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The Boniuk Center Newsletter February 2010
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Greetings!
This month we inaugurate the Bridge Builders Lecture Series, highlighting people whose work strengthens the bridge of religious tolerance. You'll love the combination of wit, wisdom and song that the Interfaith Amigos, a Sheikh, Rabbi, and Minister, bring to the topic of interfaith dialogue.
Our Winter-Spring World Religions Lecture Series begins this month at Congregation Beth Israel. Speakers include two exciting new scholars in the field of religious studies.
I invite you to attend an MFAH special lecture by Dr. Francesca Leoni on the richly illustrated famous Persian epic "The Book of Kings" (The Shahnama), composed by 11th century poet Abu'l-Qasim Firdawsi. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear a dynamic and accessible scholar discuss one of the most important works of Irano-Islamic culture.
We hope you'll join us for these stimulating programs.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shira Lander
Interim Director
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Bridge Builders Lecture Series
Interfaith Amigos, February 25th at 7:30 PM
"Is Interfaith Dialogue Dangerous to Faith?"
This year's Bridge Builders Lecture Series will kick off with an exciting and entertaining lecture from The Interfaith Amigos. Pastor Don, Rabbi Ted, and Sheikh Jamal bring a message of deep hope and profound possibilities for both healing person and planet. Their work comprises a dialogue of the head, the heart, and the hands, encouraging greater understanding, compassion, and social action in the world. Event Details: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 7:30 PM Christ the King Lutheran Church 2353 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX Book purchase and signing to follow programFree street parking available and $1 parking in Rice's Greenbriar Lot (with credit card) To find out more about this program and our other Bridge Builders lectures, visit: http://bit.ly/bridgebuilder |
World Religions Lecture Series
Winter-Spring Series Lectures take place at Congregation Beth Israel
The World Religions Lecture Series classes for February and March will take place at Congregation Beth Israel. Classes are still only $12 and you can register online or pay with cash or check in person on the day of the class. All lectures will be from 7-9 PM. Winter-Spring Series
Congregation Beth Israel
5600 N. Braeswood Blvd.
Houston, TX 77096
713-771-6221
Lecture Dates
Feb. 9: Judaism (Dr. Shira Lander)
Feb. 16: African-American Religions (Margarita Simon Guillory)
Feb. 23: Zoroastrianism (Ata Anzali)
Mar. 9: Orthodox Christianity (Father Jordan Brown)
Mar. 23: Buddhism (Ann Gleig)
Check out our website for the full schedule at: World Religions Registration Page.
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A Thousand Years of "Feast and Lore": The Shahnama of Firdawsi
A Museum of Fine Arts Houston Special Lecture, Sunday, February 21, 2010, at 3:00 p.m.
Presented by Dr. Francesca Leoni, 
Assistant Curator of the Arts of the Islamic World, MFAH
The year 2010 marks the thousandth anniversary of the completion of the Shahnama ("Book of Kings"), the most important Persian epic and one of the longest poems of world literature. Composed by Abu´l-Qasim Firdawsi over more than thirty-five years, the Shahnama recounts the history of the Iranian kings from the beginning of time until the fall of the Sasanian dynasty in the mid-seventh century.
For centuries, the poem has been an inexhaustible source of artistic inspiration to the arts produced in greater Iran, as well as the eastern Islamic world. Many rulers sponsored lavishly illustrated copies of the Shahnama and often referred to it for ideological claims. Similarly, specific stories and characters drawn from the Shahnama were used as motifs to decorate ceramics, tile panels, inlaid metalwork, lacquer work, and textiles.
In this richly illustrated lecture, Dr. Francesca Leoni reconstructs the literary and artistic afterlife of the Shahnama and explains why and how the poem has remained so revered and influential over the last thousand years.
This lecture is generously cosponsored by His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States.
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Admission to the lecture is free and open to the public.
A reception to meet the speaker follows.
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Three Cups of Tea with Greg Mortenson
Coming to Houston February 8th!
Three Cups of Tea with Greg Mortenson Monday, February 8, 2010 11:00am Check-in/Registration 11:45am Luncheon begins Houston Intercontinental Hotel 222 West Loop South Houston, TX 77027 You are invited to join this very important fundraising luncheon. Mortenson is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, national and international award-winning and best selling author of Three Cups of Tea andStones into Schools. All proceeds from the event will benefit Central Asia Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. To become an Underwriter, Sponsor, Table Host or to purchase a ticket, click here. For more information, call 713.599.1271 or email Meredith at PR Boutique. The Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance is co-sponsoring this event.
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Friends Campaign 2009-2010
Support The Boniuk Center's mission to promote religious tolerance
There is still time to give to the Friends Campaign. Please consider making a contribution at this time.
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Check us out online
Check out The Boniuk Center website for the latest updates on events.
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Tolerance Lapel Pins
 Hundreds of these stylish pins go out every month from the Center's offices to people all over the world. They are a free and easy way to keep the goals of tolerance, respect and compassion front and center in daily life.
The tolerance lapel
pins are a great gift to share with friends or family members. Send in your request for one today!
To get your free lapel pin, fill out a form here. We regret that due to increased costs, we now charge for bulk orders ($1.50 per pin, which includes shipping). Please call our office for multiple orders: 713-348-4536.
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