November 21, 2017
Dear Friend,
On March 16-17 of 1998, we held our very first Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Retreat, “Immigration, Police Brutality, Identity, and Youth,” at Stony Point Retreat Center. For two decades, these retreats have made it possible for grassroots religious leaders to get to the really important social issues that need a solution. These retreats are not just about “nice ideas.” They produce social action that is concrete and specific. . . We must continue this work for the sake of our children and the society they will live in.
– The Very Rev. James Parks Morton, Founder & Chair Emeritus, ICNY
For the third year in a row, hate crimes have risen in New York City. Anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim bias crimes fueled a 28% increase just this year. In Manhattan at least two churches and two synagogues, as well as a mosque in New Jersey, were defaced with swastikas and other hate graffiti—one, the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, hosts services for our partners at Congregation of B’Nai Jeshurun, which Rabbi Marshall Meyer led from 1985 to 1993. The Interfaith Center of New York’s programs to overcome religious prejudice and combat hatred are critical to a healthy civil society. We are counting on your renewed support and generosity now to continue these vital efforts.
In particular, the semiannual Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Retreat for Social Justice has created a generation of diverse grassroots religious leaders at home on the steps of city hall advocating together for their communities and speaking out when another faith group is attacked.
In 33 retreats over 20 years, more than 1,000 diverse religious leaders have gathered with government officials, academics, and experts from many fields to learn to stand up to the forces of divisiveness in our society. Past retreats have included:
- Creating Safety, Preserving Faith: Religious Leaders Respond to Domestic Violence (May 25-26, 2011)
- Building Sacred Space in the City: Religious Freedom in Bricks and Mortar (Nov. 4, 2010)
- Confronting Hate Crimes (Jan. 28-29, 2009)
Your support now is essential to continue these vital dialogues.Your gift helps nurture many powerful initiatives like these that have grown from the Retreats:
The New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform was founded at the 22nd retreat in 2009. Today this network advocates for DACA recipients and has helped recruit sanctuary congregations.
Likewise, a quarterly environmental justice breakfast and a two-year domestic violence awareness training program for imams, rabbis, and pastors were other important outcomes of the 18th (2007), and 25th (2011) Retreats, respectively.
Our beloved founder, The Very Rev. James Parks Morton, is retiring this fall. Dean Morton was a close friend of Rabbi Marshall Meyer and named this early ICNY program after the rabbi, who was active in the human rights struggle during the “Dirty War” in Argentina from 1976 to 1983 before returning to New York to lead Congregation B’Nai Jeshurun.
Dean Morton’s retirement wish is to invite you to make a special contribution to the Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Retreat. This program is an essential part of our mission to build bridges across religious divides in a polarized world.
There has never been a time in the 20 years of ICNY’s existence that our work was so needed and our need for your support was so great. Thank you for your past support and for your consideration now.
Sincerely,
The Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer
Executive Director
The Interfaith Center of New York
PS: Please consider making a monthly recurring pledge or participating in ICNY’s planned giving program.
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