Jewish-Muslim Text Study: “Women in Judaism and Islam”

By JCUA’s 2011-2012 Intern
From Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (Germany)

Our first Jewish-Muslim text study of 2012 was new and refreshing in a number of exciting ways.

First, it was the first text study facilitated by a female Muslim chaplain. Second, it was the first text study facilitated by two women – Tahera Ahmad from Northwestern University and Rabbi Andrea London from Beth Emet. And, third, for the very first, time the topic of the text study was gender-related and specifically on women: “Women in Judaism and Islam.”

At JMCBI's January text study, participants discuss the roles of women in Judaism and Islam.

Over coffee at the Adriatic Café in trendy Andersonville, this group of 25 people – mostly women – settled in for an evening of discussion and learning.

Reflections on “Rights and Obligations in Jewish and Muslim Traditions”

By Kayla Higgins
JMCBI Fellow, JCUA

Kayla Higgins

Twelve Jews and Muslims gathered at the KnockBox Café in Humboldt Park on May 26 to take part in interfaith dialogue on the topic of “Rights and Obligations in Jewish and Muslim Traditions.”

The discussion was organized by JCUA’s Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI), and led by Rabbi Rachel Mikva, a professor at Chicago Theological Seminary, and Abbas Chinoy, a Muslim chaplain at Rush Hospital.

Rabbi Mikva began by guiding the group through a handout she wrote aligning passages from the Torah and Talmud side-by-side with passages from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on topics of equal protection, property, education, work, rest, and the standard of living.