Jewish Muslim Alliance

JMA Today

Spring 2013

Middle East comes to Maryland

Jewish Muslim Alliance draws record-breaking crowd

JMA at a glance
*Founded in 2009 by Hannah Wenger as grassroots interfaith move *Fosters dialogue, communication, friendship and unity *Approximately 50 active participants *President: Amna Farooqi *Only student-run group for Jewish-Muslim dialogue on campus *Nine active board members *Four spring 13 events

he Jewish Muslim Alliance at meeting with you and interacting UMD hosted 16 students from with you, and observing how you re Israel for dinner and discus- late to different issues, Spencer said. Speeches were minimal to allow sion on March 5 at Middle East in students to mingle over dinner - pasMaryland. The high-school students, Jewish ta, potatoes, squash and cookies. When a UMD student asked Isand Palestinian, visited the United raeli Sharon Shalev what she thought States on a of the Unitleadership ed States, program Shalevs f u n d e d smile grew. by World I was here Learning before, when and drew I was 4 years a crowd of old. I dont more than remember 80 university students Students from Israel are enjoying their time in the U.S., that. But I just love it who came program coordinator Vlad Spencer said. Photo by James Levin here, she to meet students from across the globe. The said. Laila Toukhey, a World Learning crowd was the largest JMA has ever drawn at an event, and the number of participant, she gained from becomRSVPs exceeded the initial number ing friends with fellow Jewish participants American college students. of available seats. Its very interesting for us to hear JMA president Amna Farooqi said the Americans, said Toukhey. Its she hoped the event would promote dialogue and understanding between very interesting to hear whats your Jews and Muslims, a goal consistent perspective. Other students thought the event with JMAs mission. I hope people just have a great proved peace in the Middle East is time, and have really great conver- possible. Meeting kids from Israel, both sations and they meet new people, and they hear perspectives that they Jewish and Muslim, was inspiring, said freshman English major Amandidnt hear before, Farooqi said. World Learning trip coordinator da Schwartz. To see and hear testiVlad Spencer expressed the same mony about their friendship up close goals in his brief address to the au- makes me rather hopeful about the future of the peace process. If these dience. I thought that our students from kids can find common ground, why Israel would have a very good time cant the politicians?

In this Issue
Middle East in Maryland.............1 Meet the new president................2 Middle East movements...............3 Something for everyone...............4

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Amnas tall order

JMA Today
Making headlines
Maryland Compliments: Jewish Muslim Alliance at UMD: You guys are so awesome!

New JMA president fulfills vision to rebuild organization

mna Farooqis reputation ly a natural leader. preceeded her. Farooqi accepted the position. At the Fall 2012 First Look She said she has always had an Fair, the freshman govern- interest in the Israeli-Palestinian ment and politics and journalism conflict, and being JMAs presimajor stopped at dent will help the Jewish Muslim her get involved Alliances booth firsthand. and chatted with I think its Aaron Czinn, a important to student volunteer, build relationabout getting inships of trust volved with JMA. before you can After Czinn talkhave tough ed with Farooconversations qi, he told JMA about each othpresident Hannah ers faiths, Elovitz that a girl said Farooqi. who seemed reAnd in order ally interested in to do that, you JMA stopped by, have to come and Elovitz should JMA president Amna Farooqi restruc- to respect each tured the organization in just several other by truly reach out to her. weeks. But Farooqi, who understanding Photo courtesy of GoPartyUMD.com also serves on the Student Govern- where theyre coming from. ment Association, beat her to the In just several weeks, Farooqi punch. She emailed Elovitz about restructured JMA from a model of getting involved, and they met to weekly conversational meetings discuss the group. to a system of three to four large Farooqi said she complained to events per semester. This spring, her mother, Not enough Muslims Farooqi arranged for JMA to host are involved - I want to change a group of high-school students this! visiting the U.S. from Israel at At their meeting, Elovitz said Middle East in Maryland. The she saw Farooqis drive and po- event yielded more than 120 stutential to transform JMA, and the dents and faculty. president offered her the highest Despite her accomplishments, board position for the next semes- Farooqi remains humble. ter. I dont think I have any special She came into this university qualities, said Farooqi of her perwith such drive, Elovitz said. I sonality. This is just something I was so impressed at how well-spo- enjoy doing and that always helps ken and poised she was - just clear- to make it easier.

