New Jersey City University
The Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Lee Africana Studies Center, Dr. William Maxwell College of Arts & Sciences and Peace Islands Institute (formerly Interfaith Dialogue Center)
invite students, faculty, staff, and our local community to
“Negotiating Our Private Faith in Public Spaces”
November15th 12-2:30 pm
Hepburn Hall 202- Gothic Lounge
This event is a conversation on how we live out our private faith in a multicultural democracy. How do we define faith and freedom and balance civility? Public conversations on faith are often taboo; riddled in deeply held “truths”, sacred traditions and politics. It is our hope to engage in a very honest, thoughtful, scholarly and civil discussion on how to navigate our personal faith in our pluralistic society. How do we define faith and freedom and balance civility?
A traditional Turkish/Middle Eastern lunch will be provided by Peace Islands Institute.
Dr. Nuray Yurt, Moderator, Dr. Yurt is the Director of Peace Islands Institute in Central Jersey since 2005. As the director of PII-CNJ, she organized several interfaith and intercultural activities. She plays an active role in organizing Abraham’s Table Luncheons, the venues where speakers from Abrahamic religions discuss and find the commonalities. She is a member of committee for Thanksgiving Service with different houses of worship, which hosts over 250 attendees annually from central NJ. She is actively involved in fundraising activities for Soup Kitchen of Elijah’s Promise where the homeless are served food 3 and a member of New Brunswick Tomorrow. She is currently Assoc. Director of Marketing Science in Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Yurt has Ph.D. in economics. She studied the effects of social ability on lifetime earnings at University of Arizona. Dr.Yurt received several scholarships including George W. Coleman Scholarship at University of Arizona and National Academy of Sciences and Technology of Turkey (TUBITAK) Fellowship award.
Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams, Moderator, Director Lee Hagan Africana Studies Center and Professor, Women & Gender Studies at New Jersey City University; Minister, Bethany Baptist Church
Panelists:
Imam W. Deen Shareef, Masjid Waarith ud Deen, Irvington NJ; City of Newark, Department of Economic and Housing Development; Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace. He is the Convener of the Council of Imams in New Jersey, a body of Muslim Leaders from various mosques and centers located in New Jersey who cooperate to develop and implement initiatives to improve the quality of life of the citizens in the communities they reside.
Rabbi Debra Hachen, Temple Beth-El, Jersey City. She joined Temple Beth-El in July of 2011. She brings her passion for story-telling, text study, social justice, and creating meaningful rituals and worship. A member of the Reform movement’s Commission on Membership and Outreach, Rabbi Hachen cares deeply about inviting in those on the edges of Judaism and especially welcoming the Jewish GLBTQ community, interfaith couples, those of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, and all looking to reconnect with or explore their Jewish roots.
Rabbi Hachen believes that God is present in the relationships we build with each other. “Holiness is all around us – and Judaism gives us the texts and rituals to activate the best that is in us so that we can be God’s partners for good.” Some of her social action concerns include domestic violence, economic justice, hunger, homelessness, and the environment.
Rabbi Hachen was ordained at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 1980 and then served twenty-four years in Massachusetts where she was the founding rabbi of a Reform congregation that grew to 500 households. When her husband’s career brought them to this area, she served several years as rabbi at a Reform congregation in Bergen County before moving to Jersey City to join the Temple Beth-El family.
Father Luke Edelin, Catholic Priest, Chancellor of the Syriac Catholic Church, Bayonne. “Father Luke” is a member of the Hudson County Interfaith Brotherhood and Sisterhood, and has connections with religious leaders of all faiths. He is also the former Chaplin, New Jersey City University. Father Luke currently is part of the Benedictines of Newark.
This event is FREE and open to the public. For more information please call 201-200-3524 or email at aellis@njcu.edu“>aellis@njcu.edu.