Greetings! Muslims worldwide marked the first day of Eid ul-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) religious holiday on October 26, honoring Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God. The story, which is central to the three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) is an example of the common bonds that unite all of us. Eid ul-Adha is celebrated during the annual Muslim Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca. This year, Muslims worldwide gathered in Mecca for the annual Hajj season on October 24 - 29. On behalf of the ISB family, I would like to extend the Muslim community a happy Eid ul-Adha and wish pilgrims that their prayers are accepted. To help celebrate Eid ul-Adha, the ISB participated in the annual "Meet the Holidays" at Imagine It Children's Museum (see story below). The ISB is also gearing up for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday season (see "Upcoming Events" below), during which Thanksgiving dinner ingredients will be donated to families in need (see story "ISB Prepares for Thanksgiving" below). Also coming up is the long awaited "2012 Building Bridges Awards Dinner" on November 10 during which the ISB will honor recipients of the "2012 Building Bridges Awards" (see award recipients 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 check to ISB Atlanta, P.O. Box 2608, Peachtree City, GA 30269. All donations are tax deductible. |
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2012 Building Bridges Awards Dinner
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The ISB is proud to announce the recipients of the 2012 ISB Building Bridges Awards.
 For the past 10 years, the ISB has honored individuals and organizations in the metro Atlanta area who have made significant contributions toward interfaith and multicultural understanding. This year's recipients include the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB), and the Peachtree City Police Department.
ISB's Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dr. Hossam  
Fadel and Dr. Skina Fadel.
Join some of Atlanta's most prominent leaders from the government, media, interfaith, education, and business communities as they gather to honor recipients of the "2012 Building Bridges Awards."
The ISB "2012 Building Bridges Awards Dinner," which will be held on November 10, 2012 at the Cobb Galleria Centre at 6:30 p.m, will feature a keynote address by Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa's Ambassador to the United States of America. The 2012 gala will also feature a networking reception, a banquet, a silent auction, and an awards ceremony.
This year, the Honorary Chair is Doug Shipman, Chief
Executive Officer of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR).
For more information on the 2012 Building Bridges Awards Dinner visit the ISB website, or click here. For ticket information, please click here. For sponsorship information, please click here. For questions, please email director@isbatlanta.org.
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| Annual Eid Holidays at Imagine It! |
 ISB Speakers Jelena Naim, Reem Faruqi, and Sally Ramadan joined Imagine It! Children's Museum of Atlanta in commemorating Eid ul-Adha, the holiday marking the Muslim Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) on October 27.
ISB speaker Jelena Naim has been visiting the museum since 2007 to help children celebrate the holiday. The ISB speakers read to the children and their parents from the book "Tell Me About Hajj" and led them through a "Make 'n Take" crafts workshop, which included different crafts ready to be assembled.
As part of the "Meet the Holidays Programming," representatives of different faiths are invited to the museum to feature their their respective holiday seasons.
The museum also featured Eid ul-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, in August this year.
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| Poetic Vision Tour Comes To Atlanta |
 The ISB co-sponsored a music concert/hip-hop poetry show in Atlanta on October 13 at the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech).
Poetic Vision Tour (PVT) came back to Atlanta as part of its 15-city tour. PVT brings a unique fusion of spiritually-inspired folk-rock music and hip-hop poetry.
The "Autumn '12 Seasonal Concert Tour - 'Return of the Outlaws'" featured Dawud Wharnsby, Raef, Ms. Latifah, and Saad Omar.
Other sponsors included the GA Tech Muslim Student Association (MSA), Atlanta Muslim Young Professionals (AMYP), and Elevate Culture.
For more information, please click here.
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| ISB Prepares for Thanksgiving |
 In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday next month, the ISB is joining others in providing meal ingredients to families in Fayette County.
For the past two years, the ISB along with First Fayetteville United Methodist Church and Christ Our Shepherd Church have provided Thanksgiving dinner meal ingredients to the families whose children participate in the Summer Lunch Program (lunches provided in the Summer months to children who normally receive free lunches during the school year).
"Families who participate in the Summer Lunch Program are able to enjoy Thanksgiving too," said ISB volunteer Amani Elghoroury.
According to Elghoroury, there are 76 participating families. ISB is asking friends and supporters to consider making a donation or sponsoring a family. For only $25, each family will receive a frozen turkey, pumpkin pie, canned green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, box of mashed potatoes, stuffing and a jar of gravy. To make a contribution, please contact Elghoroury at elghoroury@comcast.net.
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Upcoming Events
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November 7 - Fayette Interfaith Network Service at B'nai
Israel
November 11 - Muslim Baptist Thanksgiving at North Druid
Hills Baptist
November 13 - Thanksgiving Dinner with Emory Presbyterian Church
November 15 - Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration 2012
(for more information, click here).
November 18 - Thanksgiving Service at Emory Presbyterian
Church
November 18 - Weekend of Twining, Muslims and Jews
feeding the hungry: More to come! Mark your calendars.
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2012 Building Bridges Awards Dinner
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2012 ISB Annual Building Bridges Awards Dinner
Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool
(Keynote Speaker)
November 10 at Cobb
Galleria Center
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Presentations
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ISB Speakers returned to Emory Continuing Education, Osher Lifelong Learning Center in continuation of a six-part presentation series to students taking a class on "American Muslims Today." Dr. Bilal Mark King and Alan Howard presented "A History of Muslims in America" on October 2. The feedback from the class was positive, said Howard, who was told that ISB's efforts to build bridges of understanding are really needed. "One class participant came up to me afterwards and said what she learned was 'fascinating' and that the history of Islam in America was no different from other groups in this country," Howard reported.
Also part of the series, Zaynab Ansari presented "Shariah" (Islamic Law) on October 9. Ansari focussed the presentation on how a Muslim incorporates aspects of Shariah into daily life. Ansari plans to return for a presentation on "Women in Islam" on October 30.
Again as part of the presentation series at the Emory Life Long Center, Mansour Ansari presented "Muslim Contributions to Civilization" on October 23. Ansari showed a video by the acclaimed actor Ben Kingsley explaining the history of Muslim contributions to civilization. The video can be viewed on www.1001inventions.com.
Noor Abbady, Abdul K. Amer and Fairyal Maqboul conducted three presentations to junior high students at Marist School, a private Christian based institution, on October 2 and October 3. The speakers, who presented to approximately 66 students total, were invited by Dr. Douglas Seanor who regularly hosts ISB speakers in his world religions classes.
Salma Stoman presented to more than 70 5th grade students at Mount Vernon Presbyterian School on October 10. Students asked questions throughout the presentation. Stoman was then interviewed by three of the students for a video to be broadcast during the school's morning announcements.
Mansour Ansari participated in a panel discussion organized by the Muslim Student Association at Georgia State University on October 18. The panel, composed of speakers from different faith traditions, focussed on the recently released internet film deemed offensive to Islam and discussed ways to counter Islamophobia.
Iqbal Kalla presented at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta on October 14 to a group of 7th grade students attending the "Neighboring Faith's Religious Education Class." The purpose of the presentation was to prepare students for their visit to Al-Farooq Masjid for a tour on October 21.
Jelena Naim and Amin Tomeh conducted "Meaningful Conversations" workshop, designed to train individuals on how to engage in meaningful conversation with people of other faith traditions. The workshop was conducted on October 23 at Al-Falah Academy, an Islamic based school in Lilburn, for a group of 30 junior high students. "The presentation was purposely engaging and interactive to cater to the younger audience members," said Tomeh. "This workshop was something that they genuinely would benefit from in empowering them with the tools to talk about their faith informatively," he continued.
Emad Hamid presented "Exploring Muslim Traditions and Practices" to three high school classes, a total of 60 students, at Wesleyan School on October 26. Hamid, who also attended a chapel service led mostly by students, reported that the students were very attentive and fully participated in the Q & A part of the presentation.
Huma Faruqi conducted a presentation on October 29 to the entire staff at the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. Faruqi reported that 18 counselors, therapists and administrators attended the presentation in order to better serve individuals from the Muslim community, who utilize the center for services, in a more culturally sensitive manner.
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