Jewish and Muslim Cyclists Will Ride Together, Narrowing the Distance Between Faiths

On Sunday, June 30, area Jews and Muslims will share the road and their places of worship via bicycle tour of North shore Chicago-area mosques and synagogues.

 

Photo by The Chicago Tribune

The Jewish-Muslim Ride is the second in what Julie Hochstadter, of The Chainlink hopes will be a series of annual rides that share the faiths’ heritage and houses of worship. The Chainlink: A Chicago Bicycling Online Community, is managed by Hochstadter as a website that connects cyclists to biking news and events in Chicago.

“Last year’s ride in the city was a surprisingly huge success,” says Hochstadter. “I’d love to see two rides a year in different parts of the Chicago-land area.”

Inspiration for the ride came in the mid 2000s after Hochstadter participated in a ride that brought Arab and Jewish students together to raise money for an environmental school in Israel.

“The ride not only got me hooked on biking, but on the power of bringing people of different faiths together for a fun, shared goal,” she says.

This year’s ride is co-sponsored by The Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI) (an initiative of JCUA) and the Evanston Bicycle Club. Interfaith and bicycle organizations interested in partnering to bring common ground to Muslims and Jews are welcome to sponsor or ride.

Riders will meet at the The Muslim Community Center at noon and ride to several synagogues and mosques in Morton Grove, Skokie and Evanston for a 15-mile, family-friendly ride. There are plans to tour a LEED-certified synagogue in Evanston and for a kosher ice cream stop at Chocolate Shoppe in Skokie.

“Our hope is to find common ground, quite literally,” Hochstadter says. “And show unity by riding together. The more time we spend with one other, the more we can do to bring together the two faiths and fight stereotypes and, possibly make change.”

North shore synagogue and mosque stops along the way include: The Muslim Community Center in Morton Grove; Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation; Beth Emet The Free Synagogue.

The Jewish-Muslim ride is open to riders of all abilities and all faiths.

More Information:

• Event information can be found on The Chainlink website.
• For more information on the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Innitiative, visit:  http://www.jmcbi.org

Contact:

Julie Hochstadter, Director
The Chainlink
773-965-3396
julie@thechainlink.org

 

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About The Chainlink:  With over 8,000 members, The Chainlink is Chicagoland’s premiere social media site for cyclists, from commuters to racers, from local aldermen and City of Chicago officials, to Peter Sagal of National Public Radio’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me.”

Meet the Slowbots: Bringing World Influences to Cafe Finjan

Cafe Finjan 2013 will bring together a variety groups in performances ranging from dance and spoken word to music and stand up comedy. One of the most excitingly diverse groups performing is the Slowbots. Their musical influences include soul music, Pakistani and Indian poetry, hip hop and R&B. Meet the Slowbots…

The Slowbots

Cafe Finjan 2013:
Thursday, April 4, 6:00pm
American Islamic College
(640 W. Irving Park, Chicago)
$5 Suggested Donation
Get more details.

About the Slowbots:

The Slowbots’ music is a soulful rendering of influences from all over the world. Their style at times bucks the trend, and at times pays heartfelt tribute to the classics. Sultry, powerful vocals, strong melodies, and expressive music combine to pay homage to those broken moments in life that define us.  The Slowbots are currently working on their first album.

A little about the band members:

Nick Jaffe, the guitarist, is Chief Editor of the Teaching Artist Journal, a publication for the Center for Arts Policy at Columbia College.  He has also backed the performing artists Bobby Brown, Common, Dwele & Estelle.  His other musical projects focus on a wide variety of genres including soul, hip hop, rock and r&b.

Yasmin Ali, the lead singer, was trained from childhood in a sung form of poetry known as a Naat in India and Pakistan.  She seeks to combine that art form with a more contemporary one.

Angela Salva, the violinist, performs in the Dupage Symphony Orchestra among other projects. Katie Chow is the Slowbots’ intrepid drummer, and Todd Swope backs them on bass.  Rashik Farhan Rashid joins them on back up vocals and lead guitar.

Rakae Jamil

For their performance at Cafe Finjan, the Slowbots will be joined by Rakae Jamil.  Rakae Jamil began learning the sitar when he was 12. His first teacher was Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan of Poonchwalay, who was the son of one of the greatest exponents of the sitar and vichitra veena, Ustad Sharif Khan of Poonchwalay.  He has performed at the All Pakistan Music Conference, which was held in memory of its founder, the late Ustad Hayat Ahmad Khan, and has performed several recordings of it at the Sanjan Nagar Institute of Philosophy and Arts.

Rakae received the Ustad Fateh Ali Khan Gold medal for 1st place at the All Pakistan Music Conference in March, 2006, and the Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwalay gold medal in April, 2007. In December 2005 he participated in the British Council “Music Masti” program in November 2005, and was awarded a 2-week trip to the United Kingdom for a music exchange program: Trinity College; Warwick University; University of Edinburgh & University of Glasgow.

Meet the Emcees of Cafe Finjan 2013: Adam and Taz

We are very excited to announce that the emcees of Cafe Finjan 2013 are a very dynamic duo: Adam Shames and Taz Rashid. They both have a lot of experience in engaging audiences in a creative and fun way!

Cafe Finjan: Jewish. Muslim. Art.
Thursday, April 4, 2013, 6:oopm
American Islamic Collage (640 W. Irving Park, Chicago)
$5 Suggested Donation

Adam Shames

Adam is a creativity expert, organizational consultant and speaker who specializes in innovation, teambuilding and community events.  He is also a musician, poet and executive director of Poetry Pals, an interfaith non-profit creativity program that brings together Muslim, Jewish and Catholic kids and their communities.

A former “Teacher of the Year” with a master’s degree from Stanford University, Adam is the founder of the Kreativity Network, writes about creativity in his “Innovation on my Mind” blog and is adjunct faculty for Depaul University School of New Learning.

Taz Rashid

Taz has been producing and part of creating conscious, spiritual events in Chicago, IL and California over the last few years and as a musician, he plays guitar, keyboard, Native American Flute, didgeridoo and hand percussion. He is also a Poet Educator with Poetry Pals, an interfaith non-profit creativity program that brings together Muslim, Jewish and Catholic kids and their communities. He also produces a drug alcohol free all ages dance party in Chicago called Club Divine.

Get all Cafe Finjan Details at: www.CafeFinjan.org

Nationally Known Comedian, Dean Obeidallah, to Perform at Cafe Finjan on April 4th

We are excited to announce that Dean Obeidallah will make a guest appearance at Cafe Finjan 2013 via Skype from New York City. Cafe Finjan details: April 4, 6pm at American Islamic College.

Dean Obeidallah is an award winning comedian who was at one time a practicing attorney. He has appeared on Comedy Central’s “Axis of Evil” special, ABC’s “The View,” PBS’ special, “Muslim American Comedians come of Age,” and he can be seen weekly on CNN.

Dean is currently co-producing/co-directing a documentary entitled “The Muslims are Coming!” featuring a stand up comedy tour of Muslim-American comedians performing free shows across the South and West in the hopes of fostering understanding. The film features interviews with The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, comedians Lewis Black, David Cross and many more.

He also co-created the stands up comedy show “Stand up For Peace” with Jewish comedian Scott Blakeman that they perform at schools across the country in hopes of fostering understanding between people of different faiths.  He is also the co-creator of the annual NY Arab-American Comedy Festival.

Get the latest Cafe Finjan details at: www.CafeFinjan.org

Exploring Cafe Finjan’s Venue: American Islamic College

American Islamic College will host Cafe Finjan – the annual Jewish/Muslim performing arts event – on April 4th, 2013. Find out more about this vibrant community institution that combines academic learning, community engagement and Islamic spirituality.

by Max Harkavy
Communications Intern, JCUA

American Islamic College (AIC), located at 640 W Irving Park Road in Chicago, was founded, it was intended to serve as a college of liberal arts & sciences that is grounded in Islamic spirituality.

Romana Manzoor

“The building that houses AIC was bought from Immaculata High School in the 1980s with the hopes of creating a liberal arts college that would operate within an Islamic framework,” said Romana Manzoor, the program coordinator for AIC.  The first administration at AIC was able to work up to being fully accredited, but the institution has since seen their accreditation revoked.

“The new administration, that started in 2010, is working to revamp and revive the college,” said Manzoor.  “We are starting the accreditation process all over again.”

Since taking over, the new administration has enhanced the mission of the college, going beyond the attempts of the previous administration, by creating a hotbed for both spiritual and secular learning.  AIC seeks to be an institution that can offer classes that are academically rigorous, challenging, and thought provoking.  Offering these types of courses is important but the college also seeks to remain rooted in spirituality, while being a place where students can feel comfortable with expanding their knowledge of both Islam and other, more secular topics.

Meet Yasmin Ali: Cafe Finjan Organizer and Musician

On April 4, 2013 the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative will hold its 12th annual Cafe Finjan – an evening of Jewish/Muslim artistic expression. Yasmin Ali – a musician and one of the event organizers – talks about Cafe Finjan 2013.

by Max Harkavy
Communications Intern, JCUA

Yasmin and the Slowbots at Cafe Finjan 2012

Every year, Jews and Muslims from across the Chicagoland area gather to celebrate the growing relationship between the two faiths through artistic expression at Café Finjan.  With performances of all types, Café Finjan never fails to excite, and this year will be no exception.

Yasmin Ali

Yasmin Ali, a Café Finjan volunteer and a performer said, “Not only are we discovering more about our own faiths, but through artistic expression, we find ways to share a positive experience.”

