From the Director
Dear Friends,
I hope this message reaches you in the best of health and spirits.
As we anticipate the new year and reflect on the lessons of 2008, I so happy to report to you that the ISB accomplished some great things in 2008 and looks forward to an even better 2009.
An example of these accomplishments is located below in our feature on the Fayetteville Interfaith Thanksgiving, an annual celebration which brings together members of Atlanta's major faith communities.
Our success is yours and is only possible with your generosity. As you make your year-end donations, please consider including the ISB. All contributions to our organization are tax deductible. To make a secure online donation, simply go to www.isbatlanta.org.
Alternatively, you may mail your donations to ISB Atlanta, P.O. Box 2608, Peachtree City, GA 30269.
As always, we are looking for ways we can grow our organization. We invite you to share your input with us and help us to make 2009 the best year ever!
Finally, to catch up on our 2008 accomplishments, make sure you check out our archived newsletters on our website.
Happy New Year!
Soumaya Khalifa
Executive Director
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta
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An Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration
The ISB participated in an interfaith Thanksgiving celebration on Sunday, November 23. Held in Fayetteville, the event included stories and background information about
the giving of thanks in the three Abrahamic traditions. In attendance from the Muslim community were Shahir Raslan, who recited the call to prayer, or the adhan; Salma Stoman and Areeb Syed, who read the Qur'anic story of
the people of the garden and reflected on the Islamic tradition of giving; and Soumaya Khalifa, who spoke about her first Thanksgiving
and what it meant.
Part of the service included collecting food for the Fayette Samaritins'
food bank. The response was overwhelming as more food than expected was collected. Following the
service, there was a potluck reception. An estimated 150 people attended.
The ISB was also represented by Bassem Fakhoury, Hounada Sinno, Amin Tomeh, and Mohamed Khalifa.
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The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta (ISB) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, apolitical educational organization that provides
certified Muslim speakers to promote awareness about Islam and Muslims.
The ISB is a local affiliate of the Islamic Networks Group (ING).
Donations to the ISB are tax deductible and may be mailed to ISB Atlanta, P.O. Box 2608, Peachtree City, GA 30269.
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th Anniversary
On Monday, December 8, ISB Executive Director, Soumaya Khalifa, was invited to participate in the Center for Civil & Human Rights celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The United Nations General Assembly passed the UDHR on December 10, 1948, marking the beginning of the modern human rights movement.
The evening's program, called Infinitude, featured a symphony based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written by Lee Johnson, and performed by the Vega String Quartet and members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
In honor of the UDHR's sixtieth anniversary, Ms. Khalifa participated in a reading of the declaration, along with other notable Atlantans, including John T. Grant, Jr., President and CEO of 100 Black Men; Rabbi Josh Lesser, spiritual leader of Congregation Bet Haverim; Earl Lewis, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of History and African American Studies at Emory University; Alice Lovelace, artist, teacher, activist, playwright, and published poet; and Doug Shipman, Executive Director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
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New Chapel at Egleston
Continuing ISB's tradition of offering support to hospital chaplaincies and pastoral services, Soumaya Khalifa participated in a ceremony celebrating the opening of the new chapel at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. The ceremony took place on Wednesday, December 10.
The service was very diverse, and included participants from the Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, Catholic,
Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim communities.
Ms. Khalifa recited a prayer for health and healing for the ill and read a selection from the Qur'an, the sacred book of Islam.
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ISB Visits Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia
On Friday, December 5, Jelena Naim visited Dawsonville to present to the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia in a multi-faith fiesta. The program featured presenters from the Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, and Latter Day Saints communities and fulfilled Girl Scout badge requirements for gaining understanding in the basics of other religions.
In addition to presenting Getting to Know American Muslims and Islam, Ms. Naim conducted an Eid al-Adha storytelling and craft session, which readers can learn about in the article below.
At the hosts' request, Ms. Naim provided a sampling of ethnic food for the scouts. The participants enjoyed hummous, pita bread, stuffed grape leaves, and date-filled cookies, as well as the chance to learn about the Eid al-Adha holiday.
The ISB thanks the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia for their warm hospitality, and looks forward to the Boy Scouts' multi-faith badge extravaganza in the spring.
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Celebrating Eid al-Adha at Imagine IT!
For the third year in a row, Jelena Naim conducted a special Eid al-Adha storytelling and craft session at Imagine IT! Children's Museum of Atlanta.
Ms. Naim visited the museum on Saturday, December 6 for the
annual "Meet the Holiday" presentation of different faiths. The noon portion was dedicated to the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, Eid al-Adha is one of the two major holidays of the Islamic religion. Known as the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha falls at the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, who was miraculously replaced by a ram.
A major feature of the holiday is the distribution of meat and alms to the poor.
Ms. Naim presented various aspects of the holiday in an age-appropriate way by introducing the children to the origin of the Hajj, then conducting a craft session to explain three important days of Hajj: the day of reflection, the day of standing, and the day of sacrifice. For the latter activity, Ms. Naim had the children divide candy into three packages: one for the needy, one for family, and one to keep.
The ISB is grateful to the museum organizer and the floor staff (the Imaginators) for their assistance.
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Healthcare Presentation at St. Joseph's
On Monday, November 24, Soumaya Khalifa delivered a special presentation at St. Joseph's Hospital. The audience was very engaged and asked a number of questions about interacting with Muslim patients.
The ISB's healthcare presentation is specially tailored to the needs of healthcare providers who work with diverse patients.
The ISB thanks St. Joseph's for the opportunity to support their pastoral services.
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