Cordoba House actively engages in outreach to moderates of all faith traditions, through interfaith dialogue, forging partnerships of trust and mutual support to promote art, cultural and educational programming, and events.
Cordoba’s collaboration with faith organizations, academia, and civic groups is intended to foster a deeper understanding of shared universal values in each major faith tradition.
Much needs to be done on local, regional, and national levels to have a meaningful impact on the global scene through interfaith work.
Cordoba House has participated in interfaith events in the US and abroad including:
- Chatham House in London;
- Council of Foreign Relations in New York;
- Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York;
- Various churches in New York including Riverside Church, St.
- Bart’s and All Soul’s and numerous Christian organizations around the US, including Glastonbury Abbey in Massachusetts; Richmond Forum in Virginia;
- Several synagogues in New York including Brotherhood Synagogue and at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center;
- Other Jewish organizations including American Jewish Committee;
- The Center for Interfaith Dialogue in Stockholm and the Council of Values Worldwide Meeting on Human Values, Monterrey, Mexico.
Cordoba House Interfaith Work at Chautauqua
Every summer, friends of Cordoba House spend a week at Chautauqua Institution, a community on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York state. On these beautiful grounds, in the midst of a vibrant interfaith community, we immerse ourselves in spiritual rejuvenation, attend lectures at the amphitheater, engage in interfaith dialogue, and spend the evening taking in a ballet or symphony performance. Our children can be seen bicycle riding or taking a lesson in boating or sailing.
Here, you will find faith houses from many denominations. And in recent years, Chautauqua has extended its hand to the Muslim community to establish a Muslim presence on its premises, one that would offer an array of Islamic religious and cultural programs.
Cordoba House invites you to join us at Chautauqua. Come and be part of the morning dhikr with Imam Feisal in a tranquil outdoor setting, listen to Ken Burns talk about his television series on the Roosevelts, absorb Karen Armstrong’s interfaith lecture on Islam, engage in interfaith dialogue with a welcoming community yearning to learn about Islam and Muslims, feel the music of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, watch a delightful ballet performance, take in the beauty of this place, and make friends.
It is heaven on earth.
Summer 2016 Program at the Chautauqua Institution Week 3: Moral Leadership
In 2016, Cordoba House participated in the Chautauqua Institution’s Summer Week Three on Moral Leadership, a fitting theme for the organization and its founder, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. Each day began with an invigorating Dhikr led by Imam Feisal, during which the audience expressed feelings of deep inner peace and divine connection. The Imam’s daily teachings of faith and unity resonated with an enthusiastic interfaith audience who found that his message aligned with their own perspectives and beliefs. Since 2001, Imam Feisal has led Dhikr and other programs at the Chautauqua Institution, and many expressed hope for continued sessions.
During the week, Imam Feisal held a well-attended reading for his latest book, Defining Islamic Statehood: Measuring and Indexing Contemporary Muslim States. The enlightening session covered the real definition of an Islamic state, its form, and its function in a modern world. The Imam answered questions and engaged a captivated audience.
In addition, Cordoba House welcomed members of multiple denominational houses, including leaders of respective churches and synagogues, all in communion to advance the understanding of the Muslim faith and to share thoughts on worship and spiritual guidance. Naz Georgas, Executive Director of Cordoba House, welcomed guests as staff served home brewed ginger tea and delicious hor d’oeuvres made with organic, locally grown ingredients. Imam Feisal and Dr. Abubaker Ahmed, Regional Executive Director of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Cordoba House board member, addressed the crowd, and Sabeeha Rehman shared her experience as a long-time Chautauquan and author of her new book Threading My Prayer Rug: One Woman’s Journey from Pakistani American to American Muslim.
As a fitting culmination to a week of inspiration and spirituality, Imam Feisal was invited to lead the Friday Jummah prayer, with a program conducted by two Muslim students from the Chautauqua Institution’s APYA (Abrahamic Program for Young Adults) program, Saria and Yaseen. Saria opened with a beautiful Nasheed (spiritual hymn) and Yaseen initiated the call to prayer. The crowd, most of whom were non-Muslim, were invited to experience the ritual prayer by Imam Feisal. It was truly an enchanting experience.