Ali performed with her band, The Slowbots, at last years Café Finjan, which was held on March 20^th at Columbia College.  “I actually performed a combination of things,” said Ali.  “I have a band and we focus on fusing our musical upbringings with modern American music,” she said.  Last year’s Café Finjan hosted nearly 200 people.  This time around, they are hoping for even more.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Cafe Finjan 2013

by Asaf Bar-Tura
Director of Programs, JCUA

YOU are invited to apply to CAFÉ FINJAN 2013: The 12th Annual Jewish/Muslim Performing Arts Event

Jewish and Muslim poets singer-songwriters, storytellers, comedians, actors, dancers, bands, painters, photographers, and filmmakers: We look forward to seeing your work! Professionals and non-professionals are welcome to apply.

EVENT DETAILS:

• WHEN: 6:00-9:00pm, Thursday, April 4, 2013
• WHERE: American Islamic College, 640 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago

APPLY NOW! DEADLINE: THURSDAY, MARCH 1

To apply, send an email to CafeFinjan2013@gmail.com. Kindly include:

• Your name
• Contact information (phone and email)
• Description of your performance piece
• Samples of your art (mp3s, links, videos, photos) if possible
• Indicate the community (Jewish or Muslim) with which you identify

QUESTIONS?

Contact Asaf Bar-Tura, asaf@jcua.org

EVENT 3/11/13: “Best Practices in Interfaith Engagement”

[UPDATE - 3/5 -  JCUA's executive director Judy Levey will speak in Rabbi London's stead.]

Rabbi Andrea London will speak about JCUA’s Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI) at a panel discussion titled “Best Practices in Interfaith Engagement.”

Rabbi London (right) co-leading a text study with Hind Makki (left) on the role of women in Jewish and Muslim traditions (July 2012)

Rabbi London is the co-chair of the advisory committee to JMCBI, and is Senior Rabbi at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue.

The panel discussion is part of a larger conference at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (in Hyde Park). The theme is the conference is  “Faithful Living in an Interfaith World.”

When: March 11, 2013, 4:00-5:00 pm.
Where: 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago

More about the panel discussion:

Along with Rabbi London, other panel participants are:

• Tahera Ahmad – Muslim Chaplain, Northwestern University
• Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, President of SCUPE
• Maham Khan

Panelists will share what they have found to be ideal and practical ways of learning about and interacting among people of various faith traditions in our everyday lives.

More about the conference:

The conference will be 9:00am – 5:00pm on March 11, 2013. Dr. Mark Swanson will present a plenary lecture on “The Whys and Wherefores of Interfaith Hospitality” on Monday morning, and there will be several workshops throughout the afternoon, led by leaders from various traditions.

More details (including registration) will be available here.

JCUA Partners to Create an Inter-Religious Rapid Response Network

For the past few months JCUA has been in conversation with partnering faith organizations in an effort to create a unique model of inter-religious collaboration in times of crisis. These conversations have led to the creation of the Chicagoland Inter-Religious Rapid Response Network (CIRRN).

In a final planning meeting on December 7^th, hosted by JCUA and facilitated by Asaf Bar-Tura – JCUA’s director of programs – Network partner organizations met to finalize the goals and guidelines for the newly formed CIRRN.

The CIRRN states its purpose as “to streamline communication dedicated to mobilizing multi-faith responses to acts of hate and discrimination targeting faith communities in Chicago and its collar counties.”

As explained by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, the Network aims to provide solace to the victims, and to make a stand against all faith-based hate crimes and discrimination by standing strong and providing a united front regardless of religious background.  CIRRN plans to achieve this through a listserve that connects between the leading religious organizations in Chicago to promote communication, provide up-to-date information, and present opportunities for engagement in the aftermath of any incident targeting a faith-based community.  This will allow the various faiths to remain informed on incidents of any kind, and will facilitate a rapid response from all representatives.

This network is the first of its kind in Chicago, and a model to be learned from and implemented across the nation.

For more information please contact Asaf Bar-Tura at asaf@jcua.org

Rabbis and Imams Discuss the Different Denominations of Judaism

The dynamics within the Jewish community was the topic of a lively discussion among religious leaders in the most recent Rabbi-Imam Dialogue, on December 4th.

Nearly 20 rabbis and imams from across the Chicago area, from a wide range of denominations, communities and ethnic backgrounds, met at the Downtown Islamic Center. This was the sixth meeting of this city-wide group, convened by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago.

Rabbi Memis-Foler (middle) with Humaira Basith (left) and Lena Kasi Touleimat (right)

The conversation focused on the similarities and differences among the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform denominations within the Jewish community, and how each stream of Judaism interpreted questions ranging from “Who is a Jew” to Jewish law, and more.  Rabbi Michael Balinsky facilitated the discussion along with Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler, Rabbi Andrea London, and Rabbi Capers Funnye.

The discussion was engaging and the floor was open to questions and dialogue from both sides.  Muslim participants came out of the evening with a greater appreciation of the varied nature of the Jewish community, and a greater understanding of Judaism more broadly.

The next dialogue will be hosted by the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs in February, and will explore the intra-faith dynamics of the Muslim community.

For more information please contact Asaf Bar-Tura at asaf@jcua.org