Interfaith Cincinnati

Activism & Advocacy 101: Taking Action for Justice & Peace - 6th to 12th Grade
2021-03-18 19:00 - 20:30, 2021-03-16 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Join us as we look at the different ways that we exert people power to create deep and lasting change. We will dive into strategies and avenues for social change, and emerge with new understandings of our place in the work that we care most about. From talking to friends, to writing an op-ed, to lobbying elected officials, to participating in community projects — how are you going to make your voice heard as you strive for peace and justice in our world? Come with an issue that you care about in mind and leave with a plan as you prepare to take action.
Registration Deadline: March 12th

An Evening with Samantha Power: Discussing “The Education of an Idealist”
2021-03-18 19:00 - 20:00
What can one person do? At a time of upheaval and division, Samantha Power offers an urgent response to this question —and a call for a clearer eye, a kinder heart, and a more open and civil hand in our politics and daily lives.
Join the Holocaust & Humanity Center for a conversation with Samantha Power, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In this intimate and thought-provoking dialogue, Samantha Power will discuss her New York Times-bestselling memoir, The Education of an Idealist, and offer insight on a range of pressing global issues.
Learn More and Register Here: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/event/samantha-power/

Neepwantiinki: Learning from Each Other. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University
2021-03-18 18:30 - 19:30
Join us and Kara Strass, Director, Miami Tribe Relations, Myaamia Center:
Neepwaantiinki, the Myaamia word meaning “learning from each other,” is a phrase that Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma have used for years to describe their reciprocal relationship. Sharing a common name and place, the connection between the University and the Tribe spans almost 50 years and has evolved into a multi-layered collaboration built on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to education. Come learn about how this relationship was developed and about the impact on both the Tribe and the University.

Exploring Religious Diversity in Israel Part 3: Israeli Government & Religious Freedom
2021-03-18 12:00 - 13:00
Forward Focus: A 4-Part Series Exploring Religious Diversity in Israel Explore Israel’s fascinating landscape and what it means to be Jewish in our homeland through JFNA’s four-part series exploring religious diversity in Israel.

Israel – the start-up nation. A flourishing nation, known for its innovation and advancement. Ahead of its time in so many ways. And in the Jewish State, more and more Israelis are seeking new and varied ways to express their Judaism.
Explore Israel’s fascinating landscape and what it means to be Jewish in our homeland.
March 4, 11, 18, & 25
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. EST
Register Now
In this 4-part series, we will hear from experts, religious leaders, and changemakers who will take us on a deep dive into the diversity of Jewish life in Israel.
There are many ways to create positive change in this field. We will begin with the role the Supreme Court plays in ensuring religious diversity and freedom in Israel, then travel to the Knesset to hear about options for programming on Shabbat. And lastly, we will see how Russian speaking Jews are changing the face of Israel through grassroots programming to assert their unique form of Judaism.

A Spark of King David: Rabbi Israel Najara's Poetry and Music
2021-03-16 13:00 - 14:00
Edwin Seroussi, Emanuel Alexandre Professor of Musicology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Director, Jewish Music Research Centre
The attraction of modern audiences to the songs of Rabbi Israel Najara (c.1550-1625) serves as a point of departure for a journey into one of the most intriguing artists of the early modern period. Najara was a unique figure in the history of piyyut (Jewish liturgical poems, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services), a tradition active in Safed, Damascus, and Gaza. Discover Manuscript 2035 in HUC’s renowned Klau Library – a collection of Hebrew sacred poetry arranged to the musical nodes of Turkish music dating to the 17th century, particularly the poetry of Rabbi Najara – and enjoy poems that are sung to this day in synagogues and Jewish homes.
Presented by the Klau Library.

AJC Cincinnati 2021 Community Intergroup Seder
2021-03-15 11:45 - 13:00
Community Intergroup Seder: Celebrating Freedom for all People

This meaningful, interactive Seder is open to all
and will be presented via Zoom

Monday, March 15, 2021

11:45 AM

Led by Rabbi Matthew Kraus
Interim Head
Department of Judaic Studies University of Cincinnati

The Seder celebrates the ageless ritual of the Jewish holiday of Passover, celebrating freedom for all. The word “Seder” literally means order. The Passover Seder is a holiday custom, performed in a specific order, which takes the reader from slavery to freedom, in much the same way and in the same order as practiced by Jews all over the world. It is a story of hope, aspiration, and redemption.
Register Here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqd-2pqzgoGtOP_T6uMiKmMBzQsMfYevZo

