ISB recently partnered with the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Southeast Region to sponsor a groundbreaking interfaith discussion on "Understanding the Quran."
 

More than 200 people, including key leaders from the  Muslim community, members and speakers from ISB, members of the ADL and congregants of The Temple, braved the rain and cold on Tuesday, January 25 to attend the event, which was held at the sprawling Temple complex on Peachtree Street in Atlanta.
 

The discussion explored challenging passages in the Holy Quran dealing with violence and jihad, women, the relationship to the Jewish people, and shariah law. ISB invited Dr. Joseph Lumbard, chair of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Brandeis University to lead the discussion on Islam. On the Jewish side, the discussion was led by Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim.
 

Dr. Lumbard addressed some challenging Quranic verses and was tasked with explaining the process at which their true meaning could be arrived. "One must reflect and interpret Quranic passages within the overall context in which they are presented," said Dr. Lumbard, pointing out that too often critics of Islam will conveniently isolate passages from their overall context in order to create a negative impression of Islam.

From right to left: Dr. Joseph Lumbard, Rabbi Joshua Lesser, Bill Nigut

Rabbi Lesser, a leader in interfaith dialogue in the Metro Atlanta region, offered a response to Dr. Lumbard's presentation, agreeing on the overall context but also challenging certain key points. Rabbi Lesser welcomed the opportunity to begin what he termed an important new chapter in Muslim-Jewish dialogue in Atlanta.

Addressing Dr. Lumbard, Rabbi Lesser noted, "you said that by confronting the text, we are confronting ourselves. Tonight, by confronting this conversation, we're confronting ourselves. Tonight feels like this opportunity to figure out how we can work together." 
 

During a robust Q&A session, Dr. Lumbard was asked about the differences between Shiites and Sunni Muslims, the challenges of being a Muslim and being perceived as a loyal U.S. citizen, the definition and treatment of an "infidel" and the percentage of Muslims across the world that are "puritanical" or extreme.

The event, organized by ISB, ADL, and The Temple, was moderated by ADL Southeast Region Regional Director Bill Nigut. ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa,  The Temple Senior Rabbi Peter Berg and ADL Southeast Region Board Chair Liz Price offered opening remarks.

Coverage of the event appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) in a blog by AJC Political Insider Jim Galloway published on Wednesday, January 26. Click here to read "'A night of polite' between Jews and Muslims in Atlanta."  

Zaynab Ansari Abdulrazacq

Zaynab Ansari is a native Atlantan, who has been with the ISB since its inception in August of 2001. With extensive Islamic studies in her background and a commitment to community outreach, Ansari found it a natural fit to join ISB's volunteer base. Her contributions to the organization include being the previous writer-editor of the ISB newsletter as well as a current certified speaker.  

Ghada Elnajjar recently spoke with

Ansari about her experience with ISB and her future plans. Their conversation follows:

Elnajjar: For a  number of years, you have served as key person in providing ISB news to its members, not many know who Zaynab Ansari is, give us a brief insight as to your background and to what made you join ISB and be a part of it for so long?
 

Ansari: I have been an ISB speaker and volunteer since the organization's inception in August 2001. I am a native Atlantan, with roots in Michigan and Massachusetts. I spent almost a decade living and studying in the Middle East in the 1990s, where I had the opportunity to learn Farsi, Arabic, and a traditional Islamic educational curriculum. I have been married for almost eight years to Salahud-Din Abdul-Razacq, a health and physical education teacher in Atlanta Public Schools, and we have three children. I was motivated to join the ISB because its work appealed to me. It focused on education and community outreach using a very effective combination of formal presentation and informal dialogue. The ISB has given me, as well as so many other volunteers, the tools to speak with clarity about Islam and Muslims, something I really value in such an age of distortion of the basic facts of Islam and Muslims' incredibly vast and diverse experience.

Elnajjar: You've seen the growth of the newsletter and ISB over the years how satisfying is it?
 

Ansari: I was at the helm of the ISB newsletter from 2007-2010 and was very gratified to note the astonishing growth of the ISB from an idea that started with a few volunteers around someone's kitchen table to one of Atlanta's most effective and dedicated faith-based organizations. The newsletter, in addition to its marketing value, is a wonderful, consistent chronicle of a vibrant Atlanta community where people of different faiths come together for good works.  

Elnajjar: You've stepped down from your position as writer-editor of ISB newsletter, what are your plans now?

Ansari: Now that I've stepped down as writer-editor of the newsletter: On a professional level, my plans are to apply to graduate school to pursue advanced degrees in historical & religious studies and continue as an ISB speaker. On a personal level, I want to focus on learning more about interventions for children with autism. My son was diagnosed with autism over four years ago and, although I've done a lot of research on treatment methods, I feel like I can never do enough.  

Al-farooq Masjid of Atlanta

COLUMBIA SEMINARY AT AL-FAROOQ

On Friday, January 14, ISB hosted the

Columbia Theological Seminary (CTS)

at Al-Farooq Masjid of Atlanta.

Upon a request from CTS, ISB speakers Amin Tomeh and Huma Faruqi conducted a presentation and a tour during which CTS visitors were able to see the mosque and attend a Juma'a (Friday) prayer.

The group was presented with "Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith," which was followed by a discussion about gender in Islam, the Prophet Mohamad (SAW), the Holy Quran, and the issue of holy war.  

CTS is an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and a community of theological inquiry and formation for ministry in the service of the Church of Jesus Christ located in Decatur, Georgia.

MARIST SCHOOL INVITES ISB

ISB PARTICIPATES IN INTERFAITH PANEL AT KSU

ISB speaker Emad Hamid participated in an interfaith panel at Kennesaw State University (KSU), Thursday, January 27. The "Interfaith Panel for the Nursing in Interfaith Communities" consisted of representatives from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist faiths who spoke to a class of 15 nurses on issues relating to health and wholeness, patient care and death.   

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Each panelist was given 15-minutes to present their religion's perspective on the subject matter, and then the students had the opportunity to ask questions which ranged in topic from organ transplants to patients refusing medication due to religious beliefs.

"Interfaith Panel for the Nursing in Interfaith Communities"

Radio Islam host Ayesha Mustafaa asked Khalifa to highlight the role of American Muslim women in the American community to which Khalifa responded, "the women's role in the Muslim American community is very vital to the success of the community...We American Muslim women, we potentially have it the best of both worlds. We have the religion itself that gives the woman the right to own property, to education, the right to prenuptial agreement, which was talked about over 1400 years ago. We also have the current laws of the United States...We are at great advantages."

For the New York Times article, click here. 

In other news, Islamic Horizons published an article in its January/February 2011 issue regarding the World Council of Churches' Conference attended by Khalifa and other interfaith religious leaders. For the entire article, click here to view page 9 of Islamic Horizons January/February issue.

"Prince Among Slaves" Documentary at the Rialto

"Prince Among Slaves" PBS documentary

The documentary will be shown at the Rialto Center for the Arts on Sunday, February 20. For tickets and show time, please click here