This weekend, thousands gathered in New York City for the city's annual Muslim Day Parade, a day to celebrate American Muslim culture and all that the Muslim community contributes to the city and country as a proud part of the larger American family. The event was important, too, for its message of inclusion and acceptance, as members of other religious communities joined in the festivities, including Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, who was the grand marshal of ...
When the Muslim and Jewish New Years Intersect
This year, the Muslim and Jewish New Years—Al-Hijra and Rosh Hashanah, respectively—have intersected on September 21. The shared New Year offers a special opportunity for interfaith dialogue, as we honor what we have in common across lines of faith, our shared connection to God, and ring in the new year together. READ MORE (Religious Reader) ...
L’Shanah Tovah to Our Jewish Friends!
Proud Muslims, Proud Americans
A new study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that 1 in 5 Americans believes that Muslims (and atheists) lack First Amendment rights. This is, of course, completely false; the U.S. Constitution does not deny people rights based on religious beliefs. American Muslims value these rights very highly and members of the American Muslim community are engaged and active citizens who help their neighbors, run for office, and defend the U.S. and American ...
Muslim Festival Builds Interfaith Understanding
This weekend, Malden, Massachusetts hosted the second annual New England Muslim Festival, a day of fun and food celebrating Muslim cultures. In addition to providing an afternoon of fun for the local community, the festival also aims at breaking down stereotypes about Muslims and building bridges of friendship with interfaith neighbors by showing that Muslims are no different than anyone else. According to the event organizer, "There is an educational purpose for people to come and explore ...