Sacred Connections Hosted by the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
2021-03-14 15:30 - 17:00
After a year when 11 faith communities welcomed visitors into their houses of worship for friendship, worship and education about their religion, the pandemic prevented the in-person hosting of these sacred connections in 2020. But they are coming back this year!
“We invite the interested public to join us to discover how much our various faith groups have in common and how each is addressing today’s social problems. Our virtual guests will have an opportunity to ask questions and be enlightened by the answers,” said program coordinator, Miriam Jackobs.
The following faith communities will be hosting 90-minute, on-line Sacred events, which are open to registered participants. Please register online for February and March events below.

Sunday, February 28th, 3:00 Judaism: Adath Israel Congregation CLICK HERE to register.
Sunday, March 14th, 3:30 pm Islam: Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, Afreen Asif CLICK HERE to register.
Sunday, April 11th, 3:00 pm (mark your calendar) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sunday, May 30th, 2:00 pm (mark your calendar) Zoroastrianism
Saturday, June 26th, Time TBA (mark your calendar) Baha’i
July (date and time TBD) Sikhism

"Living, Mothering, Resisting" with Molly Rush
2021-03-14 14:00 - 15:30
Molly Rush, mother of six and Co-Founder of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace and Justice in Pittsburgh, was a member of the Plowshares Eight.
In 1980 they entered a General Electric plant in King of Prussia and hammered on nose cones of nuclear weapons. We were arrested, tried and convicted. Philip and Fr. Daniel Berrigan participated. The film In the King of Prussia is a reenactment of the trial.
Ms. Rush has been arrested about 20 times for taking part in non-violent protests.
She will discuss what she’s learned in her more than fifty years of activism.

Faith Among Black Americans
2021-03-12 14:30 - 16:00
The new Pew Research Center study Faith among Black Americans examines a wide range of religious experiences, including congregational life, personal religious beliefs and practices, and the role of religious beliefs and institutions in public life. With over 8,000 Black American respondents, the survey is large enough to examine the rich diversity of Black religious experiences, including African immigrants, Black Catholics, young adults, religious unaffiliated Black Americans, as well as partisan and gender differences. In addition, the study incorporated focus groups and interviews with clergy to offer more depth and nuance to the findings.
Panelists
Besheer Mohamed, Pew Research Center
R. Khari Brown, Wayne State University
Kiana Cox, Pew Research Center
Ryon Cobb, University of Georgia

Extremism: How We Got Here
2021-03-12 12:00 - 13:30
John Judis and Dr. Gary P. Zola
In partnership with The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives

Events including the violent storming of the US Capitol and the white nationalist march in Charlottesville have exposed how extreme polarization creates fertile ground for violent extremism. This has led to political gridlock and an erosion of our democracy. Join author and journalist John Judis, whose brand new book, The Politics of Our Time: Populism, Nationalism, Socialism, has been referred to as “essential reading” by the Washington Post. Judis will be in conversation with Dr. Gary P. Zola, executive director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives about the history of populism and nationalism in America and how these two political ideologies have fostered both white supremacy and violent extremism. This event will be held on March 12th. Click here to view the event page.

Gist Communities—Settlements of Freed Slaves - How They Worked and Continue Today
2021-03-11 19:00 - 20:30
A Lenten Journey through Black History in Rural Ohio

The Catholic Rural Life Conferences and Anti-Racism Task Force of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Social Action Office invite you to join us for a series of three presentations looking at three unique aspects of African American history in southwestern Ohio. The talks will operate independently so attendees can join for the whole series or simply the one or two that work for their schedules. All talks will take place over Zoom.

Thursday, March 11, 7:00pm
Gist Communities—Settlements of Freed Slaves – How They Worked and Continue Today

Presenters: Neil Snarr, Professor Emeritus at Wilmington College, & Peggy Mills Warner, 7th generation descendent of the Gist Community in Brown County
***Zoom link***

