Inter-faith Intra-faith

Arrival Day 2005

Jonathan of Head Heeb fame is convening the third annual blogburst for Arrival Day. Arrival Day commemorates the arrival of Jews to old New Amsterdam, and each year, the burst has a theme. According to Jonathan, “this year, the focus is on American Jews as part – or, more accurately, parts – of a larger whole.” After last year’s Arrival Day I read Philip Roth’s Operation Shylock – no causal relationship. In it, Roth’s protagonist, Philip Roth #2 (you really need to read the book) preaches an idea he calls “diasporism,” as a counter to Zionism. Now, regardless of what…

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Film

Mira Nair and Uganda

Great piece, continuing in the vein of Asians and East Africa. If you haven’t seen Mississippi Masala, I do recommend it as it is the only film I know of that deals with the twice-migrant Asian community. Technorati Tags: Asians in East Africa, Uganda

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Current Affairs

Columbia and Katrina

Since Haroon asked: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/05/09/columbia_katrina.html Columbia Extends Sympathy and Assistance to Hurricane Katrina Victims The Columbia community is deeply saddened by the magnitude of the pain and suffering that has resulted from Hurricane Katrina. We join the rest of the nation in seeking ways to aid those in need. The University would also like to express its deep appreciation of the extraordinary response efforts by volunteers, state and local government agencies and relief organizations. We in New York City know deeply and personally how difficult and painful a disaster of this magnitude is for the individuals and families experiencing it. As…

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Current Affairs

Harvard and Katrina

September 2, 2005 Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: The devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina have stunned us all. The loss of life, destruction of property, and unimaginably severe conditions that remain in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are profoundly saddening. Our thoughts, prayers, and sympathies are with all those who have suffered from the storm and its aftermath. How can we as a university help? Let me outline several ways. First, we are contacting our undergraduate and graduate students who live in the region to offer any assistance we can in helping them arrive safely for the fall term.…

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