Judaism

New Synagogue Latest in Religious Building Boom in Rochester

February 19, 2007

Source: Pioneer Press

Wire Service: AP

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/state/minnesota/16734795.htm

ROCHESTER, Minn. - The first building in southern Minnesota built specifically as a synagogue will rise from the site of B'nai Israel's current building in the next 14 months.

The $5.5 million synagogue near downtown will mark another milestone in the nearly 100-year history of the Jewish...

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"A Native American Muslim's Story," a Commentary by Lois Stands-Ali

February 12, 2007

Author: Lois Stands-Ali

Source: The American Muslim

http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_native_american_muslims_story/0013127

All Praise is due to Allah, the Creator who guided me to ISLAM--the Way of Life--the Red Road--the Straight Path.

I began my journey on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, in one of the communities called Oglala. When I was born, my earth parents...

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Congressman’s Imam Is Taking a Lead in Interfaith Efforts

February 10, 2007

Author: Samuel G. Freedman

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/10/washington/10religion.html?ref=politics

MINNEAPOLIS - On the evening after Minnesota’s Democratic primary last September, Makram El-Amin picked up his ringing cellphone to hear the raspy, exhausted voice of Keith Ellison. The men had known each other for a decade, long enough for Mr. El-Amin to become the imam of a mosque in their North...

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First Muslim in U.S. Congress Speaks on Faith and Democracy

February 5, 2007

Author: Lea Terhune

Source: USINFO.state.gov

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=February&x=20070205144127mlenuhret0.7243769

Washington - Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison is surprised that his Muslim faith became an issue during his successful campaign for a congressional seat.

“I never bring it up,” he told USINFO,...

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Interfaith Etiquette: Don’t know how to behave when in unfamiliar religious territory? Just ask

January 21, 2007

Author: Edith C. Webster

Source: Rockford Register Star

http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/LIFE01/101210009/1226

“What should I wear?”

When 13-year-old Jill Deutsch invited non-Jewish classmates from Spectrum School to her bat mitzvah, that was the most common question they asked her about this milestone in a Jewish girl’s life.

Nearly 200 friends and family...

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"Muslim Dispute: Religious Intolerance?" a Commentary by Leonard Pitts Jr.

January 21, 2007

Author: LEONARD PITTS JR.

Source: Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/4487008.html

OK, let's say you fly into Minneapolis-St. Paul. Let's say you're carrying alcohol - rum from the Caribbean, a merlot you found in Napa Valley. Let's say you try to hail a cab while carrying said alcohol.

Good luck. You're going to need it.

Three quarters of the drivers serving the airport are Muslims, most from Somalia,...

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"It’s Time to Stop ‘Hatin’ On Muslims in Washington," a Commentary by Askia Muhammad

January 18, 2007

Author: Askia Muhammad

Source: Washington Informer/New American Media

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=b15af77e979558c02bf66b39421abc68

I really thought things were going to be materially better for people with “funny” names like mine when Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) came to Washington. And they have been.

Since he’s been here I have noticed an...

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Jewish Membership in Congress at All-Time High

January 12, 2007

Author: Elizabeth Williamson

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011101666.html

While Democrats celebrated the election of the House's first female speaker, another milestone passed more quietly: The 110th Congress includes more Jewish lawmakers than any other in history, and all but four are Democrats.

About 2 percent of Americans identify...

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For Airport Screeners, More Training about Muslims

January 9, 2007

Author: Alexandra Marks

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0109/p02s01-ussc.html

NEW YORK -- Say you're a security screener at the airport. You notice a large group of people wearing white robes, speaking a strange language. The women have head scarves and the men long beards. They look nervous. One of them is holding a Koran. Another appears to be praying. What do you do?

According to the Transportation...

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