May 16 - Ramadan
A month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.
May 20 - Shavuot
One of the three Pilgrimage festivals (late Spring harvest). Celebration of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Celebrated 49 days after the 2nd day of Passover.
May 20 - Pentecost
The Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter.
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All Jewish & Muslim Holidays start on the preceding evening at sundown.
** Jewish Holy Days and Muslim Holy Days are determined by the lunar calendar.
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Daughters of Abraham promotional video
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Wishing all our Muslim sisters a "Blessed Ramadan," and our Jewish Sisters a "Chag Sameach, a happy Shavuot".
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Be sure to let us know what your chapter is doing. And remember to send your groups favorite books this year.
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News from Around the Country
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Daughters of
Abraham Members Participate in an Interfaith Panel.
O
n March 14, 2018, Newton Free Library in Newton, MA, presented an interfaith panel: "Examining the Three Abrahamic Faiths." The library program, under the direction of Ellen Meyers, was designed to complement the Newton ESL Program's reading of the book,
I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education,
through the lens of how the three Abrahamic faiths treat the education of women.
The panelists were Alison Berry, Rabbi at Temple Shalom, Newton, Saadia Baloch, Outreach Coordinator at the Islamic Center of Boston/Wayland and a leader of the Newton chapter of Daughters of Abraham and Anne Minton, an Episcopal priest and member of Merrimack Valley chapter of Daughter's of Abraham. The three described what is central to each one about her faith tradition/spiritual path, what she wanted others to know about her religion and the role of women, and the education of women in her faith tradition. Part of the conversation centered on what each panelist admired about the other two faiths, and then on clarifying what they thought were mistaken perceptions about their faith.
The audience asked a number of questions. They were encouraged by the presence of three women with deep roots in their faith and articulate about what each one cherishes about her religion. The panel was moderated by Dr. John McDargh, Associate Professor of Theology at Boston College. Saadia and Anne put in a number of plugs for Daughters of Abraham. One of those attending commented later: "Your discussion was inspiring, uplifting, informative and so important as I believe collaboration among and within different religions is vital to goals of hope and peace in the world today. We all left the library with smiles on our faces and good feelings in our hearts. Thank you so much."
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Merrimack Valley Chapter Gathers for
a Seder Meal
On April 9
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the Merrimack Valley Chapter (MA) gathered for a Seder Meal at Rachel Dinges home in Andover. Our Jewish sisters, Rachel, Fran Hirschel and Deb Longabaugh-Burg prepared the Seder meal. They led us all through the Seder ("Order") of the meal explaining each item, saying the prayers, sharing the teachings, traditions and singing the songs.
Growing up as a Muslim I have heard the story of Musa Nabi (Prophet Moses) (SA) parting the sea and saving his people from Egyptian Pharaoh. From my American friends, colleagues, I learnt that Passover celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, lasting seven or eight days from the day when the event actually happened (15
th
day of Nisan).
But it was a unique experience in how this story of Passover is remembered, retold and explained to the next generations during the seder. Different food items signified the events and circumstances in the life of Israelites as slaves and each family carries traditions from the past. Our sisters explained how they have their favorite Haggadah that is used to facilitate the retelling of the story and how many families make seder more relevant by creating new traditions, linking the exodus to what is happening in present times.
Re-telling of the story also covered some of the important messages like helping others and how to be a good person, which are the common messages of all our faiths. It was an experience I will always cherish.
Rabab Bhindarwala
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