Category: Social Issues
“Just to Make a Statement”: Power, Sincerity, and the Women of the Wall
The Chief Rabbi of the Western Wall claims that Women of the Wall "don't come to worship, they come to demonstrate." But what he chooses not to see is that separating worship from politics is a luxury... Read More
Tragedies: An opportunity for Interfaith Cooperation
There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to take the life of the most innocent of the Lord’s creations: our children. The recent massacre in Newtown is a blatant act of terror even when such qualifi... Read More
A Muslim Prayer for Victims by Quaiser Abdullah
In Islam, when we hear tragic news, we say, “From God we come and to Him is our return.” I pray for the well-being of the survivors of the horrendous tragedy and that as a national and global comm... Read More
After Newtown, a Divine Name for Right Now
The tragic events of last week occurred while Jews were reading a section of the story of Joseph and his brothers which is bursting with bereavement. As I read it through the lens of midrash, this anc... Read More
“The Prophet of Islam: Muhammad and Environmental Activism” by Ozgur Koca
Muhammad, like every other important controversial historical figure, is what we choose to remember of his legacy. Current studies on the Prophet of Islam “choose” to remember the highlights of hi... Read More
End of the Year, Beginning of the Year
As everyone gets ready for the holidays, I’m on a slightly different schedule. Friday marked the end of the first month of the Muslim lunar calendar, the month of Muharram. The first 10 days of Muha... Read More
Why, God? Grasping for Control, Praying for Grace
A man armed with guns walked into an elementary school and killed many people, most of whom were children. My hands shake even just typing such words. The news reports are still being updated, and the... Read More
A Time to Dance: Reflections on the Connecticut School Shooting
As a Marine recruit in basic training, we were ingrained with a sense of pride; we would become the latest generation of warriors known for being, as the Marine Corps Hymn states, “the first to ... Read More