Re: {Austin Muslim Jewish Community Cou 3 things; peace vigil? Muslim Jewish ...

[Ljbi...@aol.com]

Chuck, thanks for taking the initiative on this. As you know, I would help sponsor such a program if there is community support for it. Perhaps one opportunity for both communities to come together and learn together in the spirit of peace and fellowship is the scholar-in-residence program Beth Israel is hosting at the end of the month. Rabbi Reuven Firestone is a renowned scholar and fluent Arabic speaker who has studied and taught about Islam for many years. I have heard him speak and he is well worth hearing. I extend an invitation to all of our friends in AMJC to attend the events on Jan 30-Feb 1 at Beth Israel. Here is the schedule of events, all at Beth Israel, 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd:

 

Schedule of events 

Friday, January 30, 6:30pm Shabbat services and dinner:  "A Reverse Exodus: Living as Jews in Egypt in the 21^st  Century"

 

Saturday, January 31, 9-10:30am, Torah Study:  "The Story of the Exodus in the Bible and the Qur'an"

 

Saturday, January 31, 7-9pm, Havdalah and Dessert Buffet: "Judaism and Islam: Sharing our Heritage/A Shared Heritage."

Sunday, February 1, 9:45-11am:  A Discussion of Current Events

 

Leon J. Barish
1409 W. 6th St.
Austin, Texas 78703
512/477-9058
512/477-9061 (fax)
ljbi...@aol.com

 

In a message dated 01/14/2009 10:10:58 Central Standard Time, cvor...@gmail.com writes:

Hi Friends, These are hard times for Muslims and Jews, Israelis and
Palestinians.
  1.) I would like to see an Interfaith Peace Vigil under the banner
of;  (something non villifying but instead unifying) >> Peace in
Israel/ Palestine , Peace and Forgiveness Now<< Does anyone think
there is support out there for something like this? Austin Area
Interreligious Ministries would help us but I think the leadership
should come from the Muslim and Jewish commnities.
  2.)  Is anyone interested in some interfaith dialogue about the
current and ongoing War in Gaza/Palestine/Israel? What I'd like to see
come out of this is an active political push for  the new
administration to take immediate foreceful action for a just and
negotiated end of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza with the
establishment of a viable Palestinian state.
  2) The Hands on Housing Spring Blitz is on the last Saturday in
April. Some of the Jewish community prefers not to have a work event
on our Shabbat so HoH has suggested May 1st for our annual Muslim
Jewish Work Day. Does anyone know of  a reason not to do it on that
day?Any volunteers to begin the planning and organizng?  Thanks, Chuck

[Rabbi Steve Folberg]

 

Chuck,

 

Ditto to what Leon said. Let me know if anything comes of the peace vigil idea, and please do encourage your friends and contacts in the Austin Muslim community to attend Rabbi Firestone's talks as the guests of our congregation. He really is an extraordinary scholar and a person in a unique position to build bridges of understanding.

 

I have also been in touch with Mohamed Elibiary of the Freedom and Justice Foundation out of Dallas. I saw him at the interfaith prayer service organized by Texas Impact on the steps of the Capitol yesterday, and he was very interested in the program and told me that he, too, would help to get the word out to the Muslim community.

 

Lots of love,

 

Steve

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