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Interfaith Luncheon with National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)
ISB Executive Director, Soumaya Khalifa, attended the NCJW's annual interfaith luncheon on Tuesday, March 31.
An interfaith panel, featuring Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple, Atlanta's oldest synagogue; the Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta; Dr. Martha Moore-Keish, Assistant Professor of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary; and Dr. Alan Godlas, Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Georgia addressed the audience of approximately 500.
The panel was moderated by Judy Marx, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee's Atlanta Chapter and Dr. Lauri Patton, Charles Howard Candler Professor and Professor of Early Indian Religions at Emory University.
This year's topic revolved around how each of the three Abrahamic traditions worships God. The event was taped by Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB).
The purpose of the luncheon is to promote dialogue between different faith communities.
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Special Presentation to Northside Chaplains
On Wednesday, April 1, Soumaya Khalifa presented to the chaplaincy program at Northside Hospital. Approximately 12 people filled a small conference room to participate in an interactive session focusing on health care issues specific to Muslim patients. Participants included the director of the program, Chaplain Gene Locke, staff members, and students.
Questions included how health care professionals can be more culturally sensitive to their Muslim patients. Ms. Khalifa advised that having basic information about Islam and Muslims was key as well as offering patients options, such as in food menus. The hospital already provides a space for meditation and will be purchasing copies of the Qur'an and prayer rugs for Muslim patients.
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About the ISB
The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta 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. Alternatively, supporters may send
their contributions through our secure website.
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ISB Calendar
May 1: Meaningful Conversations
May 3: Kids4Peace
May 4: Keeping the Faith
May 7: Piedmont Hospital
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Dear Supporters,
April has been a very productive month for the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta (ISB). We are happy to report to you that we have taken part in a number of educational and faith-based initiatives all over metro Atlanta and beyond. We are particularly excited about our Mark Your Calendar piece, Keeping the Faith, which promises to be an engaging discussion between young Atlanta professionals of diverse backgrounds. This panel discussion will take place on Monday May 4 at Relapse Theatre in midtown. Tickets are limited so please RSVP today! Also, please check out our stories recapping the month of April at the ISB. Among our many activities, we presented at local private schools, spoke with hospital chaplains, and even flew to New York for a special conference. Finally,
please remember the ISB as you make your charitable contributions. We rely on the
generosity of our supporters to do this necessary work. You can make a
secure online donation through our website or send your contributions to ISB Atlanta, P.O. Box 2608, Peachtree City, GA 30269. All donations are tax deductible. All the best,
Soumaya Khalifa
Executive Director, ISB Atlanta
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Mark Your Calendar!
Keeping the Faith: Exploring Commonalities & Differences Between Christians, Jews, and Muslims
Sponsored by ACCESS, the young adult division of the American Jewish Committee's Atlanta Chapter, Keeping the Faith is an exciting event targeting young professionals from diverse faith backgrounds. The ISB's own Amin Tomeh and Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed will be part of this event on Monday, May 4 at Relapse Theatre. For more information, please visit the website of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Jewish Committee.
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Invitation to Present at Marist School
On Monday, March 30, Amjad Taufique, Iqbal Kalla, and speaker-in-training, Abdullah Kapic, visited Marist School, an independent Catholic school of the Marist fathers and brothers. They presented to approximately 50 11th-grade students for two class periods. Students at Marist take world religions courses and were interested in the ISB's featured presentation, Getting to Know American Muslims and Islam.
At the end of the presentation, the ISB's host, Dr. Douglas Seanor, and students expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to learn more about Islam through another engaging visit with the ISB.
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Sandy Creek Students Visit ICCA
Huma Faruqi and speaker-in-training, Salma Stoman, received approximately 50 students from Fayette County's Sandy Creek High School on Wednesday, April 15 at the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta (ICCA).
As part of the requirements for a Comparative Religions class they take with Ms. Marlene Holland, recipient of the ISB's Building Bridges Award, the students visit area places of worship, including Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, and Hindu temples.
Students enjoyed the interactive presentation and lively question-and-answer session, which dealt with such topics as living as a Muslim
in America and personal experiences during the Hajj pilgrimage.
Salma Stoman contributed to this report.
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Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow Meet in NYC
Over the weekend of Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26, Soumaya Khalifa participated in the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow conference in New York. The focus of
the event was how to work with the media. Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow is a project of the ASMA Society
(American Society for Muslim Advancement) and the Cordoba Initiative. Respectively led by Daisy Khan and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, keynote speaker at the ISB's Building Bridges Awards Dinner in 2005, the ASMA Society and Cordoba Initiative are organizations devoted to building bridges of understanding between American Muslims and other communities. Approximately 150 invited guests participated in a series of lectures and workshops on how to engage with the media, followed by breakout sessions with journalists and media representatives. Members of the media emphasized that they welcome feedback
received about their stories.
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ISB Goes to Riverwood
Bassem Fakhoury presented Getting to Know American Muslims and Islam to students at Fulton County's Riverwood International Charter School on Monday, April 27.
Approximately 90 students participated during three class periods, which included engaging question-and-answer sessions.
The instructor was pleased with the presentation and expressed interest in inviting the ISB back next year.
Bassem Fakhoury contributed to this report.
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