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

Iftar in the Synagogue 2011: “Diverse Experiences, A Common Future”

Iftar in the Synagogue is a unique interfaith gathering that is held during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.  This is the seventh year JCUA is putting on this special event.  It is a chance for people of different religions to come together and share their diverse religious and cultural experiences, engage in conversation and empower each other to build a common future.

This year Iftar in the Synagogue is taking place on August 18 from 6-9:30 p.m at Temple Sholom, 3480 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago.  At this event there will be Jewish and Muslim prayers, speakers, conversation and a kosher/halal dinner.  We will also be collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to the Urban Minority Alliance (UMMA) Center.  This is a free event, but space is limited so please RSVP.

 If you are interested in volunteering at the event, or want to learn more, contact Asaf Bar-Tura at asaf@jcua.org.

Download the event flyer.

Iftar in the Synagogue 2011 is sponsored by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, the Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals, the Muslim Women’s Alliance, Temple Sholom, and the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.

Interfaith Solidarity in Action: Teen Trip to Springfield

By Leah Roth-Howe
Coordinator of Teen Programs, JCUA

On March 9, 2011 Jewish, Christian and Muslim high school students from the Chicagoland area traveled to Springfield, Ill. to participate in a powerful demonstration of interfaith solidarity and advocacy.

Joining hundreds of other committed people participating in Illinois Muslim Action Day, the interfaith teen delegation highlighted the power of interfaith collaboration and civic engagement.

Teens met monthly at each faith’s house of worship—a mosque, a synagogue, and a church–to prepare a platform for IMAD and learn how to advocate for social change through policy and lobbying efforts.

While in Springfield teens met with Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Streamwood) and presented their platform on equitable education for all Illinois students.

Although the teens joined hundreds of other committed people working in solidarity with the greater Muslim community, the group provided a powerful example of interfaith solidarity in action and underscored the need for education reform throughout Illinois.

[Read more about this powerful interfaith teen delegation]

“A Beaming Example of Solidarity in Action”: Interfaith Teen Delegation to Springfield

Muslim, Jewish and Christian youth discuss how to advocate for equitable education with their legislators.

This article was published in the Feb. 23 newsletter of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, a partner organization of JCUA.

A Beaming Example of Solidarity in Action
By Aatifa Sadiq
CIOGC

Growing up, I often equated interfaith with gatherings where I would explain my beliefs over and over again. I believe interfaith cannot be confined by a time, a place, or a topic. Rather, it needs to be an attitude of openness towards alternate ways of being. I would always reflect on interfaith as a means to produce change in the community. Thinking about this type of reciprocal interfaith on a communal level can truly bring about solidarity and positive change.

Today, I am fortunate to be able to work on one such opportunity – CIOGC’s Interfaith Teen Delegation: Off to Social Change.

As an organizer and participant, I have been able to witness youth from the Muslim, Jewish, and Presbyterian faiths come together with an attitude of social responsibility that extends beyond the boundaries of their own religion and cultures. These youth have explored solutions to equitable education, one of the four IMAD issues this year, and a social issue that remains a stark reality for many of them.

In a series of three meetings, the youth met at a synagogue, church and masjid where Leah Roth-Howe of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and Pastor Jay Moses from the Presbyterian church in Wheaton spoke to the teens about their own personal faith journeys and the active role religion plays in their life. The students started by creating posters depicting their own spiritual experiences and how they feel their faith defines them. Then they started tackling how they will speak to their legislators.

I was inspired to see Muslim, Jewish, and Presbyterian youth sitting with one another as friends and sharing their personal encounters with the public school funding issue. For me, to hear and see these youth envision a better Chicago community, while learning and drawing from their own faith backgrounds, is a powerful message not just for the future of Muslims, but for the future of the greater community.

The Interfaith Teen Delegation project cultivates in a presentation to Illinois legislators during IMAD on March 9. The group will not only present their views on the issue to legislators, but will be a positive example of interfaith solidarity within the Chicago community. The goal is to keep these relationships active and healthy even after our project.

To find out more about this project, email leah@jcua.org.

Community Leaders Affirm Fifth Amendment Rights of DuPage County Muslims, Urge Mosque Reconsideration

Community leaders stand in support of DuPage County Muslims

(CHICAGO- Jan. 19, 2011)– Community leaders today expressed their continued support for the proposed mosque in Willowbrook, Ill., which was recently rejected by the DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals because of traffic congestion and flooding concerns and the potential to cause an “oversaturation of religious institutions” in the area.

The first two concerns were dealt with by experts on the traffic and flood matters at the zoning board hearing. As to the issue of “religious oversaturation” of the community, only a church and a Buddhist temple are located in the area, despite a sizable Muslim population.

The Wednesday news conference, orchestrated by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), was to affirm the Fifth Amendment rights of DuPage County Muslims and call on the DuPage County Development Board to reconsider the zoning board decision.

“Our constitution guarantees us and all faith groups the right to worship and build houses of worship,” said Dr. Zaher Sahloul, CIOGC chairperson. “Unequal application of the law by the DuPage County Zoning Board makes it impossible for Muslims and other faiths to practice their religion freely in their country. This is un-American and it should change.”

Sahloul’s concerns were echoed by JCUA’s Jane Ramsey.

“American Grace”: Moving Past Differences into Partnership

By Katherine Randall
Communications Coordinator, JCUA

Differences have the power to either divide or unite people.

For some those differences produce greater understanding and appreciation. In others those differences lead to fear and hate.

And too often fear and hate prevents us from moving forward and we’re unable to work together to solve the problems plaguing our society.

On Thursday, Nov. 4 I attended a lecture and interfaith panel discussion on the book “American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us.” The event was sponsored by Wheat Ridge Ministries, an organization that provides support for new faith-based health and human care organizations and programs.

“American Grace,” the latest work of Dr. Robert Putnam, professor of public policy at Harvard University, examines the ways the nation’s religious landscape has changed over the years, how those changes have impacted society and how people view religions other than their own.

Dr. Putnam talks about his book "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us"

“A Diversity United in the Pursuit of Justice”: Reflections on Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia

JCUA’s Asaf Bar-Tura, coordinator of the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI), recently  spoke at a conference of the Muslim community about Islamophobia and anti-Semtism. This is an excerpt of some of his thoughts on the conference (Read more below):

The moderator mentioned a survey that showed people with Islamophobic dispositions were also more prone to have anti-Semitic dispositions. He then asked me how I approach these findings. My response was that Martin Luther King was right when, in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, he wrote that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

This is a profound understanding that must guide how we align ourselves. It is in this profound sense that we must partner with the Muslim community. We do it because it’s the right thing to do; we do it because it is the Jewish thing to do; and, this cannot be stressed enough, we do it because it is in our self-interest.

The Jewish people have known horrendous and tragic oppression over many centuries. We continue to be affected by anti-Semitism today. This reality must guide us to seek out justice through an unyielding commitment to rooting out oppression and combating it in all its forms.