|
||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||||
|
 |
||||||||
|
HIGHLIGHTS OF FALL SEMESTER ING News & Information, 12/18/07 In this edition:
Happy Holiday Season! As all major faiths enter or are in the holiday season, ING wishes Holiday Greetings to all faith practitioners for their different holidays, including Advent, Hanukkah, St. Nicholas Day, Bodhi Day, Eid al Adha, Tohji-taisai, Kwanza, Christmas and any other holidays occurring around this winter time period. End of Year Totals for Fall Semester As the fall semester draws to a close, ING has seen a busier than ever season once again, with requests for presentations in schools coming into the ING office up to the last minute before the holiday vacation. Additionally, ING speakers spoke at faith based venues, to healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, and other venues for over 300 presentations by the end of the semester! This means that ING speakers reached nearly ten thousand Americans of other faiths over the past few months, visiting 31 different cities and 6 different states. Highlights of this semester’s presentations include the following: Interfaith Events: * Three Common Ground Speaker Series between ING and the Jewish Community Relations Council, East Bay * Interfaith Darfur Event, Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral * A Gathering of Blessings Celebration, Interfaith Center at the Presidio * Four Part “Study of Islam and Muslim Series” at Jewish Community Center of San Francisco * Orientation at Federal Methodist Church, Patterson * “Islam and Contemporary Issues,” Hope Lutheran Church, San Mateo * “Orientation on Islam and Muslims” at Peace Lutheran Church, Danville * “Orientation on Islam and Muslims,” Temple Emanu-El, San Francisco, * Interfaith Service at First United Methodist Church, Napa * World AIDS Day Event, San Jose * Interfaith Holiday Event, St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, San Francisco * “Woven in the Fabric of Life – Faith” event at Presbyterian Church, Livermore * Interfaith Dialogue on “Retributive Justice,” Silicon Valley Conference for Community & Justice interfaith group * Ramadan Open Houses at Cordoba Center Mosque, Yaseen Foundation mosque in Belmont, Livermore Islamic Center and the Islamic Society of East Bay in Fremont Healthcare and Law Enforcement: * “Healthcare for Muslim Patients,” Alta Bates Summit Medical Center * “Healthcare for the Muslim Patient,” UCSF * Hate Crimes Investigation class, Napa Valley Community College * California Probation Parole and Corrections Association Conference * Cultural Diversity Panel for the FBI Colleges and Universities: * University of the Pacific’s Ramadan Fast-a-thon * Ramadan at Mills College Fast-a-thon * “Feminism & Women in Islam,” Stanford University * “Orientation on Islam and Women’s Issues,” Boise, Idaho * Sonoma State Panel on Islamophobia and its Affects * Orientation on Islam and Muslims, San Jose State Community Events: * Islamic Contributions to Civilization presentation in Arizona * “Orientation on Islam and Muslims” at Delta Kappa Gamma * “Orientation on Islam and Muslims” for Sons in Retirement (SIR) Third Common Grounds Series on “December Holiday Convergence,” 12/12/07 In the third and last of the Common Ground Series on December holidays sponsored by the ING-JCRC of the East Bay Coalition, religious leaders in each faith spoke about their respective holidays, while comparing themes and goals of each holiday to that of the other. The theme of the Wednesday evening event was “December Holiday Convergence: Hanukkah and Eid al-Adha,” After introductions by the 30 plus attendees from both the Jewish and Muslim communities, the program began with an overview by Imam Faheem Shuaibe from Masjid Waritheen in Oakland on the focus and rituals of Eid ul-Adha, or “the Festival of the Sacrifice.” After enumerating the verses that address the story of Abraham and the command to sacrifice his son, who was miraculously replaced by a ram, he described some of the themes of the commemoration, stressing the commitment that both the father and son displayed, and the significance of the story in ending the practice of human sacrifice that had long prevailed in many cultures. He ended by describing some of the rituals associated with the celebration, including special prayers, clothes, and the sharing of food with family, friends, and those in need. The conversation continued with an overview of the meanings and rituals of Hanukkah by Rabbi James Brandt, Director of East Bay Federation Jewish Center for Living and Learning. He began his presentation