Judaism

Religious Ceremonies that Mark Milestones in Life

May 24, 2003

Source: The Buffalo News

On May 24, 2003 The Buffalo News reported on "the first of a four-part series, published on consecutive Saturdays, describing some of the religious ceremonies practiced by different faiths to mark four major milestones in life -- birth, coming of age, marriage and death... Phil Stevens, an associate professor in the anthropology department of the University at Buffalo says that rituals welcoming newborns are 'extremely widespread" worldwide...'" The article then provides examples for a bris, a baptism, and a Muslim aqiqa.

Christians and Jews Unite for "Mitzvah Day"

May 24, 2003

Source: The Beacon Journal

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/local/states/ohio/counties/summit_county/5935946.htm

On May 24, 2003 The Beacon Journal reported that "more than 400 volunteers from Temple Israel and First Congregational Church of Akron will be planting seeds of kindness on June 1... The two congregations -- one Christian, the other Jewish -- will join forces to complete about 25 projects in the Akron [OH...

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Trance: an Audio-Visual Exhibit Sparks Intercultural Dialogue in NY

May 23, 2003

Source: The Jewish Week

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=7945

On May 23, 2003 The Jewish Week reported that "the shop down the block from the Eldridge Street Synagogue specializes in fish balls, not matzah balls, and the closest house of worship is the Pechau Buddhist temple. But the Lower East Side [NY] still reverberates with the energy and concerns of a century ago, when Russian Jewish immigrants built the neighborhood synagogue......

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Rabbi Links Hate Crime to T.V. Show

May 23, 2003

Source: Boston Herald

http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/hull05232003.htm

On May 23, 2003 the Boston Herald reported that "police found a swastika painted on the front door of Temple Israel on Tuesday morning, the day the second installment of CBS's 'Hitler, the Rise of Evil' aired. The word 'Juden' - German for 'Jew' - was next to the Nazi symbol... 'My feeling is, and I'm not the only one, that some of this may have been in response to the...

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Florida Muslims and Christians Unite to Encourage Dialogue

May 23, 2003

Source: St. Petersburg Times

On May 23, 2003 the St. Petersburg Times reported that "The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) and the Florida Council of Churches (FCC) announced a statewide partnership Thursday to encourage dialogue between Christians and Muslims... The FCC and CAIR-FL will host public dialogues around the state beginning Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church... A panel of speakers from different faiths will share their perspectives and answer questions. The sessions are intended to...

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Washington Muslim Leader Brings Together Interfaith Group

May 22, 2003

Source: King County Journal

[kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/131638]

On May 22, 2003 the King County Journal reported that "against a background of war and terrorism, Jawad Khaki stepped into the spotlight... Already a leader in an Eastside [WA] Shi'ite Muslim community, Khaki felt the need to educate people of other faiths about the peaceful side of Islam... As part of his outreach, Khaki brought his community, the Ithnasheri Muslim Association of the Northwest or IMAN, together with four other congregations --...

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Interfaith Program Brings Together Jews and Muslims to Discuss Similarities

May 21, 2003

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On May 21, 2003 The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "two prayer books --- one written in Arabic, the other in Hebrew and English --- brought Huma Faruqi and Jason Burn together, each struck at that moment more by the similarities in their religions than the differences... The Muslim and Jewish metro Atlantans were among those gathered in a hallway at Congregation B'nai Israel in Jonesboro, surrounded by others from their faiths, as they pored over the prayer books --- the air punctuated by...

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Decline in Reports of Ethnic Harassment in Orange County, CA

May 16, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/la-me-relations16may16,0,739026.story

On May 16, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "Orange County authorities recorded a steep decline in reports of alleged ethnic harassment, reversing last year's post-9/11 surge in anti-Arab bigotry, according to a report by the Orange County Human Relations Commission released Thursday... In the last year, according to the report, 124 people said they were targeted by...

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H. Res 234 Condemning Bigotry against Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh Americans

May 15, 2003

Source: House.gov

http ://w ww.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh09_kaptur/bigotry.html

On May 15, 2003 House.gov reported that "Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur today joined Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) to introduce legislation in the House of Representatives condemning violence and bigotry against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans and Sikh Americans. Kaptur’s bill also calls upon law enforcement authorities to aid on the prevention and prosecution of hate crimes wherever they occur... 'The district I...

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Rethinking the "Judeo-Christian" Phrase

May 15, 2003

Source: Newhouse News Service

http://www.newhouse.com/archive/okeefe051503.html

On May 15, 2003 the Newhouse News Service reported that "leading Muslim organizations say it's time for Americans to stop using the phrase 'Judeo-Christian' when describing the values and character that define the United States... Better choices, they say, are 'Judeo-Christian-Islamic' or 'Abrahamic,' referring to Abraham, the patriarch held in common by the monotheistic big three religions...

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ADL Comments on Nelson Verdict

May 14, 2003

Source: The Anti-Defamation League

http://www.adl.org/PresRele/CvlRt_32/4260_32.asp

On May 14, 2003 The Anti-Defamation League reported that "the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), while commending the jury for finding Lemrick Nelson guilty of civil right violations, today expressed disappointment that the verdict did not find Mr. Nelson's acts led to the death of Yankel Rosenbaum. Mr. Nelson admitted to brutally stabbing Mr. Rosenbaum as a mob chanted 'Get the Jew!' during the...

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Challenging the Notion of an Evangelical Christian America

May 14, 2003

Source: Orlando Sentinel

http://www.OrlandoSentinel.com/

On May 14, 2003 the Orlando Sentinel reported that "a Unitarian minister Tuesday challenged the notion that America is an evangelical Christian nation, calling on local religious leaders to revive a group to promote tolerance and civility... 'We are not basically an evangelical Christian country,' said the Rev. John Higgins, president of the Florida chapter of The Interfaith Alliance. Higgins was among five speakers at the University...

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