The Diamondback: Jewish Muslim Alliance talks sex and religion in time for Valentines Day The Mitzpeh: JMA brings the Middle East to Maryland

Spring 13 JMA board is largest yet

Middle East movements

Page 3 JMA Today

JMA hosts panel about Arab Spring media

he Jewish Muslim Alliance much power to social media. The the revolutions have created fears in hosted a panel in Knight Hall Arab Spring is very much a process Israel of whether new governments on Wednesday, May 1 to dis- which is still in the making. will be democracies or simply next cuss the role of social media, jourBut not all media in the Middle generation totalitarian regimes. nalism and citizen activism in We wish for the best, but we the Middle East. Assistant prohave to be ready for the worst, fessor Sahar Khamis from the Peri said. communication department and He explained how youth are usprofessor Yoram Peri, director of ing social media to effect change. the Israel Studies Institute, preYounger leaders who are less of sented their opinions about how the traditional political types are citizens and governments have using these new means. used various platforms to lead Israeli youth are using media to revolutions in Middle East couninfluence political, social and tries. economic spheres, Peri said. Khamis began by debunking He said that recently there Professor Yoram Peri and assistant professor Sahar typical notions Westerners hold was a demonstration by midKhamis agree that social media may hold the key to about the Middle East, which dle-class Israelis to protest reform in the Middle East. Photo by Abigail Jaffe include the perceptions that the high cost of living in the country, and the protestors East is created equal. used social media to publicize their I believe that we can In Israel the social media is mainly mission and gain political and corachieve almost everyused for opinions, not for informa- porate attention for their cause. tion, Peri said. He described how Movements, contd page 4

thing and anything.

the Arab Spring is characterized as leaderless revolutions and that these movements were only the start of political activism in the Arab world. [The Arab Spring is] a new form of leadership that comes from the bottom-up rather than from the topdown, Khamis said. She explained that rather than beginning the revolutions, social media helped the movements progress to their highly influential and publicized nature. What the social media really did was amplify the voices of these protestors, Khamis said. However, she cautioned, Do not ascribe too

Help us level the playing field

JMAs participants are mostly Jewish and Muslim, but Jewish participation far outnumbers that of the Muslim population at events.
Graphic by Abigail Jaffe Data: Hannah Elovitz, former JMA president and Marci Bayer, former JMA treasurer

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Movements, contd from page 3 Additionally, an Israeli minister recently released his financial plans via social media rather than in the Knesset, Israels legislative house. Peri said that politicians must heed the voices of the next generation and include younger views in political intiatives. Khamis is optimistic about social medias potential to transform governments in the Middle East. If someone had told me just a couple years ago there was going to be a revolution in my own home country and I was told it was going to lead to the end of Mubaraks regimeI would have said it was never going to happen, Khamis said of her Egyptian homeland. She also suggested how social media and activism can bring democracy to dictatorial Arab countries. With a new triangle of three components: grassroots mobilization, youth activism and social media or new media we have endless possibilities. I believe that we can achieve almost everything and anything.

Something for everyone

JMA Today

More of JMAs spring 13 events:

Discrimination in the Nation Students discussed homophobia in religious communities and what they can do to prevent it.

Holy F#!$@: Sex in Religion UMD students of faith offered their opinions about sex and whether religion should dictate their intimate actions.

Challah for Hunger Every Thursday night! Join Hillel to braid traditional Jewish bread which is sold to benefit poor families. MSA does FRN Every Thursday night! Join the Muslim Students Association and JMA to package food for local homeless shelters.

Connect with us!

Help us achieve our mission

The Jewish Muslim Alliance on campus aims to foster communication, friendship and unity between the two communities through thought-provoking dialogues, events, guest speakers, and community service endeavors. Our goals are to give Jewish and Muslim students a positive and open environment in which they can learn about each others numerous similarities and differences. We also provide a venue for respectful dialogue while engaging in difficult issues, including the ones that are often left unspoken. Ultimately, we hope to strengthen the bonds between students of diverse experiences.

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