with his observation of the similarity between the two faiths, as demonstrated in the description of the story of Abraham, and the central role the moon as a symbol of the cosmos plays in religious life. He than explained the historical basis for Hanukkah, the symbolism of the menorah and the lightening of the candles, which represents the rededication of the 2nd Temple and the miracle of enough oil for eight nights of light when there had only been enough for one night. Describing what Jews today do on Hanukkah, he first explained the Jewish calendar, which is lunar but is adjusted to keep the holiday around the same time of the year, before enumerating some of the other contemporary traditions, such as playing with the dreidel, which is engraved with four letters that stand for “a great miracle happened there.” He concluded with some of the transcendent meanings of the celebration, such as the pull between the dominant culture at the time, and Jewish faith, which symbolizes the importance of religious freedom, and ultimately the message of hope. The event concluded the three part Common Ground Series, but exciting new events lie ahead for those wishing to learn and share about the Jewish and Muslim faiths and traditions. Support ING as the Year Draws to an End! As we draw to the end of the year and you haven’t yet supported ING’s outreach programs, or would like to increase your level of existing support, consider donating to one of ING’s many programs, or providing ongoing support by signing up for monthly automatic donations through your credit or debit card. Help increase religious literacy while receiving a tax deduction for your donation. To donate, see: https://www.ing.org/donate/ ING Training for the Newly Formed “Interfaith Speakers Bureau” All training workshops are between 6:00 and 10:00 pm. To sign up, please contact ING’s Interfaith Coordinator, Yasmine Khan at Yasmine@ing.org or go to this page for more information: http://www.ing.org/ifsb/ifsb.asp Interested in becoming an ING Speaker for the “Islamic Speakers Bureau”? Do you like meeting new people, explaining your faith, clarifying misconceptions? If so and you have a car and a flexible schedule, consider becoming an ING speaker. Contact ING’s Program Manager, Grace Fong at Grace@ing.org. Islamic Speakers Bureau trainings will be held in February 2008. Reserve your space now. Community Releases Archive . . .  Shana Tova and Eid Mubarak! ING Interfaith Statement for One America A Call to Action: Join ‘Muslim Serve’ National Campaign for Service & Understanding on 9/11 “Muslim Serve”/ING Improves Perceptions of Islam and Muslims Preventing Bullying & Harassment, Back to School and Park51 NYC Mosque ING President participates in meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan Responding to 'Draw Muhammad Day' ING Participates in Federal Government Meetings ING Condemns NYC Plot and Supports Efforts against Extremism A Conversation about Education Reform with the U.S. Department of Education Can you have religious freedom without limiting free speech? ING Statements on Religious Expression in American Public Life/Church Attacks in Malaysia ING Statement on Church Attacks in Malaysia Thank you for your continuing support! Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and New Year ING Statement on Religious Extremism Guide to Preventing Hate Crimes and Reporting Harassment ING Condemns Deadly Attack at Ft. Hood Thank You for Making ING's Annual Supporters Dinner a Success ING Breaks Fast with Secretary Clinton ING Accredited by the Better Business Bureau ING Participates in ISNA July 4th Weekend in D.C. ING Reaches Over 20,000 People in 2008-2009 Academic Year ING Welcomes President Obama's Speech in Cairo ING Statement on Alleged Terrorist Plot in NYC ING Hosting Faiths Act Fellows Become an ING Intern or Join ING Team of Volunteers American Muslims Call for Swift Action Against Domestic Violence Silcon Valley Interfaith Leaders Endorse Declaration for Peace on M.E. Crisis Celebrating a Historic Inauguration and Martin Luther King's Legacy Humanitarian Aid in Gaza Blessed Eid, and Interfaith Forums American Muslims Condemn Terrorist Attacks in Mumbai Thank you to our friends and supporters! Action-Alert: Anti-Muslim Film Obsession Mailed to California Residents Back to School at ING & Ramadan Kit ING's Cultural Competency Programming for Law Enforcement Muslim Women Clerics Play Indispensable Role ING "Interfaith Speakers Bureau" Panels Muslim Scholars Back Call for Interfaith Dialogue In Qatar, Muslim, Jewish Clerics Meet New ING Blog ING Recognition Awards for Educators