Too Much & Never Enough: Climate Change & Water Insecurity
2021-03-11 19:00 - 20:00
National and international security, stability, and prosperity will face novel challenges in the coming decades. The rivalry between the “great powers” (U.S., China, and Russia), as well as between regional states, will remain a feature of 21st Century international relations. But novel transnational issues like climate change and water insecurity will establish a new and crucial context in which rivalries between states play out.
Joining us to talk about these new challenges is Ambassador (ret.) Kenneth C. Brill. Brill was a career Foreign Service Officer whose overseas posts were in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe.His domestic assignments included African and Middle Eastern issues, acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), and staff jobs for senior State Department policy officials.
Brill also served as Ambassador to Cyprus for President Clinton and Ambassador to the IAEA and the UN Office in Vienna for President George W. Bush.In his final Foreign Service assignment, he was asked by the first Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, to establish and lead the U.S. National Counterproliferation Center, an organization providing strategic leadership to the U.S. Intelligence Community in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and preventing WMD terrorism. After retiring from the Foreign Service he has worked with non-partisan NGOs in various capacities on issues ranging from nuclear security and strengthening America’s diplomacy to fragile states and climate change.
In this live webinar event, Ambassador (ret.) Kenneth C. Brill will discuss:

How is climate change is producing water insecurity?
What are the various forms that water insecurity can take?
What regions globally are most prone to experiencing water insecurity?
What are the long term implications of growing water insecurity?
How are these issues are being addressed currently?
What more can be done to manage water-related challenges to stability and prosperity?

Exploring Religious Diversity in Israel Part 2: Marriage, Kashrut and Transportation
2021-03-11 12:00 - 13:00
Forward Focus: A 4-Part Series Exploring Religious Diversity in Israel Explore Israel’s fascinating landscape and what it means to be Jewish in our homeland through JFNA’s four-part series exploring religious diversity in Israel.

Israel – the start-up nation. A flourishing nation, known for its innovation and advancement. Ahead of its time in so many ways. And in the Jewish State, more and more Israelis are seeking new and varied ways to express their Judaism.
Explore Israel’s fascinating landscape and what it means to be Jewish in our homeland.
March 4, 11, 18, & 25
12 p.m. – 1 p.m. EST
Register Now
In this 4-part series, we will hear from experts, religious leaders, and changemakers who will take us on a deep dive into the diversity of Jewish life in Israel.

This journey will provide an inside look into Jewish life cycle events and issues, and the grassroots leaders who are paving the way, to enable individuals to choose how they want to live their life in Israel.

Sacred People, Sacred Earth: A Global Day of Action
2021-03-11
Sacred People Sacred Earth is the biggest-ever faith-climate justice day of action globally in support of the boldest-ever set of demands from diverse religious partners sponsored by GreenFaith. People are targeting climate justice issues in their own environment. Earth Connection Environmental Center is urging Ohio citizens to call for a repeal of HB6. Read more about this terrible law at https://repealhb6.com
REPEAL Ohio HB 6 NOW
We are asking you to call or email:
Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, 614-466-9624,
https://ohiohouse.gov/members/robert-r-cupp/contact
Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, 614-466-7584,
https://ohiosenate.gov/senators/huffman-m/contact
and Governor Mike DeWine, 614-644-4357 and 614-466-3555
https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/contact to
tell them that repealing HB 6 must be a top priority. Ask them to remove this stain on Ohio.
Repealing HB 6 will
• Restore confidence in Ohio legislators’ ethics
• Restore Ohio electric energy efficiency program ended by HB 6
• Restore and enhance Ohio sustainable energy goal
• End ratepayer-funded subsidies to obsolete, polluting, and non-competitive coal plants
• Remove unrealistic permitting, placement, and regulation of renewable wind and solar power
• Encourage renewable energy in Ohio law to benefit the environment and jobs
This is not only a matter of good economics, but also a requirement of faith. Let us know you made the call by cjwilliengo@gmail.com. Register online for Green Faith’s – Sacred People, Sacred Earth Day of Action, March 11, 2021

Women as Ritual Experts in Ancient Israel with Dr. Carol Meyers
2021-03-10 19:00 - 20:30
Who were the most important religious figures in ancient Israel? Most people would probably say that the priests were. But they would be wrong. The main arena of religious life for most people in the biblical period was not the Jerusalem temple nor a regional shrine. Rather, it was the family household, and women were major figures in household religious activities. Those activities are largely invisible in the Bible with its focus on the priesthood and sacrifice. However, the use of an array of archaeological materials—and also some carefully selected and fascinating ethnographic data—can reveal many aspects of women’s household religious culture and its meaning for the lives of ordinary ancient Israelites. Dr. Meyers will begin with some comments about feminist biblical hermeneutics and then give this presentation as an example of one kind of feminist biblical interpretation. This event will be offered by the Interfaith Center at Miami University on March 10th. See event page here.
