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ING in the News
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Local Muslim Family Celebrates
Their Iftar Meal With Homemade Dishes
(Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)
The Santa Cruz Sentinel approached us with a desire to participate in a local Muslim family’s iftar (fast-breaking) dinner during Ramadan. We connected them to Deana Rabiah, a former ING employee who welcomed the reporters into her home and explained the significance and rituals of Ramadan as well as popular foods from her family’s history. You can read the whole story at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Join Us At Interfaith Iftars and Service Events
Ramadan is often a time of increased outreach, when Muslims look to their wider communities to invite people of all faiths and none to iftar (breaking of the Ramadan fast) dinners at their mosques. If you’ve never attended an iftar dinner, we highly encourage you to do so, and we’ve highlighted a few options below including the Rahima Foundation’s Human Dignity Day service event. The hunger awareness campaign page contains a full list of the dinners, many of which take place on June 2nd and 3rd.
If you’re not in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out our Know Your neighbor program partner Shoulder to Shoulder’s “United States of Love Over Hate Ramadan Supper Series” project, which lists interfaith iftars around the country. We hope to see you for dinner!
Silicon Valley Iftar Dinner With Pacifica Institute:
May 31st in Sunnyvale
The Pacifica Institute in Sunnyvale will host an interfaith iftar with guest speaker Dr. Sophia Pandya from California State University, Long Beach. More information and RSVP here.
Yaseen Foundation Open House and Iftar:
May 31st in Burlingame
The Yaseen Foundation in Burlingame will host their annual interfaith iftar on Thursday, May 31st. More information and RSVP here.
Human Dignity Day:
June 2nd in San Jose
The Rahima Foundation, one of the steering members of the Ramadan hunger awareness campaign, will provide hot lunches, t-shirts, socks, and hygiene packs to hundreds of homeless individuals and families at the South Bay Islamic Association’s downtown facility for their annual Human Dignity Day.
Muslim Community Association Interfaith Iftar:
June 2nd in Santa Clara
The Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara will host their annual interfaith iftar on Saturday, June 2nd. More information and RSVP here.
Other Upcoming ING Events:
What Do American Muslims Believe?
May 31st in Los Altos
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi will discuss American Muslims in the current political environment for the Los Altos Rotary Club.
Interfaith Practices of Sanctuary:
June 1st in Oakland
ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali will speak about Islamic perspectives on the concept of sanctuary at the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity’s 2018 Sanctuary Convening.
Episcopalians Discuss Islam:
June 3rd in San Mateo
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in San Mateo will host ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi for a special presentation on American Muslims in the current political environment.
Past Event Highlights:
How Does Islamophobia Affect American Muslims?
ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali spoke on Islamophobia and its effects on American Muslims at an event organized by a Muslim high school student for his senior project. Her presentation was followed by an iftar dinner featuring Afghani food and Egyptian desserts. See our free public presentation to learn more about Islamophobia.
How Do Immigrants and Minorities Learn to
Feel “Home” in the United States?
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi spoke on an interfaith panel at the Annual San Francisco Ramadan Interfaith Iftar Dinner hosted by the Pacifica Institute and Calvary Presbyterian Church. The panel’s theme was “Finding Home,” and it featured Victor Kazanjian of United Religions Initiative and Jessica Trubowitch of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Find more interfaith iftars that you can attend at the Ramadan hunger awareness campaign page.
ING’s Impact Extends With Every New Audience
The Kiwanis Club of San Jose invited ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi to its monthly meeting to learn more about American Muslims in the current political environment. After the presentation, many audience members expressed an interest in holding similar events at their corporations! If you’d like to know more, you can schedule a custom presentation about Islam and Muslims at our site.
A New Wall of Peace and Interfaith Fellowship
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi spoke on an interfaith panel at an iftar dinner hosted by the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California (ICCNC) last weekend. Nearly 300 people attended the event, which also featured Rabbi David Cooper and Pastor Ben Daniel. The ICCNC used the event to inaugurate a new “wall of peace” developed together by Muslim, Jewish, and Christian artists (pictured above). The dinner itself was presented in line with the green practices espoused by the Ramadan hunger awareness campaign, with smaller portions, recycled serving ware, and information about reducing food waste generally.
