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Religious groups close cultural gap
Muslim, Jewish students collaborate on
program BY: ERIN
FITZGERALD
Accepting differences and celebrating
diversity is the idea behind a joint program by Syracuse
University's Hillel and Muslim Student Association starting next
week.
The program, "Search for Understanding," will include events
ranging from discussions to concerts starting next week and will
last through the remainder of the spring semester.
University Union president and Hillel member Dennis Jacobs said he
believes deeply in this collaboration.
"I think it is fantastic to have Hillel and MSA join together to
put on such events," Jacobs said. "There is such a stigma right
now, not only here, but nationally, about these certain groups not
working together."
Jacob Perlin, a freshman majoring in television, radio and film,
has helped greatly with this program as the cultural vice
president in Hillel.
"I think this collaboration is great," Perlin said. "It sends a
message to the Syracuse community about working together to
achieve understanding and create future learning opportunities."
Both groups hope that by putting on this program, other unlikely
collaborations will take place on campus. Tamanna Mansury, a
freshman member of MSA majoring in biology, believes a program
such as this one will "ignite others to do the same."
"I really think that one of the many problems is getting two
groups to mingle." Mansury said. "This idea and this program is
really a step above."
The idea for such a program came after Chancellor Nancy Cantor
challenged the Syracuse campus and community to celebrate
diversity, Perlin said.
"'Search for Understanding' came from an effort to form a
connection between our two organizations so we can learn from each
other," Perlin said.
The program begins Monday, March 7 at 6 p.m. with the discussion,
"Judaism and Islam 101," held at the Winnick Hillel Center.
The program continues with a performance by comedians Rabbi Bob
Alper and Ahmed Ahmed. The Jewish-Muslim duo will help to bridge
the gap between the two religions here on campus. Jacobs, Perlin
and Mansury all said this is the event they are looking most
forward to.
Hillel and MSA will also present a reggae concert, interfaith
dinner, lecture and Middle East forum at the Syracuse Film
Festival before the end of the Spring semester.
"The purpose of the program is to create one event that can and
will benefit so many people," Jacobs said.
Students and community members are encouraged to attend the events
in hopes they will learn more about the two religions and what
they can do together, Jacobs said.
Date published: 3/04/2005
- The Daily Orange
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