Humane Immigration with 43 years of interfaith experience working with Jews, Christians, Catholics, Mormons, Quakers, Buddhists, Sikh, and the other faiths in the area of community service. Imam Siddiqui is very engaged and frequently delivers invocations and benedictions at City Councils and School Boards, civic and political groups, and Graduation Ceremonies. He teaches Islam, comparative religion, history of Islam and Muslims of Americas, contemporary issues to Muslims and non-Muslims at the institutions of higher learning including Sonoma State, Santa Rosa Community College, School of Religion (Claremont Graduate University), California Baptist University, Disciple of Christ Seminary, School of Theology (now Lincoln University), and La Verne University, and Open University Denver.

The Reverend Doctor Roy Howard has been the pastor of Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville since 2001. Prior to that he served congregations in Virginia and Kentucky. He earned his master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University, his masters in divinity from Emory University in Atlanta and his Doctorate in Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC Pastor Howard has been active in interfaith relations throughout his career particularly with Jewish-Christian encounters since his first trip to Israel in 1985. Since that time he has traveled to Israel many times and been instrumental in creating a dialogue with Jews and Christians, as well as Muslims. In 2006 he and Rabbi Bill Rudolph established a dialogue group between Beth El and Saint Mark including a joint congregations visit to Israel. His most recent trip to Israel was with Interfaith Partners for Peace accompanied by Rabbi Greg Harris of Beth El and Rabbi Batya Glacier of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

Rabbi Lyle Fishman has been the religious leader of Ohr Kodesh Congregation since 1984. He served the Greenburgh Hebrew Center in Dobbs Ferry, New York, before that. He graduated with honors from Yale University majoring in religious studies. He spent his junior year at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He then attended The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York from which he received a Master’s degree in Hebrew Literature and then rabbinical ordination. He taught at the Herzl Institute of New York while serving as a rabbi. He has authored “Why Did Nadav and Avihu” for the Proceedings of the Rabbinical Assembly (1989) and “The Value Base of Jewish Family Life Education: A Rabbinic View” in “A Generation of Service: History of the Department on Religious Affairs 1952-1982” (1982). Rabbi Fishman is also very active in his community, helping to create the Washington Chevra Chapter to foster a better interchange of ideas among community rabbis, among other initiatives.

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

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

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

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

Interfaith Picnic at the National Cathedral

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Women of Faith's Contribution to Society: Role Models from History
2017-05-03 | MD
The Rumi Forum hosted a panel event at Temple B’nai Shalom for a presentation on women of faith and their contribution to society.
Date & Time:
May 3rd, 2017
6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Venue:
Temple B’nai Shalom
7612 Old Ox Road
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
The Rumi Forum organized an event highlighting the experiences of women in the three Abrahamic faith traditions. The event featured a panel discussion followed by a question and answer session where audience members had the opportunity to direct questions towards any of the three-panel members, each one representing a different religion.

Reverend Meg Peery McLaughlin, a pastor at Burke Presbyterian Church, spoke first about the inherent equality between men and women illustrated in the book of Genesis with God’s creation of a single creature who is then separated into a man and a woman. However, cultural and societal norms often overshadow this inherent equality found in the Bible. Reverend McLaughlin gave insight into the ways that Christian women have often struggled silently or behind the scenes in order to do God’s work. Her remarks touched upon her own family history, as the child of generations of Presbyterian ministers, as well as the story of Jo Ann Robinson, a civil rights activist who was a key organizer in the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. Reverend McLaughlin spoke about how Robinson among many other women played important roles in orchestrating God’s work, despite never receiving recognition, and how it is often in silence where we can hear and feel God strongly.
Riham Osman, Communications Coordinator at the Muslim Public Affairs Council built upon the idea of silence, speaking upon the absence of positive stories about Muslims; Muslim women in particular, in the news or on social media. She emphasized the difficulty in working to bring these positive stories to connect with a wider audience. Osman then spoke about two Muslim women in history named Khadija and Aisha, who provide powerful examples of female leadership in the religion of Islam. Both women were wives of the Prophet Muhammed and challenged traditional gender roles of the time. In Khadija’s case, she engaged in trade and business (a male-dominated profession) which then allowed her to provide for her husband. Aisha, on the other hand, challenged gender norms of her time by becoming a scholar of Islamic jurisprudence, which gave her the ability to interpret the law and the Quran from the very beginning.
The final speaker was Rabbi Laura Rappaport, Assistant Rabbi, and Educator at Temple B’nai Shalom, who discussed the damaging effect of preconceived notions of gender and the different expectations that society sets for individuals as a result. Rappaport noted that Jewish women in every field have made important contributions to history, not just in the roles typically reserved for women. She mentioned the biblical hero Esther, who strove to save her people despite the limited resources available to her demonstrating that there are many ways to achieve greatness and forward God’s work. A lesson that Rabbi Rappaport drew from this story and from other examples of women of faith acting in ways that challenged expectations is the need to look beyond the stereotypes that we hold of others and to use these examples to broaden narrow definitions of value and appropriate behavior.
The discussion concluded with a question and answer session where all three panelists talked about the process of change within religion and the difficulties in adapting ancient faiths to contemporary issues. Questions touched upon the issues surrounding women’s leadership in prayer and religious ritual, spiritual guidance in the wake of recent political events, and the struggles of younger generations to find meaning and comfort in traditional houses of worship. Through this discussion, the panelists were able to highlight the diverse contributions of women in religion and bring nuance to the term “woman of faith” while stressing the need for unity among faith communities in order to help bridge societal divides.
Speakers:
Rabbi Laura Rappaport is Assistant Rabbi and Educator at Temple B’nai Shalom. She brings a wealth of experience as a pulpit rabbi, a Director of Congregational Learning, a board-certified hospital chaplain, a director of non-profits, an adjunct college faculty member, an educator for all ages in many settings and the mother of two. Rabbi Rappaport grew up in rural Northwest New Jersey and received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her M.A.H.L. and Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Jerusalem and Cincinnati campuses). She has also completed Masters’ level courses in Bio-ethics from Rush University and the University of Washington and Doctoral level courses in Jewish Studies from Spertus College in Chicago.

The Reverend Meg Peery McLaughlin serves as Co-Pastor at Burke Presbyterian Church, alongside her husband, Jarrett. She is a native of North Carolina, graduated with a Bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and with a Master’s in Divinity and in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA. Meg was ordained as a Teaching Elder (Minister of Word and Sacrament) in 2006, at Village Presbyterian Church near Kansas City, MO, where she served for seven years in the role of Pastoral Care.

Riham Osman joined the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) in September 2013 as the Program Assistant in the Washington, DC office, where she provided leadership in several office initiatives. Riham currently serves as the Communications Coordinator in Washington, DC where she specializes in digital media, manages the organization’s online presence and works to ensure the media accurately portrays American Muslims.
Prior to joining MPAC, Riham was an MPAC Young Leader and participated in MPAC’s 2013 Government Summit, which sparked an interest in her to pursue a career at the crossroads of policy and media. Riham is a 2013 University of Mary Washington alumna and received her undergraduate education in International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies. Riham has appeared on multiple media outlets, including NPR, ABC7, NBC, and CCTV. She has also commented on issues such as countering violent extremism and Islamophobia in the Washington Post, Bloomberg, the Huffington Post, and the International Business Times.

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

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

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

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