Message from ICNY Executive Director
Dear Friends,
To commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11, please join The Interfaith Center of New York and other nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and businesses from around New York to pack half a million meals for the hungry. The “9/11 Day of Service” will take place in downtown Manhattan. There is also the “Prayers for World Peace Interfaith Ceremony” which will be held at the International Buddhist Progress Society New York Temple in Flushing.
Fifteen years ago, just two days after the attacks, the Interfaith Center hosted a press conference where dozens of diverse faith leaders expressed their solidarity across religious traditions in the face of terrorism. Five faith leaders who spoke at that press conference, Dr. Uma Mysorekar, Baba Antonio Mondesire, Sister Aisha Al-Adawiya, Rev. TK Nakagaki and Rabbi Joe Potasnik viewed an archival recording of that press conference recently and weighed in on whether racial, cultural and religious intolerance has changed since 2001 and what actions New Yorkers can take now to build peace. We will publish their reflection as our September blog later this month. Look also for our upcoming podcast episode with Peter Gudaitis, former director of the New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) that helped coordinate the unmet needs round table after 9/11 and disaster response during Hurricane Sandy.
Also in Flushing on 9/11, the Hindu Temple’s annual Ganesh Chaturthi (birthday of Ganesh) celebration culminates with the Grand Ratha Yatra, when the Ganesh deity is paraded around the neighborhood. See ICNY’s short video of this magnificent celebration that is open to the public and a fun experience for children. If you can make it to Queens, it is well worth the visit. Also see this New York Times article about the annual celebration.
Finally, thanks to your support and others around the city, the GoFundMe campaign organized by the Majlis Ashura for the widows and children of Imam Akonjee and Thara Uddin has raised over $82,000. Donations are still being accepted at https://www.gofundme.com/ImamsMaulama-Thara For coverage and updates on the situation, please check ICNY’s website and Facebook page. In addition, see this article “Over 50 Organizations Demand a Fair Investigation in the Murder of Khalid Jabara” and the corresponding coalition letter; plus this article “Muslim Advocates Joined By Nearly 40 Groups to Urge Mayor Bill de Blasio to Direct NYPD Hate Crimes Unit to Thoroughly Investigate Queens Murders” and its corresponding statement.
Our September newsletter is available here.
Best Wishes,
Rev. Chloe Breyer
Executive Director
The Interfaith Center of New York
