In an op-ed on CNN Opinion (published on September 4th 2021), Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, issued a welcome apology to the Muslim community for opposing the establishment of Cordoba House, the proposed multi-faith community center in lower Manhattan.
Jonathan’s apology deserves applause and gratitude. As the Executive and Spiritual Director of Cordoba House, I have experienced first-hand the dehumanizing effects of racism and injustice on our community and its crippling effects on social inclusion.
Ten years later, we continue to battle radical attitudes and hatred that have shamefully plagued our nation and our dream of the envisioned project remains unrealized. Despite the setback, we remain steadfast in our commitment to energize a multitude of believers around the vision of Cordoba House that was imagined by Imam Feisal Rauf more than 20 years ago – as a multi-religious center for worship, cultural and intellectual exchange.
In response to Jonathan’s op-ed, it is now our conviction at Cordoba House that the Jewish, Muslim, and other communities of faith need to engage in a sincere and honest process of self-examination, purification, and pursuit of social justice for all. And just like in Teshuvah, true repentance (Tawbah Nusooha) in Islam is not just an individual effort at self-examination and purification but also a collective effort by the community at large. The Quran states: “Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their inner selves” (13:11).
The 20th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks is a moment of reminder of the importance of such an engagement. We owe it to our country and to the global community to strive together and pave the way for a more compassionate and enlightened human community.
Warmly,
Naz Ahmed Georgas,
Executive and Spiritual Director
