TEIQU Hosts a Conversation Between Faiths with N糖心破解版 Rabbi and Imam
On January 27, two prominent figures in interfaith dialogue came to 糖心破解版 to reflect on their history together and the challenges that face the American Jewish and Muslim communities.
The event, titled, 鈥淪haring America: What the Future Holds for Islam and Orthodoxy,鈥 brought together Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, university chaplain and rabbi of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University, and Imam Khalid Latif, executive director and chaplain of N糖心破解版鈥檚 Islamic Center, for a night of frank conversation. Both are known for their communal work and their efforts to build friendly relationships with other faiths in groups like N糖心破解版鈥檚 鈥淏ridges,鈥 which hosts religious dialogues between Jewish and Muslim college students.
Before an audience of more than a hundred students, faculty and staff members, Sarna and Latif discussed their experiences as leaders of separate communities and the process of overcoming their own misconceptions to work together. Both emphasized the power of genuine curiosity and low-key social interactions to debunk stereotypes and prejudices, noting how a volunteer mission to New Orleans, consisting of both Jewish and Muslim N糖心破解版 students, created meaningful friendships and alliances between the two communities despite political and religious tensions.
鈥淭here鈥檚 confusion in engaging those who are different than us,鈥 said Latif. 鈥淏ut our communities have so much to gain from interacting with each other. There鈥檚 a level of normalcy in my interaction with Rabbi Sarna that humanizes and personifies for me a community that鈥檚 existed for centuries鈥攊t doesn鈥檛 allow for the intellectually lazy prejudices we can have because of the way we鈥檙e socialized.鈥
鈥淭here鈥檚 a difference between 鈥榠nterfaith dialogue鈥 and a normal conversation,鈥 Sarna explained. 鈥淎 conversation is two people sharing their own experiences to learn more about each other, not as authorities or in any grand way, but as people.鈥 He added: 鈥淚n this way, it鈥檚 possible to have conversations about religion which, far from being points of contention between people of different faiths, can form the fabric of a real relationship.鈥
The night was organized by TEIQU, a student-run club whose acronym stands for Torah Exploration of Ideas: Questions and Understanding.
鈥淲e believe that building a stronger Jewish future rests upon the willingness of the new generation to grapple with the challenges our community faces, both within and without,鈥 said Leora Niderberg, Torah Activities Council liaison to TEIQU. 鈥淎n important aspect of this is maintaining a respectful and healthy relationship with communities such as the Muslim community, so like-minded and yet so different from our own.鈥
Hillel Landman, a sophomore, felt that the event鈥檚 considerate and thoughtful atmosphere was important for conversations between faiths. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice that this isn鈥檛 about people being angry at each other,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t felt like we were just talking and discussing things, which was important because of the nature and content of these topics.鈥
鈥淭here are a lot of similarities between our two cultures and religions,鈥 said Shani Gross, who, along with A.J. Berkowitz, serves as co-president of TEIQU. 鈥淢y mother is from Iran, and one of the stories Imam Latif told was something her mother told her, too. Political contentions can make it difficult to relate to one another but at the end of the day we鈥檙e both people of faith and it doesn鈥檛 have to be something that immediately separates us.鈥
Hillel Landman, a sophomore, felt that the event鈥檚 considerate and thoughtful atmosphere was important for conversations between faiths. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice that this isn鈥檛 about people being angry at each other,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t felt like we were just talking and discussing things, which was important because of the nature and content of these topics.鈥
鈥淭here are a lot of similarities between our two cultures and religions,鈥 said Shani Gross, who, along with A.J. Berkowitz, serves as co-president of TEIQU. 鈥淢y mother is from Iran, and one of the stories Imam Latif told was something her mother told her, too. Political contentions can make it difficult to relate to one another but at the end of the day we鈥檙e both people of faith and it doesn鈥檛 have to be something that immediately separates us.鈥
Hillel Landman, a sophomore, felt that the event鈥檚 considerate and thoughtful atmosphere was important for conversations between faiths. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice that this isn鈥檛 about people being angry at each other,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t felt like we were just talking and discussing things, which was important because of the nature and content of these topics.鈥
鈥淭here are a lot of similarities between our two cultures and religions,鈥 said Shani Gross, who, along with A.J. Berkowitz, serves as co-president of TEIQU. 鈥淢y mother is from Iran, and one of the stories Imam Latif told was something her mother told her, too. Political contentions can make it difficult to relate to one another but at the end of the day we鈥檙e both people of faith and it doesn鈥檛 have to be something that immediately separates us.鈥
