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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…

Episcopal cleric tries Islamic rituals for Lent

Having spent the last six weeks at an Episcopal seminary, I admire what the Deacon is trying to do, and think it can offer insight into one’s own tradition. I’m sorry the Bishop didn’t meet with him before threatening to remove him from the church. Episcopal cleric tries Islamic rituals for Lent. Speaking to a reporter that afternoon, he had no problem reconciling his Episcopalian views with those of Islam and explained that he hoped to test a concept that has been attributed to Mahatma Gandhi and is discussed in John Dunne’s book, “The Way of All the Earth.” According…

Service and Interfaith (#MuslimServe)

Earlier this year Pres. Obama asked us to dedicate ourselves to national service. The result was Serve.gov. In particular, Aug. 31 – Sep. 6, 2009 is meant to be be a week dedicated to interfaith service. Ultimately, the call to service will transform 9/11 into a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Over at City of Brass, Aziz has a slightly longer post on this topic. The opening video for the interfaith call to service, in combination with Ramadan and the associated Qur’an reading, has me thinking about interfaith work as service. In the Qur’an is the declaration that no…