NewU Feature: Different Religions Gather to Give Thanks

So much for interfaith - the MSU declined their invitation:

While there are individuals of the Islam faith attending the Thanksgiving service, members from the Muslim Student Union, however, will not be attending the prayer service.

“As Muslims we thank God every day and during every prayer; combining our thanks for God’s many blessings to one day is not enough,” said Mohamed Galal, a fifth-year chemical and computer engineering double-major and president of the Muslim Student Union.

That's a bunch of B.S. and they know it.

Link to article

Features
Different Religions Gather to Give Thanks
By Yolanda Vo
Staff Writer

Thanksgiving is just days away as most of us anticipate spending time with our families and eating delectable dishes that are only served once a year. However, Thanksgiving is more than just a get-together and yummy foods—it is a time to give thanks.

UC Irvine students of all religious backgrounds will be gathering together for the “Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service” on Tuesday, November 21 at 5:00 p.m. in the Interfaith building adjacent to the engineering Interim Classroom Facility. Students will give thanks in their own personal way, native language and in a manner that is reflective of their religion.

“The individuals attending the service include the Baha’i, Christians – including the Catholics, Chi Alpha [campus fellowship], Episcopalians and Latter Day Saints – Jewish and Muslims,” said Director of Interfaith Nancy Jenks, who has been involved in Interfaith for 30 years. “The Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service is an annual tradition and we ask any faith to be present. We’ve had it for about 20 years.”

The prayer service, which was started by Jenks, allows students and staff to reflect on the things that they are grateful for in an environment in which there is no tension among religions.

“The chairs are arranged in a circle with one large, lit candle in the middle for the prayer service. There are little candles on each of the chairs and everyone lights their candle from the center candle,” Jenks explained. “Afterward, we have a buffet of fruit, cheese and punch. We’ve been doing it like that since the very beginning.”

Alex Chazen, a third-year political science major and president of the Jewish Student Union Hillel, also expressed his satisfaction that different religions can gather together for an evening.

“I went last year and will be going this year,” Chazen said. “I think it’s a good example for all religions to work together and have inclusiveness.”

While the format of the Thanksgiving service remains the same year after year, each new Thanksgiving prayer service brings its own unique experience.

“You never know what direction it will take. It’s always really special. And there’s always something that will make you cry,” Jenks said.

The event accommodates each religion and welcomes individuals to read from their religious doctrine and in any preferred language.

“It’s cool hearing everyone read from their religion’s text and in a different language,” said Sarah Killian, president of the University Catholic Community. “It’s the only event I know that different religions can use their own religious texts, whereas usually they can only do so at their own religious services.”

Hooman Eghterafi, who graduated from UCI last year, has attended the Thanksgiving prayer service since his sophomore year as an undergraduate.

“I love the atmosphere,” Eghterafi said. “I’m trying to get as many people from the Baha’i club as I can. We’ll elaborate on God, religion and mankind and recite a prayer of unity.”

While there are individuals of the Islam faith attending the Thanksgiving service, members from the Muslim Student Union, however, will not be attending the prayer service.

“As Muslims we thank God every day and during every prayer; combining our thanks for God’s many blessings to one day is not enough,” said Mohamed Galal, a fifth-year chemical and computer engineering double-major and president of the Muslim Student Union.

The Interfaith facility was established in 1965 and provides a place for students, faculty, and staff from any faith to be involved in faith-based activities, attend religious services, and interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Interfaith runs as an independent, non-profit organization that is supported by donations from community members, businesses and organized religions and is not funded by UCI.

NewU: Hillel Hopes To End Campus Conflicts

Alex Chazen is for playing nice with the MSU. If the MSU played nice with us, I'd be all for it - but they continue to bring anti-Semites on campus. Did Alex somehow miss Amir Abdel Malik Ali's multiple visits at the beginning of the quarter?

And now there's an event co-sponsored by the MSU and Hillel? (read below) What the heck is Rabbi Steinberg of Shir HaMa'alot doing sitting on the same stage as Sadullah Khan, who considers one of the Three Big Lies to be "Zionism is essential to Judaism"?

Hey Alex: is the MSU planning on holding another annual Anti-Zionism Week this coming May? If the answer to that question is anything but "no", what the are you doing even talking with them?

Somebody please slap Alex upside the head...

Features
Hillel Hopes to End Campus Conflicts
By Nadia Osman

UC Irvine’s Jewish Student Union, Hillel, has often been in the spotlight over the past few years because of intermittent clashes with the Muslim Student Union.

“I think that anyone who knows the delicate balance between the MSU and Hillel on campus knows that there are issues between our groups that need to be resolved,” said Alex Chazen, a third-year political science major and president of Hillel.

Chazen hopes to work this year to address these conflicts.

“Instead of avoiding past conflicts, I would love to confront and resolve these conflicts,” Chazen said. “I feel that it is important for people of all faiths to work together. There is so much common ground between the two religions, yet there is such an unwilling attitude to come together and partner in religious education.”

Hillel provides both a social and religious outlet for Jewish students at UCI. Hillel’s goals include increasing the comfort level of Jewish students on campus and creating a positive Jewish experience for its members.

“A very high percentage of people in this country believe in a god of some sort, and it doesn’t make sense for faith-based organizations to have feuds like the one that Hillel and MSU appear to have,” Chazen said.

Chazen is even willing to settle the feud by having a face-to-face meeting with MSU officers and members.

“I am most definitely willing to have a face-to-face meeting,” Chazen said. “I’ll do it in person. I’ll do it over the phone. I’ll do it over e-mail. I’ll do it on KUCI. I think it’s important that we sit and talk in a nonconfrontational manner. If this can be done, I believe it will be a giant step forward for our two groups on campus.”

One step forward is about to be taken as MSU and Hillel host “Religious Diversity: An Interfaith Dialogue,” their first cosponsored event on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in HIB in partnership with the Cross-Cultural Center.

The program will feature two panelists, Sudallah Khan, executive director of religious affairs at the Islamic Center of Irvine, and Rabbi Richard Steinberg of the congregation Shir Ha-Ma’a lot.

Chazen is unsure of what lasting effects the program will have.

“I fear that with the exception of our cosponsored program there will be little dialogue, just as there has been in the past,” Chazen said.

Naz Farahdel, second-year social ecology major and vice president and social chair of Hillel, said, “I don’t know how much talks can solve problems, but I know that if done right, with a chance for both sides to speak, then they are a step towards helping.”

Aside from the group’s intermittent involvement in controversy, Hillel has plenty of other things to offer UCI and the community at large. In the past month, Hillel has celebrated the two holiest Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana.

To honor these holidays, Hillel held widely attended services at the Bren Events Center for the second year in a row. The services included festival meals for both holidays, with a meal before and after the 25-hour fast on Yom Kippur, along with spiritual services.

In addition to celebrating the holy days, Hillel hosts Shabbat dinners at the Interfaith Center on a weekly basis. Other activities planned for the fall quarter include a visit from a Facebook executive on Nov. 2 to discuss the founding and organization of the popular Web site, community service projects with other Hillel chapters to benefit the greater Los Angeles area and hosting the annual Hanukkah party at the end of November. Hillel also built a Sukkah, an outdoor gathering area in honor of the holiday Sukkot, which can be found in front of Langson Library on Ring Road.

Members are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming year.

“I feel it’s frustrating because there’s so much animosity when there shouldn’t be,” Farahdel said. “It’s ironic; we’re both fighting to get peace. I really want to plan an event with [Hillel and MSU] and do something fun, like go bowling! We’re still people, and we still want the same things, we all want peace.”