May 10, 2018
IFLC, Repair the World Detroit, Encourage Others to Grow Compassion

By Bernadette Beach

The Interfaith Leadership Council of Detroit in collaboration with Repair the World hosted "Grow Compassion"on April 22, 2018. 

Repair the World is working to make an impact one person at a time by mobilizing volunteers to serve in partnership with the Detroit communities and to grow the capacity of service organizations.
A panel of four speakers discussed Compassion from their faith tradition. Brother Al Mascia, Rabbi Rachel Shere, William Boyle, and Najah Bazzy made up the panel and shared the various ways compassion shows up in the world today. 
Compassion literally means “to suffer together” and is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. 


COMPASSION REQUIRES ACTION
Following the panel, two short activities were done by the attendees to set their intention to grow compassion, such as “I will be more mindful to live and speak compassionately”, and “listen to others-seeking to understand, not judge” were written on ribbons and woven into a large Grow Compassion banner. banner. Small clay pots were also decorated as a reminder for each participant. 

A big thank you to Savorfull and Costco for their generous donations. 

Bernadette Beach, RN, BSN, MSN, is Community Health Educator at Rekindle the Spirit. She r eceived extensive training over the  years to enhance her holistic practice.  Trained at the Omega Institute and through the Living School of Action and Contemplation in meditation, as well as being a certified holistic stress management educator she is an experienced presenter on these topics.


How does your faith group or religious organization grow compassion, we want to know! Write to us at stacyiflc@gmail.com. 
Question of the Week: What is Iftar?
In and around Detroit and around the world, Muslims are preparing for Ramadan, the holiest month on the Islamic calendar, which begins on May 15.
Iftar is the main meal of the fasting day, which occurs at sunset every day of Ramadan. The initial breaking of the fast begins with a date and a glass of water or some other type of drink such as fruit juice or milk.
Once the initial fast is broken, worshippers will break for prayer, which lasts anywhere from five to 15 minutes, and then return to eat a larger, more substantial dinner type of meal.

Muslims believe that feeding a person who has fasted is believed to come with great reward from God and therefore many individuals, organizations, mosques, and community centers will offer an Iftar gathering in which the breaking of the fast is celebrated. If you are attending the interfaith Iftar on May 23 and want to know what more to expect, click here


Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit | 10821 Capital, Oak Park, MI 48237  | 313.338.9777 | detroit.interfaith.council@gmail.com