Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Discussing Dialogue
Hey JAM,
Check out an interesting article below that can help us all think about the best ways to go about dialogue. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Check out an interesting article below that can help us all think about the best ways to go about dialogue. Have a great Thanksgiving!
http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=13841
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
New book on Jewish and Muslim mysticism
Hey JAM,
Check out this new book, which provides an interesting examination of Jewish and Muslim mystical traditions. This book examines the close ties between Kabal and Sufiism, and through an examination of the ties between our religions, we can begin to conceive of the peaceful relations Jews and Muslims have enjoyed over time, and will hopefully enjoy everywhere in the near future.
Check out this new book, which provides an interesting examination of Jewish and Muslim mystical traditions. This book examines the close ties between Kabal and Sufiism, and through an examination of the ties between our religions, we can begin to conceive of the peaceful relations Jews and Muslims have enjoyed over time, and will hopefully enjoy everywhere in the near future.
As Mr. Block wrote to me recently, "By popularizing this little-known tale of mutual respect and spiritual love, a narrative of peace – so unusual in these difficult times in the Middle East – can begin to resonate between these children of Abraham."
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
We're Back
Hey guys! JAM at Yale is excited to be back this year! We've already had some pretty awesome events and we have many more planned. Feel free to email us at jam@yale.edu with questions, ideas, or even blog posts. We hope to see you soon!
-JAM Board
-JAM Board
Monday, April 14, 2008
6 imams and 6 rabbis walk into a television studio...
Stop me if you've heard this one before.... But I bet you haven't! Check out the article below about a new anti- anti-Semitism and Islamophobia commercial featuring a dozen imams and rabbis. As they mention in the article, one of the things that's great about this little group is that it recognizes the difficulty inherent in starting Jewish-Muslim dialogue. To quote the headline, there's "no 'kumbaya'" in this group!
Read the article here.
Read the article here.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Stand up against hate
By Benjamin Chaidell
I'm sure everyone has gotten tons of e-mails about the swastika and SS symbols on Friday night. It's been great to see so much awareness raised about this incident. But more has to be done than mere condemnation. It's very easy to say, "That's wrong" or "I disagree with a swastika on Old Campus." What bothered me most about the swastika and SS symbol was not that one person perversely put these up, but that on a Friday night in the center of campus many Yalies stood by silently as elaborately drawn SS and swastika symbols were sculpted in their midst. Many, I'm sure, disapproved of what they saw, but they didn't think it a big enough deal to interrupt their evening, That attitude will not solve the problems that led to this act of hate. We must take an active stance against stereotpyes and prejudice within our community.
Seeing the swastika reminded me just how much hate hurts. When I heard about the racist grafitti on the walls of Pierson or "We love Yale sluts," I thought these incidents represented a despicable, but also marginalized and insignificant opinion on campus. I was among the ranks of Yalies who did not see the need for a rally at Commons against hate. It only gives those who committed these acts the attention they crave, I reasoned. While still not the biggest fan of a rally in this case, I now understand the impassioned reaction. I now read opinion columns about how the swastika is like a "CCCP" shirt of the Soviet Union and hear friends ask what the big deal is. It strikes me that only weeks ago I played the same role.
Now I seek to be more sensitive to any act of bigotry, since I now know how it feels to be its target. An attack against one of our community is an attack against all. A German pastor provided a chilling reminder of this fact when he reflected on the Holocaust.
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemoller
Let us speak out for each other here at Yale, and help build an even stronger and better community.
I'm sure everyone has gotten tons of e-mails about the swastika and SS symbols on Friday night. It's been great to see so much awareness raised about this incident. But more has to be done than mere condemnation. It's very easy to say, "That's wrong" or "I disagree with a swastika on Old Campus." What bothered me most about the swastika and SS symbol was not that one person perversely put these up, but that on a Friday night in the center of campus many Yalies stood by silently as elaborately drawn SS and swastika symbols were sculpted in their midst. Many, I'm sure, disapproved of what they saw, but they didn't think it a big enough deal to interrupt their evening, That attitude will not solve the problems that led to this act of hate. We must take an active stance against stereotpyes and prejudice within our community.
Seeing the swastika reminded me just how much hate hurts. When I heard about the racist grafitti on the walls of Pierson or "We love Yale sluts," I thought these incidents represented a despicable, but also marginalized and insignificant opinion on campus. I was among the ranks of Yalies who did not see the need for a rally at Commons against hate. It only gives those who committed these acts the attention they crave, I reasoned. While still not the biggest fan of a rally in this case, I now understand the impassioned reaction. I now read opinion columns about how the swastika is like a "CCCP" shirt of the Soviet Union and hear friends ask what the big deal is. It strikes me that only weeks ago I played the same role.
Now I seek to be more sensitive to any act of bigotry, since I now know how it feels to be its target. An attack against one of our community is an attack against all. A German pastor provided a chilling reminder of this fact when he reflected on the Holocaust.
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemoller
Let us speak out for each other here at Yale, and help build an even stronger and better community.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Blogging Across Borders
One of the most important components of dialogue is that it be sustained. It is when relations between two groups become strained that dialogue becomes most important. Of course, it is at times like these that meeting in person can become hardest.
Two people, one Jewish and one Palestinian, one in the rocket-wearied Israeli town of Sderot and the other in the Sajaia refugee camp in Gaza, have been carrying on a blog together detailing their experiences of life in conflict. If a blog like theirs can be so successful, there’s every reason to think dialogue can be constructed and constructive anywhere.
Check it out here.
Two people, one Jewish and one Palestinian, one in the rocket-wearied Israeli town of Sderot and the other in the Sajaia refugee camp in Gaza, have been carrying on a blog together detailing their experiences of life in conflict. If a blog like theirs can be so successful, there’s every reason to think dialogue can be constructed and constructive anywhere.
Check it out here.
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