Staff Blog
Interfaith effort in Menlo Park seeks to unite what political rhetoric divides
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This opinion originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. Our country is living through a time of intense polarization and suspicion — especially in regard to Muslims. Efforts to restrict Muslims’ travel and immigration, and proposals to register Muslims… Read More
In Defense of Traveling Hopefully
By Hank Millstein, Content Manager and Programs Analyst. This opinion appeared at the ING blog. “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive,” wrote Robert Louis Stevenson, and I in part believe him. Only in part, of course; I’m a Christian, and so believe… Read More
At the darkest times, believers turn to scripture for hope and solace
By Heena Haiderali, Programs Associate. This speech was delivered at the 3rd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph in San Jose on November 19th, 2017. You can watch a video of Heena’s speech here. This year has been challenging… Read More
Gratitude in Islam
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at an interfaith youth event on “Gratitude in Islam” at the South Bay Islamic Association on November 18th, 2017. You can watch an excerpt from the speech here. Salam alaikum everyone. I want to start… Read More
Muslims and Jews Working Together Against Bigotry Targeting Our Communities — And From Within Our Communities
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This opinion originally appeared at the Huffington Post. After denouncing with a rabbi an Islamophobe who was speaking at Stanford University on November 14 through a published letter to the editor of the San Jose Mercury News in which… Read More
Toward Muslim-Jewish Understanding
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at the public symposium “A Golden Age in the Golden State? Muslims and Jews Creating a Culture of Understanding” at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center on November 5th, 2017. Now I want to bring the topic of Muslim-Jewish… Read More
A Muslim Response to Anti-Semitism
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at a special Tent of Abraham event at Temple Beth El in Aptos, California on October 29th, 2017. There’s no question we’ve seen a sharp uptick in anti-Semitism over the past year. The Anti-Defamation League has … Read More
Religious literacy can fix the faulty foundation beneath Trump’s Muslim ban
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This opinion originally appeared at Religion News Service. The judicial system has dealt a third legal defeat to President Trump’s travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, instituting a temporary restraining order and injunction to block its implementation. The courts brought… Read More
How to end teen bullying from a Muslim who was targeted
By Ishaq Pathan, INGYouth Manager. This opinion originally appeared in the San Jose Mercury News. I was in seventh grade when a fellow classmate remarked, “I wonder how skinny Ishaq would be without the bomb strapped to his chest.” Looking back, I understand… Read More
National Day of Prayer for Behavioral Health Speech
By Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director. This speech was delivered at the San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Service’s interfaith event for the National Day of Prayer for Behavioral Health on October 3rd, 2017. I want to thank the San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Service for inviting… Read More
