Syracuse University’s Hillel, Muslim Student Association join together in a ‘Search for Understanding’

Syracuse University’s Hillel, Muslim Student Association join together in a ‘Search for Understanding’March 03, 2005Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Last fall, student representatives from Syracuse University’s Hillel and Muslim Student Association (MSA)-inspired by Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s challenges to members of the University to practice the skills of collaboration and to celebrate diversity-met to discuss ways the two organizations could work together to promote greater understanding of the two religious faiths and the issues facing people in the Middle East.

Their efforts have resulted in the development of a multi-event program, called “Search for Understanding,” that will begin next week and continue through the Spring 2005 semester.

The first event, “Judaism and Islam 101,” a discussion of the basic tenets of each religion led by students from Hillel and MSA, will be held on Monday, March 7 at 6 p.m., at the Winnick Hillel Center. It is free and open to the public.

On Wednesday, March 9, Hillel and the MSA will present the comedy duo of Rabbi Bob Alper and Ahmed Ahmed at 7:30 p.m. in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. Tickets are $6 for the general public and $3 for students with SU I.D. and are available at the Schine Box Office, or by calling (315) 443-4517. Parking for both events is available in the University’s paid visitor lots.

“Search for Understanding” events will continue in April with a concert by Hasidic reggae singer Matisyahu Miller (April 5, sponsored by Hillel, University Union Concerts and the Caribbean Student Association); the Annual Interfaith Seder; Dinner with Neve Shalom-Wahat Al-Salam (April 12, sponsored by Hillel and MSA); a lecture by scholar and author Karen Armstrong (April 12, sponsored by Hendricks Chapel) and a Middle East Forum at the Syracuse International Film and Video Festival (April 26, sponsored by Hillel, MSA, the Turkish Student Association and the Turkish Club).

For more information on “Search for Understanding” activities, contact Hillel at (315) 443-5042 or visit http://www.jewsonthehill.org.