Greetings! On August 20, Muslims celebrated Eid ul-Fitr, the festive Muslim holiday marking the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan. I was honored with an invitation to the White House for a Ramadan Iftar with President Barack Obama (see "ISB Executive Director, Guest At White House Ramadan Iftar" below). Also in August, the ISB co-hosted an Interfaith Ramadan Iftar, and celebrated Eid ul-Fitr at an interfaith appreciation dinner and a children's event at Imagine It! Children's Museum (see Appreciation Dinner Celebrates Successful Summer Lunch Program" and "Eid Holiday At Imagine It!" below). Unfortunately, August also put us all in a somber mood following the tragic shootings of of worshipers at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin on August 5. The ISB joined many in the interfaith community to offer condolences and to show support to the Sikh community in Atlanta (see "ISB, Interfaith Community Offer Condolences to Sikh Community," below). Please remember, ISB's efforts are only possible through the generous support and contributions of its friends and supporters. You can make a secure online donation through our website or mail a chick to ISB Atlanta, P.O. Box 2608, Peachtree City, GA 30269. All donations are tax deductible. |
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ISB Executive Director,
Guest At White House Ramadan Iftar
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 | | Khalifa with a copy of the Quran, once owned by Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, on display during the White House Ramadan Iftar |
ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa was a guest at the annual White House Ramadan Iftar hosted by President Barak Obama on August 10.
The iftar, meal that breaks the day of fasting for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan, was served in the State Dining Room. The annual White House Iftar is an tradition that began under President Bill Clinton and was continued by President George W. Bush and President Obama.
Khalifa, who was seated at the same table as the President, joined other invited guests. Among those invited were elected officials, members of the diplomatic corps, leaders from the American Muslim community as well as leaders of diverse faiths.
"Of all the freedoms we cherish as Americans, of all the rights that we hold sacred, foremost among them is freedom of religion, the right to worship as we choose...And it runs through the history of this house, a place where Americans of many faiths can come together and celebrate their holiest of days -- and that includes Ramadan," said President Obama in his remarks.
President Obama's speech acknowledged the important role of Muslim women.
[H]ere in America we're enriched by so many faiths, by men and women -- including Muslim American women...This is the diversity that makes us Americans; the pluralism that we will never lose," added the President.
Khalifa's visit to the White House was reported in the September 2 issue of The Citizen.com. To view the article, please click here.
For transcript of President's full remarks, please click here. |
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ISB Co-Hosts Interfaith Ramadan Iftar
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The ISB and the Istanbul Center co-hosted Emory Presbyterian Church during an interfaith Iftar event on August 8.
The guests of the event heard from ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa and the Istanbul Center's Director of Academic Affairs, Mustafa Sahin, PhD. about the various Ramadan traditions and practices.
ISB's Asma El-Huni and Asif Sabiri also attended the event. |
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ISB Speaker Discusses Ramadan
During Radio Interview
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ISB Speaker Bassem Fakhoury discussed Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, in an interview with WCLK Radio Station that aired on August 4.
WCLK, owned and operated as a public radio station by Clark Atlanta University, invited Fakhoury to give a brief background on the holy month and to provide listeners the opportunity to ask questions about Islam in general.
WCLK Profiles Producer Rob Maynard asked Fakhoury what is the best way to counter negative stereotypes about a people or a faith, to which Fakhoury responded, "Go to the source...The best way to know about is Islam is to get to know a Muslim."
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ISB, Interfaith Community Offer
Condolences to Sikh Community |
 ISB joined the interfaith community in Atlanta in offering condolences to the Sikh community mourning the lives lost following the tragic shooting that took place on August 5 at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
On August 10, ISB Board Members Rashid and Jelena Naim attended a memorial service held at at SEWA Gurudwara Sahib, a Sikh temple in Roswell, GA. Speaking on behalf of the ISB, Rashid Naim offered condolences and words of support. Also attending from the ISB were Speakers Khadija Farooq and Shaheen Bharde. The service was followed by a candlelight vigil and a communal meal.
Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa and ISB Speaker Mohamed  Khalifa attended a similar memorial service on August 12 at the Gurdwara Sikh Study Circle in Stone Mountain, GA. Soumaya Khalifa, who spoke at the service, represented the ISB and the Muslim community in offering condolences. Joining her were government officials as well as representatives from the Jewish and Christian communities. The service included a moment of silence.
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| ISB Represented At Student Fair |
 ISB youth Speakers Ruwa Romman and Ashraf Awad represented the ISB at the Oglethorpe University Community Fair on August 17.
The purpose of the fair is to introduce new students to community organizations and local businesses. Romman and Awad set up a table that included ISB information material.
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Appreciation Dinner Celebrates
Successful Summer Lunch Program | |
ISB and the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta (ICCA) held a dinner on August 30 celebrating the conclusion of another successful Summer Lunch Program. The volunteer appreciatinon dinner also celebrated Eid ul-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
"Dedicated volunteers and supporters from the ISB, ICCA, Fayetteville First United Methodist (FFUM), Christ Our Sheppard, and Peachtree First Presbyterian came together to celebrate many years of interfaith work by providing lunches, getting to know members of the different congregations, sharing dinner with each other, and making new friends," said Amani Elghoroury who led the effort on behalf of the ISB.
For seven years, the ISB has teamed up with the ICCA, along with other faith organizations in Fayette County, to provide meals and deliver them to children who normally receive free lunches during the school year.
The Summer Lunch Program is an effort that started with the formation of the Fayette Interfaith Network by Pastor Mark Westmoreland (FFUM) and ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa.
"We are grateful and appreciate all the volunteers and supporters of the program for their many years of continued dedication and service. We couldn't do it without them," said Elghoroury.
This year, the Summer Lunch Program provided lunches to more than 300 children.
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| Eid Holiday At Imagine It! |
 A team of ISB speakers and their families visited the Imagine It! Children's Museum in Atlanta to help children celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
On August 11, Imagine It! featured arts & crafts day commemorating Eid ul-Fitr, during which ISB Speakers Jelena  Naim and daugher Iman, Slma Shelbayyah, and Reem Farooqi read to the children and helped them create holiday-related crafts.
As part of the "Meet the Holidays Programming," representatives of different faiths are invited to the museum to feature their respective holiday seasons. Naim and daughter Iman have been visiting the museum since 2007 to help children celebrate the Eid ul-Adha holiday, and since 2010 for Eid ul-Fitr holiday.
Imagine It! Children's Museum was the recipient of the 2010 ISB Building Bridges Award.
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Save The Date
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2012 ISB Annual Building Bridges Awards Dinner
Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool
(as Keynote Speaker)
November 10 at Cobb
Galleria Center
(visit website for more information)
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Presentations
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Soumaya Khalifa conducted several customized presentations focussing on American Muslims and Arab Americans to police officers from Peachtree City Police. The purpose of the presentations, which were conducted on August 14, 21, 30, and September 4, was to provide the officers with cultural awareness.
Alan Howard conducted a presentation on August 5 at the Roswell Community Masjid (RCM) to a distinguished group of local government officials, community leaders and RCM representatives. The presentation took place during an open house dedicated to introducing the new RCM facility to the community at large. Howard was assisted by ISB speakers Bassem Fakhoury, and Saif Altalib in answering questions from the audience.
Zaynab Ansari and Alan Howard presented to a group of students studying about Islam at the Kennesaw State University Museum of History and Holocaust Education. The students, who are involved in a lengthy study project with a group of students in Morocco, are preparing to begin an interview process with the founders of the Roswell Community Masjid. Dr. Julia Brock, Museum curator, invited the ISB to provide the students an a better understanding of Islam in America. The speakers stressed to the students that American Muslims come from very diverse backgrounds. ISB Speaker in training Shaheen Bhard, said "One student told us that she learnt more in the 90 minute presentation than she has in the many months she has spent reading about Islam."
Soumaya Khalifa was invited by the Georgia Mountains Unitarian Universalist Church in Dahlonega on August 26 to speak about her experience as a Muslim woman and issues that she and other Muslim women face across culture and gender barriers. The Unitarian Universalist Church previously hosted ISB speaker Amin Tomeh on November 20.
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