Monday, 2/13, 4:30 pm, Wilder 115

Rabbi Levi Lauer, the founder and executive director of ATZUM-Justice Works, will be speaking at Oberlin about the issue of human trafficking and sex slavery in Israel. Lauer and ATZUM's Task Force on Human Trafficking work tirelessly to engage and educate the public and government agencies to confront and eradicate modern slavery in Israel, lobby for reform in the areas of prevention, border closure, protection of escaped women, and prosecution of traffickers and pimps. Sponsored by Oberlin JStreetU

Tuesday, 2/14, 4:30-6 pm, Science Center Commons

Visit the table of the spring Interfaith Service Day, which will take place Sunday, April 22.

Sponsored by the Bonner Center for Service and Learning

Friday, 2/17, 8 pm, Finney Chapel

The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music and winners of five Grammy Awards. Tickets are available at Central Ticket Service (440-775-8169)  and Wilder Information Desk): $7 OCID/ $15 Public. Sponsored by the Assemblies Committee.

Sunday, 2/19, 11:15 am, First Church in Oberlin JFO Room

Joyce Babyak, Associate Professor of Religion and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oberlin College will speak on "A Productive Tension: Christian Particularity and Human Commonality." She will discuss ways in which the draw of a rich Christian identity and the appeal of religious liberalism (the hope that groups and nations can live together more peacefully by finding common religious and secular ground) are in tension. She will deal particularly with the issues of war and peace. 

Sunday, 2/19, 3 pm, First Church in Oberlin UCC   

The Amici String Quartet from the Cleveland Orchestra will perform for donations to benefit Family Promise of Lorain County and the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Quartet members include Miho Hashizume and Takako Masame, violins; Lynne Ramsey, viola and Ralph Curry, violoncello. The program will feature quartets by Schubert, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn. The concert is free and open to the public. A Meet-the-Artists reception provided by The Rev. Alana Kelley, Noreen Romano, and Molly Johnson will follow in the church Fellowship Hall.

Sunday, 2/19, 7 pm, West Lecture Hall

Brought to you by the same people who made HAPPY, "I AM" is an inspiring documentary that looks at two huge questions: what is wrong with the world and what can we do to fix it? Through interviews, experiments, challenges, discoveries and curiosities, the director Tom Shadyac discovers that some of the greatest things about this world are right in front of us. Join the Oberlin community in viewing this passionate and engaging movie. For 30 minutes before the screening, a variety of wellness resources will be in the Science Center Atrium to give you more info!  Email jmostow@oberlin.edu with questions or to get involved!

Monday, 2/20, noon-1:30 pm, Wilder 112

Hear from several students who joined students from Amherst College in studying Buddhism in Thailand this winter term. See how you might take this trip next year. Free lunch will be served.

Sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

Tuesday, 2/21, 7:30 pm, Finney Chapel
*Free tickets available from Central Ticket Services 67 N. Main Street, starting February 13 for patrons with OCID.

Wednesday, 2/22, 12:10 pm, Fairchild Chapel

The Reverend Dr. Brian Wilbert of Christ Episcopal Church in Oberlin will celebrate the liturgy of the day with the imposition of ashes and holy communion. All are welcome.

Sunday, 3/4, 7:30 pm, Craig Aud., Ancient Synagogues: Field Debates

Monday, 3/5, 7:30 pm, Craig Aud., Palestinian Synagogues: Iconographic Cues

Wednesday, 3/7, 4:30 pm, Craig Aud., Diaspora Synagogues: Continuity and Innovation

Jodi Magness, PhD, is the Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She previously taught at Tufts University. Dr. Magness specializes in the archaeology of ancient Palestine in the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods. Her research interests include Jerusalem, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient synagogues, Masada, and ancient pottery. She received her BA in Archaeology and History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania. She was a post-doctoral fellow at Brown University. In June 2011 she began a new dig at Huqoq, an ancient Jewish village just 2.8 miles from Migdal and close to Capernaum.

Tuesday, 3/13, 7 pm, First Church in Oberlin (UCC) Meetinghouse

"Thy Will Be Done" is a film that explores the experience of a transgender person seeking ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The film screening will be followed by refreshments and a panel-led discussion. All are welcome.

Tuesday, 4/10, Times and Locations TBA

Save the date for Friendship Day 2012, when college and community will welcome Gustav Niebuhr, professor of religion and media studies at Syracuse University and former reporter for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He is a leading writer about American religion and recently published Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America. He is also the grandson of H. Richard Niebuhr and the grand nephew of Reinhold Niebuhr, two of the most famous 20th c. Protestant theologians.

This summer GoEco is hosting an exciting opportunity to teach children from different religious backgrounds in a fun, outdoor camp in beautiful Northern Israel. This is the second year GoEco, together with local Jewish and Arab partner organizations, is running this groundbreaking program for children and volunteers of all backgrounds. These camps aim to promote peace and coexistence alongside arts, sports, and environmental education. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain international volunteer experience, become immersed in a mix of foreign cultures, and leave a lasting positive impact on the lives of children.  

6/4-7/19

Farm the Land, Grow the Spirit is our summer food justice internship program for Muslims, Jews, Christians, and those of other faith traditions ages 19-30. Interns will be part of the Community of Living Traditions, a multifaith, multicultural, and intergenerational residential community housed at Stony Point Center in New York.

• Learn how to setup and maintain a seasonal garden
• Gain experience in composting, planting, harvesting, tilling, and cooking produce
• Develop skills in addressing large-scale food justice issues

• Learn how food justice and nonviolence are embraced by Judaism, Islam, and Christianity
• Interact with people of different faiths and grow in your understanding of their traditions
• Gather daily for study and reflection within your own tradition
• Have fun kayaking, hiking, creating art, and enjoying local outings

All interns receive housing, meals, and a $500 stipend for the summer. Apply here.