Responding to and Preventing Hate in Public Schools The Bible in Islam: Stories of Shared Prophets Global Warming: Muslim American Responsibility & Response Muslim Professionals & the Not-For-Profit Sector Feminism in Islam Intergroup Muslim and Jewish Conflict Transformation Program Roots of Islam in America through Enslaved West Africans Afghan American Muslim Outreach Saturday, Feb 16th Speakers Bureau Training ING's Outstanding Pen Award for Inter-Religious Understanding ING's Healthcare Cultural Competency Presentations Speakers Training & Women in Religion Dialogue Professional Teacher Staff Development Interfaith Speakers Bureau Training Tonight - 1/23/07 Upcoming Speakers Training Workshops Educating for Religious Literacy & Mutual Respect Islam & HIV/AIDS ING Statement on the British Teacher in Sudan Islamophobia and its Affects Coexistence through Art Power of One: How One Person Can Affect Change Thank You to All Our Supporters! Answering Frequently Asked Questions About Islam Feminism & Women in Islam Islamic Contributions to Civilization Responding to "Islamo-Fascism Week" on College Campuses Call for Unity from Muslim Religious Leaders "Outstanding Philanthropist" Awards Keep the Diversity, Seek the Harmony ING Speaks at Antioch Mosque Vandalism March Interfaith Prayer for Darfur & World Leaders Marching Together Against Hate and Violence in East Contra Costa County ING Joins Albany's Peace Day ING Guidelines for Hosting an Interfaith Holiday Event Illumemedia.org Interview with ING's Founder & President ING Presents to Homeland Security ING's Participation in ISNA Convention 2007 10% Increase in Presentations from Previous Year Statement from the Association of Muslim Health Professionals on Events Unfolding in the UK New Hires at ING Cultural Competency Serving Arab and Muslim American Families Preserving the First Amendment Healthcare for Muslim Patients A Call for Moral Leadership: Imagining a New Heroism Advocating Against Violence and For One Nation "Muslim Americans: Mostly Middle Class and Mainstream" Islamic Contributions to Civilization Religion in the Workplace Could Genocide Happen Here? & FBI Meeting Happy Earth Day! An Interfaith Response to a Controversial Speaker Happy Holidays from ING New Speakers Bureau in Columbus, Ohio Interfaith Dialogue Among Laity The Mosque as an American Institution ING Presentations at Bay Area Universities ING and High School Presentations in Spring 2007 Inter-Religious Dialogue in the Bay Area Conflict in the Muslim World ING Adopts an Environmental Policy ING Initiates and Participates in Interfaith Dialogues ING Reaches 25,000 Americans of Other Faiths in Bay Area ING Perspective on Holocaust Conference in Iran Thank You to All Our Supporters! ING's Muslim Mental Health Training Muslim Group Deflates Stereotypes ING Trains Police Officers in Milpitas Share in ING’s Promotion of Interfaith Dialogue and Education ING Founder Invited to U.S. State Department For Annual Iftaar ING Participates in Meaning of Ramadan Open Houses ING Featured in 9/11 Specials on PBS and KGO ING Perspective on Pope's Remarks ING Gears Up for a New School Year After ISNA Convention Organization Aims to Educate Others About Religion End of Year Totals for ING, 7/25/06 ING Responds to Arrests in Miami Spike in Requests for Presentations About Islam & Muslims from High Schools ING Summer Interns Muslim-Jewish Relations in the Bay Area ING Presentations on College Campuses ING Joins "Day of Conscience for Darfur" ING President Meets with Dalai Lama Apostasy in Islam ING Training for UCSF Nursing Department Muslim Scholars' Statement on Danish Cartoons Controversy Opinion on Danish Cartoons Published in San Jose Mercury News ING Training for Healthcare & Hospitals ING Statement Regarding Danish Cartoons Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King's Day Eid Mubarak & ING Updates in the Bay Area ING President Message to ISNA 2005 Conventioneers ING President Message to ISNA 2005 Conventioneers Role of Nationals in Terrorist Bombings National US Muslim Organizations Condemn Terrorism ING Condemns Terror Attacks in London Celebrating the Fourth of July Mukhtaran Mai's Case Opinion on Danish Cartoons Published in San Jose Mercury News - Frequently Asked Questions on Terrorism ING's Annual Community Support Dinner ING's Response to the War in Iraq ING Parent-Child Workshops: Yaseen Foundation ING Press Conference: Impact of War in Our Schools ING Parent-Child Workshops: SBIA, San Jose ING Commemorates "Day of Remembrance" ING Affiliates Conference |
 |
||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright