Greetings! November was a month of giving thanks, reflection, and fellowship. As has been our tradition since inception, the ISB has joined faith based communities in fellowship to celebrate Thanksgiving and to give back to those in need (see "Muslims and Jews Feed The Hungry During Weekend of Twinning," and "ISB Joins Other Faiths In Being Thankful" below). The ISB was grateful this month to the ISB volunteers and community supports for making "2012 ISB Building Bridges Awards Dinner" a success (see below and read full article here). The ISB is also grateful to the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB), the recipient of the "2012 Building Bridges Award," for bringing to our Television screens the "Meet Your Muslim Neighbor" series, which aired this month (see below and read full article here). 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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"Meet Your Muslim Neighbor" TV Debut
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 The first episode of "Meet Your Muslim Neighbor," featuring ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa as the host, aired on November 5 (for a full article on the show, please click here).
The Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB), recipient of the 2012 ISB Building Bridges Awards, has teamed up with the ISB to produce a 16-part series on a wide range of topics related to Islam. AIB is an interfaith and educational television and internet network.
To view episodes of "Meet Your Muslim Neighbor," please click here.
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| Muslims and Jews Feed The Hungry During Weekend of Twinning |
 In commemoration of the "5th Annual Weekend of Twinning," the ISB joined the American Jewish Committee ACCESS Atlanta (AJC-ACCESS Atlanta), Children of Abraham- Emory, and Open Jewish Project at the Temple on November 18.
ISB speakers Bassam Fakhoury, Ashraf Awad and Asma Elhuni attended the event.
The Muslim and Jewish groups came together for round table discussions and to view a video prepared by the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) on the Jewish and Muslim response to hunger and the common moral imperative in both religions to feed the hungry and help those most in need. To view video, click here.
"Weekend of Twinning" is a global initiative, organized by the FFEU in cooperation with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and major Jewish and Muslim organizations around the world, during which Muslims and Jews come together to build ties of communication, reconciliation, and cooperation.
Canned goods were collected during the event and were donated to a local food drive.
To view event's Facebook page, click here. |
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ISB Joins Other Faiths
In Being Thankful
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ISB joined a number of faith communities in celebrating Thanksgiving.
The ISB joined
the Fayette Interfaith Network for an interfaith Thanksgiving service at Congregation B'nai Israel on November 7.
The event included reflections from Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures. The audience heard reflections from the Quran from ISB speaker Slma Shelbayah.
ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa delivered the final thoughts by reminding everyone of all that we need to be thankful. Khalifa also reflected on the concept of "helping thy neighbor" by stressing the importance of helping those in need all over the world.
 For the third year, 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, 76 participating families each received a frozen turkey, pumpkin pie, canned green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, box of mashed potatoes, stuffing and a jar of gravy.
The ISB also participated in a Muslim-Baptist Thanksgiving dinner event at North Druid Hills Baptist Church on November 11. Khalifa offered blessings before the Thanksgiving meal, which was followed by table conversations between the 70 guests about common beliefs, the meaning of Thanksgiving and the importance of giving to others.
The ISB joined Emory Presbyterian Church and the Istanbul Center in two opportunities for fellowship this month. Emory Presbyterian hosted the ISB and Istanbul Center for a dinner on November 14 and a joint Thanksgiving Remembrance and Gratitude Service on November 18. The welcoming remarks were delivered by Reverend Jill Oglesby and ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa at the joint remembrance service, while the call for prayer was delivered by Ali Gunal from the Istanbul Center. ISB speakers Ashraf Awad, Noor Abbady and Asma Elhuni also attended the events.
The ISB, East Cobb Islamic Center and the Islamic Center of Marietta joined together in helping other faith communities organize an interfaith Thanksgiving event at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta on November 15.
Over 500 people from different faith traditions came together to thank God for his blessings during the "8th Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration at Temple Kol Emeth." Attending from the ISB were speakers Hounada Sinno, Bassem Fakhoury, Iqbal Kalla, Asma Elhuni, and Khadeeja Farooq. The service was followed by a dessert reception.
Canned goods were collected and donated to Give-a-Gobble. To view the event's Facebook page, click here. To view a video of entire event, click here.
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ISB Celebrates Another Successful
Building Bridges Awards Dinner |
 ISB congratulates the recipients of the 2012 ISB Building Bridges Awards.
Recipients were recognized during ISB's signature event, "ISB Building Bridges Awards Dinner," which took place on November 10 at the Cobb Gallery Centre.
For the details of the awards dinner, please click here. To view event's picture gallery, please click here.
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Upcoming Events |
What: ISNA's Central Zone Conference (website)
Where: Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio
Where: December 7 - 9
What: Delegations from Chad
Where: Georgia Council for International Visitors
When: December 10 - 11 |
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Presentations
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Amin Tomeh conducted a Meaningful Conversations Workshop for a group of 30 people at the Gainesville Islamic Center on November 3. The MC workshop is designed to train individuals on how to engage in meaningful conversation with people of other faith traditions. "We've received feedback from our audiences that Meaningful Conversations is not only a relevant workshop, but a necessary one that is both empowering and uplifting," said Tomeh. Mansour Ansari also attended the workshop as an observer.
Bassem Fakhoury and Hounada Sinno were invited to Holy Innocents Church on November 7th to speak about their Hajj (Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca) experience. Fakhoury and Sinno were invited by Reverend Georgia Newman who was teaching a 4-week class on Islam. The speakers presented at the last two classes which were attended by a total of 70 congregants.
Salma Stoman presented "Overview of American Muslims" on November 10 to a TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) class at Clayton State University.
Northminster Presbyterian Church requested ISB speakers to conduct presentations during three consecutive Sundays this month. Fairyal Halim presented "Overview of American Muslims and Their Faith" on November 11 to a group of 70 people attending a Sunday class titled, "Conflict and Compassion." Class host, Dave Jones, reported that "a number of (class) participants commented that they left with a much greater awareness of the similarities between Christianity and Islam." Ehab Jaleel conducted the same presentation the following Sunday, on November 18. On November 25, Mansour Ansari was invited to discuss "Current Events" in an informal Q & A setting.
Fairyal Halim and Zaynab Ansari conducted separate presentations on November 14 to three classes in the Bagwell College of Education at Kannesaw State University. The ISB speakers were requested to present the educator diversity training "Understanding Muslim Students: Fostering an Inclusive Environment." Halim noted that the teachers in training asked many questions in regards to "accommodation of Muslim students in school setting." Ansari reported that in her presentation, she tried to give "a picture of what the Atlanta-area Muslim students might look like in terms of family background, ethnicity, origin, and approach to Islam."
Salma Stoman presented "Overview of Muslims and Their Faith" to a group of congregants from Grace Lutheran Church
touring the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta on November 17. The tour was coordinated by Jeff Seeger, who has brought other groups on mosque visits in the past.
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