Staff Insights
The Story of Abraham and Hajar: Radical Hope in God and Our Responsibilities to Each Other
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at a special interfaith Shabbat service at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. A video of Maha’s speech is available here. Shalom, Salam, and peace be with you. I am honored to be here with you tonight… Read More
Maha Elgenaidi’s Speech at Interfaith Gathering for Peace
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at the Interfaith Gathering for Peace on August 27th, 2017 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. You can watch a video of her speech here. As we come together to celebrate our diversity and build… Read More
Maha Elgenaidi’s Remarks at Interfaith Gathering Against Hate
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at the Interfaith Gathering Against Hate on August 25th, 2017 at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco. You can watch a video of Maha’s speech here and read a longer article about the event here. Read More
U.S. Muslim-Jewish Relations in Context of Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: What We Can Do
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This opinion originally appeared at the Huffington Post. Recent violence and loss of life in Jerusalem[1] once again reminds us of how much we need to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It also highlights the lack of imagination and political… Read More
U.S. Muslim-Jewish Relations in the Context of Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: What We Can Do
July 27, 2017 by Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director This piece originally appeared at the Huffington Post “Differences in narratives of Palestinian-Israeli conflict held by American Muslims and Jews may seem unbridgeable, but I know we can work together.” Recent violence and loss of life in… Read More
Bay Area Muslims Condemn Attacks on Coptic Christians
By Maha Elgenaidi, ING Executive Director, and Michael Pappas, San Francisco Interfaith Council Executive Director. This opinion originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. Every day, millions of Americans of all faiths and none give thanks for our Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom. And… Read More
Bay Area Muslims Decry Palm Sunday Violence and Call for Interfaith Unity for Human Rights
By Maha Elgenaidi, ING Executive Director, and Hamza Yusuf Hanson, President of Zaytuna College This opinion originally appeared in the San Jose Mercury News. Last weekend, as Christians observed Palm Sunday, powerful bomb blasts struck Coptic Christian churches in Egypt in an assault claimed… Read More
Blessing the Bread – Remarks at PACT Solidarity Network Press Conference
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at the PACT Solidarity Network Press Conference on April 7th, 2017. Like the Torah, the Quran teaches that when the children of Israel were suffering from hunger and thirst, Moses prayed to God and God answered his prayers… Read More
Maha Elgenaidi’s Opening Remarks for the 2017 Halaqa-Seder Dinner at Congregation Beth Jacob, April 2, 2017
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at a Halaqa-Seder Dinner at Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City on April 2, 2017. Learn more about the Halaqa-Seder program here. Salam alaikum, shalom alaichem and greetings of peace. My name is… Read More
Esther and Asiya: Bold Women in the Jewish and Muslim Tradition
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at Shabbat services at Kol Emeth Conservative synagogue in Palo Alto on Purim 5777, Saturday, March 11th, 2017. Shalom and Salam. I’m deeply honored to have been invited to speak to you this morning on the day… Read More
