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Ramadan Mubarak! (a blessed Ramadan) to all our Muslim friends, who begin the Ramadan fast today. During the month, they will be fasting from dawn to dusk, reading the Qur'an, and engaging in particular acts of charity. The traditional meal for breaking the fast, the iftar, begins with eating a date and drinking water, and then proceeds to a festive meal. It's customary to share the iftar with family and friends, and several local communities take advantage of this time to hold open houses for non-Muslims to meet the community and learn more about it. Several are listed in the calendar below.
One of the ways local communities are preparing to observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is by holding blood drives. Congregation Beth David in Saratoga plans a drive on Monday, September 12. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is setting up blood drives across the country. The local community, Baetul Baseer Mosque in Milpitas, is holding their drive on Sunday, September 4, and would be happy to help other communities arrange for similar blood drives. Contact Imam Mubasher Ahmad at mubahmad@aol.com. You can find additional information on blood drives on the Interfaith Space calendar.
And on the subject of 10th anniversaries, this year the Peninsula Clergy Network, which covers San Mateo County and parts of northern Santa Clara County, is celebrating their 10th year. Rabbi Jay Miller is the Executive Director of this unique coalition of community and religious leaders. Congratulations!
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News & Notes, the occasional blog from Interfaith Space with information about events and commentary on interfaith/ multifaith/ interreligious issues, has received a face lift. Check out our new look at the Interfaith Space website: go to www.interfaithspace.org and click on "News & Notes." We invite your comments or responses.
Send your news! Let the community know about events that are open to the public and are either interfaith or offer an opportunity for others to learn about your faith community. Send information to calendar@interfaithspace.org.
[Interreligious Calendar events are taken from the Multifaith Action Society Multifath Calendar 2010 and other sources. See also the Online Interfaith Calendar and the BBC Interfaith Calendar] NOTE: Jewish Holidays begin at sundown the day before. Buddhist holidays are observed on many different days, according to local tradition.
"Interfaith Opportunities" focuses on specifically interfaith events; "Take Action" offers opportunities to take action on issues of concern with people from other religious traditions, and "Meet Your Neighbors" includes events that are sponsored by a specific religious group but which are open to the wider community. Items for the calendar can be sent to calendar@interfaithspace.org
Click on highlighted links below for more information-
Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 7:00 pm, Los Gatos
Be the Change You Wish to See - Gandhi-
A Special Event with Dr. S.N. Subba Rao
A Gandhian legend speaking about compassion, dialogue, interfaith understanding and community service
Friday, September 9, 2011, 3:00 pm, San Jose
Film and Community Conversation: LOVEHATELOVE
In honor and memory of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 The office of Supervisor Dave Cortese together with the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council will be hosting a screening of LOVEHATELOVE.
Sunday, September 11, 2011, 5:00 pm, Santa Clara
Light the Night for Peace and Friendship
Dinner, program, and candlelight vigil. Watch for details.
Sunday September 11, 2001, 8:00 pm, Palo Alto
Interfaith Community Gathering with music, prayers, and candlelight vigil. Watch for details.
September 11- 21, 2011, worldwide
The days between September 11th and the International Day of Peace on September 21 have been known as the 11 Days of Global Unity. The 11 Days, 11 Ways campaign invites groups around the world to create events that celebrate one or more of eleven key values.
Public events sponsored by specific religious groups that may help others understand their tradition and concerns more fully.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT, online
Parliament Webinar Series:
Lessons from the Egyptian Revolution
Ahmed Rehab, who participated in the Tahrir Square movement, shares his first-hand account.
Saturday, August 13, 2011, 6:30 pm
MCA welcomes you for an open house and iftar dinner. Dinner is free, but reservations are required.
Saturday, August 20, 2011, 8:00 pm, Milpitas
Members of the community are cordially invited to a Ramadhan Dinner. We will open the fast with juice/water and dates, followed by evening prayers, and dinner.
Sunday, August 21, 2011, 8:00 pm, San Jose
The SBIA Annual Ramadan Open House, which is open to the greater community, is an outreach effort designed to enhance understanding of Islam and to help Americans of all faiths meet their Muslim neighbors.
Events that address issues of public concern with an alliance of people from different religious traditions.
Send your events to: calendar@interfaithspace.org
Sunday, August 7, 2011, 6:30 pm, Sunnyvale
BUDRUS: A Palestinian Village Unites in Nonviolent Resistance
BUDRUS is an award winning documentary about a Palestinian community organizer who unites local Fatah and Hamas members along with Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to save his village from destruction.
Location: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Baetul Baseer Mosque, 926 Evans Road, Milpitas
Location: Congregation Beth David, 19700 Prospect Road, Saratoga
Saturday, September 17, 2011 9am-10:30am
Walk from Jubilee Community Center to the Alviso Marina - Alviso / North San Jose Why: Raise funds for your favorite non-profit, join with your community to support our local youth, build community by participating.
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Help us share your good news! If you know of interfaith opportunities that are coming up- please let us know so they can be included on the Interfaith Space Calendar. Send information to calendar@interfaithspace.org.
I have begun writing an occasional blog for Examiner.com, as their San Jose Interfaith Examiner. I'll be posting more extended articles there, and welcome your suggestions for events to publicize, interviews with interfaith leaders, and news about interfaith relationships.