Muslim/Jewish Halaqa-Seder: A Celebration of the Exodus Story

Join us for dramatic reenactments of scenes from the Exodus Story from Muslim and Jewish scriptures followed by engaging interfaith table conversations and a halal/kosher dinner among Muslim and Jewish members of South Bay communities. Last year’s event was sold out.

Register online at ing.org/events/muslim-jewish-halaqa-seder-a-celebration-of-the-exodus-story/

At last year’s event, a group of Muslims and Jews gathered in Palo Alto on Sunday, March 29th, 2015, for a one-of-a-kind Seder and Halaqa that looked at scenes from the Exodus story from the perspectives of Muslims and Jews. Following each scene, attendees participated in fruitful interfaith discussions of the different narratives at their tables. The discussions were so engrossing that people had a hard time ending their conversations, which continued through the halal/kosher dinner. The event concluded with an open mic session where participants voiced their appreciation for the event and their desire to learn more about each other’s tradition. For more information and photos from the event, go here.

Birds of Longing: An Interfaith Panel

Taking inspiration from exhibiting artist Laurie Wohl’s Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory, panel participants will speak to the interweaving of words, beliefs, and philosophies amongst the Abrahamic religions. Participants include: Wohl, Maha Elgenaidi from the Islamic Networks Group, Rev. Dr. D. Andrew Kille editor of Reading Between The Lines, and Rabbi Me’irah Susan Iliinsky from VITAS Healthcare.

Birds of Longing interweaves Muslim, Jewish, and Christian poetry and spiritual texts from the period of convivencia (co-existence) in Spain (8th-15th centuries), and from modern Middle Eastern poets, particularly Palestinian and Israeli.

Emphasis is on the common themes and striking parallels between Arabic and Hebrew texts, similarly rich in their poetry of spiritual love, an extensive poetry of exile, and poetry of nostalgia for Andalusia.

The project contains Wohl’s weavings, as well as an audio component which consists of readings in English, Arabic, and Hebrew that are interwoven to create a soundscape illustrating the commonality of the Middle Eastern languages.

All 2015-2016 art exhibits are made possible, in part, by a generous gift from Cookie Addison & Family.
All APJCC programming for Cultural Arts is made possible, in part, by generous gifts from Sylvia & Leonard Metz, Doris & Rick Davis, and Bill Lister.
The APJCC is proud to be a part of the Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood,
co-funded by the Koret Foundation and the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture.