I was never a fan of social engineering until I became involved in the interfaith world and realized that pluralism is not intuitive. It takes conscious effort. In other words, it takes some engineering. There are few organic social conditions that propel people from different faith traditions to meaningfully engage…
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This article is part of a collaborative series commissioned by altMuslimah and Jewschool to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding between Muslim and Jewish communities experiencing a rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Trumpian White nationalism and supremacy are transnational and have found their mirror globally, in emboldened movements that threaten both…
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Avigayil Halpern: Sarah, something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is the ways in which the burden of creating progressive religious community often falls on women, even as men position themselves as eager allies and members of such a community. Communities that seek out women to lead them give…
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There are many things to be concerned about in the political and social fabric of America these days. But there is also much evidence that diverse groups of Americans see themselves as part of a shared community and a shared humanity. On May 26, 2017, 53-year-old Ricky John Best and…
Read MoreThis past week Rachel Freier became the first Hasidic Jewish woman to hold elected office in America. An attorney, an activist and a devout Hasidic Jew, Freier took the bench as a civil court judge in Brooklyn one week ago, and in doing so forged a path never before taken…
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On Saturday nights, a man stands on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica yelling false and insulting words against my religion and its followers. I am Muslim; I wear a headscarf, so this feels personal. And while I’ve become somewhat desensitized to it, it is still awful to listen…
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With all the stories on the Internet it can be difficult to always stay in the know. To help, we’ve searched the web for interesting pieces of news, videos and tips to help you start off your week on the right foot. 1. Burka-wearing superhero cartoon to hit London’s screens By…
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With all the stories on the Internet it can be difficult to always stay in the know. To help, we’ve searched the web for interesting pieces of news, videos and tips to help you start off your week on the right foot. 1. Hijabi woman snaps selfie next to anti-Muslim protestors…
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On many occasions and in many spaces, interfaith work has gotten a bad rap. “It’s all kumbaya and touchy feely stuff,” one friend told me. Another lamented, “People talk and talk, but nothing ever gets accomplished.” And my favorite dismissal of interfaith work is that it preaches to those already…
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[title maintitle=”” subtitle=”Reprinted with permission from Jewishjournal.com”] “Use words. Help me understand.” As mothers, we have both found this phrase useful from time to time in helping our children navigate the terrain of conflicting emotions. As people deeply engaged in conflict resolution and building relationships among Jews and Muslims, we also…
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