Regional Interfaith/ Ecumenical Committee

April Newsletter

We had a very special March at Abrahamic House. The fellows hosted events from all three of their faith traditions, all while Seedy and Esma were fasting for Ramadan. We are so impressed with what they’ve been able to achieve and are really looking forward to our April programming.

Abrahamic House at the Church Street Block Party

Saturday, April 5th, 12:00pm – 5:00pm EDT

(Abrahamic House’s table will be set up from 1pm – 3pm)

REGISTER

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Sacred Cleansing Rituals Across Faiths and Cultures

Sunday, April 6th, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM EDT

Passover Seder

Saturday, April 13th, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM EDT

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IFC Around Town

Pictured left to right: Picture 1: IFC Associate Director Symi Rom-Rymer and Khaeriah Zaehera Abd Kayyum, Counselor and Head of Chancery Embassy of Malaysia. Picture 2: IFC Executive Director Dr. Sousan Abadian and Reverend Rob Schenk of Hebrew College, Newton, MA. Picture 3: Youssef Elazhari, Director of Sharaka Morocco; Christina Wong Poy, Administrative Director of Asian Pacific American & South Asian American Affairs at the Maryland Governor’s Office; Dr. Sousan Abadian; Jennifer Gray, Director of Interfaith Outreach for the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives under the Hogan Administration; and Anthony Vance, Senior Representative, Office of Public Affairs, Baha’is of the US. Picture 4: Dr. Michael Jenkins, President of the Washington Times Foundation; Anila Ali, President of AMMWEC; Dr. Sousan Abadian; Kersi Shroff, Zoroastrian Lay Leader at ZAMWI and Executive Member of the Montgomery County Faith Community Advisory Group; and Soraya M. Deen, Founder and President of Muslim Women Speak.

Throughout Ramadan, IFC Executive Director Dr. Sousan Abadian and Associate Director Symi Rom-Rymer have been graciously invited into faith communities all over the Washington, D.C. area. As this year’s Ramadan comes to a close, IFC staff attended three final Iftar events. Sousan participated in the Rumi Forum’s Reunion Iftar and an interfaith Iftar hosted by the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, the Universal Peace Federation, and The House of Ruach Foundation. Symi attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, Hadassah, The Zionist Women’s Organization of America, and The House of Ruach Foundation. All of these Iftars have provided the opportunity to build and strengthen friendships and reflect on the significance of Ramadan. IFC would like to thank these organizations for the opportunity to attend.

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Religious and Cultural Literacy Workshops

IFC is excited to facilitate four upcoming Religious and Cultural Literacy Workshops. We’d like to thank the Academy of the Holy Cross, Montgomery College, Temple Micah, and Ingleside at King Farm for inviting us into their communities!

To bring a religious and cultural literacy workshop to your workplace, school, or congregation, please email IFC’s Assistant Director Symi Rom-Rymer: symirr@ifcmw.org.

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IFC Blog Post

We invite you to read IFC’s latest blog post by Dr. Yehezkel Landau

A Jew Looks at Lent, Ramadan, and Passover…

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Make Your Voice Heard! 

Please take a moment to fill out this (very) short survey and let us know what conversations you might be interested in having IFC facilitate.

Click here…

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Upcoming IFC Partner Events

Nights at the Seder Table

April 1 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, 575 3rd Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001

Join the Capital Jewish Museum and its partners this Passover season at the second annual untraditional seder to remember. Read from the museum’s community Haggadah, clink glasses over stories old and new, connect over charoset and horseradish, and find inspiration all around the table.

Register now…

Models of Faith-Based Engagement with Public Life
April 5 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
4500 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

We are living in a time when people of faith are seeking moral clarity and effective engagement in public life. This event is designed to help faith leaders and seminarians maximize their impact. Attendees will hear from religious leaders, scholars, and community activists as they explore different strategies for engagement, from faith-based organizing to populist movements. Also take a special workshop on an issue that draws your passion for faithful witness and advocacy, from immigrant rights to environmental justice. Co-sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington and the Interfaith Power and Light, DC. If you are interested, be sure to register at the event website.

Register now…

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Upcoming Interfaith Events in the DMV

Free Health Fair

March 30 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Washington Sikh Center, 7500 Warfield Rd
Gaithersburg, MD 20882

Join the Washington Sikh Center for a no-cost health fair. This event will offer school and sports physicals, blood pressure checks, Alzheimer’s and dementia screenings, A1C diabetes tests, and much more. Families with children are invited to attend, and food will be provided. An Alzheimer’s workshop will also be held at 2:30 PM. The event organizers only ask that you bring an ID for admittance.

Find out more »

Makom Interfaith Program

March 30 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, 6101 Executive Boulevard
North Bethesda, MD 20852 + Google Map

The Makom organization is excited to invite the community to a special interfaith program! During the event, representatives from three religions will offer remarks about their beliefs. Then, attendees will have time to ask questions and hear additional insights from these experts. Light refreshments will also be offered. We look forward to seeing you there!

Find out more »

A Sacred Piece of Home on WETA PBS
April 5 @ 5:30 pm

A Sacred Piece of Home: Washington D.C. is a documentary series that offers viewers a look at the distinctive religious architecture found in and around Washington, D.C. With cultural influences from around the world, the Washington area is something of a Noah’s Ark of sacred architecture. Viewers will discover iconic places of worship, both monumental and intimate, and learn about the communities that envisioned, built, and commissioned them over the last two and a half centuries.

Learn more…

Celebrating our Multicultural Community

April 6 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bowie Community Center, 3209 Stonybrook Drive
Bowie, MD 20715 + Google Map

Welcome to the Interfaith Coalition of Bowie’s “Celebrating our Multicultural Community” event! Join us at the Bowie Community Center for a kick-off event to highlight how we will be showcasing the rich tapestry of our cultures all year long. Don’t miss out on this exciting event, followed by a reception. See you there! If you would like to reserve a spot, please register for free on the website.

Find out more »

View All Regional Interfaith Events

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Resources for the Wider Community

Know Your Rights Information (Catholic Legal Immigration Network) 

Immigration Rights Toolkit (Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund)

Print pocket cards to hand to ICE if they approach you (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) 

Immigration – Know Your Rights Resources (Muslims for Just Futures) – available in Bangla, Dari, English, Hindi, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Spanish, and Urdu. 

A Toolkit for Faith Leaders Facing Crisis and Division

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Upcoming Religious Holidays 

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Reflection on Ecumenism

By Anne Mulqueen, OFS

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