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ING Joined the Bay Area Jewish Community in Celebrating Chanukah 
Top picture: From left to right, Maha Elgenaidi, Abby Porth, Rabbi Nat Ezray, and Mahmut Altun
Bottom Picture: Maha Elgenaidi with San Mateo County Superintendent Nancy Magee Nancy Magee
Joining San Mateo civic leaders, ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi attended a community Chanukah celebration hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City. After a presentation by Rabbi Nat Ezray on the meaning of Chanukah, and a joint lighting of Chanukah candles, incoming San Mateo County Superintendent Nancy Magee (pictured above with Maha) spoke on her goals for the county’s schools, emphasizing the importance of school climate and safety.
Upcoming Featured ING Events
Challenging Islamophobia: January 10 in Santa Cruz
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi will deliver a special seminar on Islamophobia in America for the Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program at the University of California – Santa Cruz. To book a presentation about Muslims, visit our site.
Join us for an Interfaith Panel on Food: January 13 in Los Gatos
ING Community and Civic Engagement Manager, Raania Mohsen, at the San Jose Prayer Vigil for Tree of Life Synagogue
ING Civic and Community Engagement Coordinator Raania Mohsen will join an interfaith panel co-hosted by Silicon Valley Interreligious Council and the Jewish Community Center of Los Gatos that will feature a dynamic conversation exploring food across faiths. This will be part of many other sessions occurring at the JCC’s Annual Jewbilee: A Day of Jewish Learning. This year’s theme is “Food for Thought,” focusing on the significance of food in Jewish and other faith traditions.
Past ING Events
Rotary Club Members Surprised at Commonalities Between Faiths
ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali delivered a presentation on Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith for the Sebastopol Sunrise Rotary Club at their regular breakfast meeting on Thursday morning. Following the presentation, the audience asked thoughtful questions about sectarian differences, Muslim engagement in prisons, and other topics. Audience members expressed appreciation for the thoroughness of the presentation and surprise at the commonalities between Islam and other faiths. To book a presentation about Muslims, visit our site.
ING Appreciated by a UMC Men’s Study Group
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi spoke to the men’s spirituality group of the United Methodist Church of Los Gatos, which has been studying about Islam. After Maha’s presentation and ensuing discussion, one of the group members remarked, “while we’re all well-educated, well-read people, it’s disheartening that we’re only now learning about Islam in the light of its Abrahamic roots, shared values and similar practices to Christianity. All we hear about Islam in the news is the negative stuff and [that’s] why your work is so important. Keep doing what you’re doing.” To book a presentation about Muslims, visit our site.
Hundreds of Students Learned About Muslims and their Faith
Supplementing curriculum on world religions, ING Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan and Islamic Speakers Bureau speaker Ismael Nass-Duce spoke about American Muslims to 300 students at a middle school in San Mateo. Students were especially curious about the lived experience of practicing the five pillars of Islam. To book a presentation about Muslims, visit our site.
ING Welcomed U.S. Department of State Delegation from Russia
A U.S. State Department Multifaith delegation from Russia visited ING to learn more about interfaith work in the United States and ING’s outreach efforts in Jewish, Christian and other religious communities. One State Department staff member remarked, “the leaders from Russia thoroughly enjoyed their discussion with you and came away with fresh perspectives on interfaith work and the role of religion in society.” To learn more about ING’s programs, visit our site.
Promoting Religious Diversity in the Workplace
Members of the Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) spoke on a panel at University of California Santa Cruz to discuss their beliefs and practices, answering the question of how they live out their faith, focusing on the workplace. The instructor, ING interfaith speaker Laurie Schlaepfer, said, “The panel did a great job of introducing UCSC staff to religious diversity, and how to respect and accommodate religious employees in the workplace.” To book an interfaith panel, visit our site.
Panelists Discussed Christian-Muslim Relations
with Students at GTU
ING Content Managers Henry Millstein and Ameena Jandali provided an overview of ING’s history, programs, and interfaith engagement for a class on Christian-Muslim dialogue at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley. A rich discussion followed. To book an interfaith panel, visit our site.
Students Eagerly Learned About Muslim Contributions 
Supplementing social studies curriculum, ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali delivered a presentation on Muslim Contributions to Civilization for a classroom at a private school in Alameda. The students were fascinated to learn about the many inventions and contributions that Muslims passed on to Europe such as coffee, chess, algebra and other innovations in diverse fields including art, architecture, astronomy, medicine, and poetry. To book a presentation about Muslims, visit our site.
Students Addressed Islamophobia
Supplementing curriculum on world religions, ING Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan spoke to 150 students at a school in Contra Costa about Muslims and their faith. The students peppered him with questions throughout the presentation as he clarified misconceptions and addressed stereotypes. To book a presentation about Muslims, visit our site.Women’s Voices on Religion
ING interfaith speakers Ameena Jandali, Terry Fletcher, and Dianne Mueller spoke at a private high school on the topic of Women and Religion. They described both liberating and oppressive teachings and practices in various religions. The students posed excellent questions for the panelists on issues including women’s rights, homosexuality, and abortion. To book an interfaith panel, visit our site.
ING Delivered Presentations Via Webinar
Supplementing curriculum on world religions, ING Speaker Ismael Nass-Duce and Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan delivered presentations about American Muslims via webinar at a school outside of the Bay Area. ING now provides webinar presentations to meet demand across the country. To book a webinar about Muslims, visit our site.
Student Assemblies Learned About Muslims
Supplementing curriculum on world religions, ING Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan presented one of our core presentations, “Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith” at high school assemblies in Woodside. The presentation began with basic terminology and demographics of Muslims in the United States and the world, addressed beliefs and traditions, Islam’s relation to other religions include Christianity and Judaism and ended by discussing and fielding questions on the most common stereotypes about Islam and Muslims. To book a presentation about American Muslims, visit our site.
Students Learned Brief History of Muslims in the U.S.
Supplementing curriculum on world religions, ING Speakers Salman Asadullah (pictured above) and Ismael Nass-Duce and Community and Civic Engagement Manager Raania Mohsen presented one of our core presentations, “Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith” to students at a private Catholic high school in San Jose. They focused on the history of Muslims in the US. To book a presentation about Muslims, visit our site.
ING Addressed Anti-Muslim Bigotry
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi presented in two classes at a private South Bay high school on Islamophobia, its roots in colonialism, how its related to other forms of bigotry, and its modern-day manifestations in discrimination, bullying, and hate crimes. The students were engaged and drew parallels to their own experiences with bigotry. To book a presentation on Islamophobia, visit our site.
