Table Forum:Racism & Abrahamic Traditions.

The Center for interfaith Affairs at PII had another successful Abraham’s table forum, titled (Racism & Abrahamic traditions.) Guests enjoyed the dinner first. Our director Ibrahim SAYAR introduced the topic and the speakers after a wonderful PII video presentation.

Speakers examined those questions:

-What is racism?

-What do Abrahamic traditions offer as part of the solution?

-Is there a suprerior race?

-What is the difference between racism and nationalism?

-How does our understanding of  the approach to racial interaction in sacred texts help us with peacemaking today?

Our first speaker,Rabbi Jo David from Berkeley College explained complex human nature with different types of food which she distributed to the audience along with the story of Abraham and his guests. She indicated that God does not differentiate among people, and treats us equally even though we are different by nature.

 Our second  speaker Rev. Andrea Brown from Temple of Understanding gave the historic analogy of Racism and nationalism throughout the Christian history. She underlined ignorance and misinterpretation of the traditions as the sources of Racism, and nationalism. Education of the individuals plays a vital role to overcome this problem of humanity.

Our third speaker of the night, Imam Souleimane Konate of Masjid al Aksa in NYC, gave the Islamic perspective of racism. He gave examples from the Holy Qur’an, Hadith (sayings of the prophet), and the history of Islam. He indicated that (superiority is by piety before God).

The event ended  with active Q & A session.