Recurring acts of violence against the American Jewish and Muslim communities have reminded us of the persistence of ethno-religious hate. Expressions of solidarity between Jews and Muslims in the wake of these events have shown that such hate can and should be collectively addressed. Locally, the fundraising efforts by Muslim organizations such as CelebrateMercy for Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in the wake of recent desecration have been inspiring to our St. Louis community and to the wider nation. In this context, the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics is pleased to bring together two leaders from the Jewish and Muslim communities to talk deeply about what it means to partner and support one another across religious and political lines, despite potential differences on geopolitical issues.
We hope you will join us when Center Director Marie Griffith moderates a discussion between Tarek El-Messidi, Founding Director of Philadelphia-based CelebrateMercy, and Andrew Rehfeld, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Andrew Rehfeld is also a faculty affiliate of the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.
The John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics serves as an open venue for fostering rigorous scholarship and informing broad academic and public communities about the intersections of religion and U.S. politics. We are committed to fostering debate and discussion among people who hold widely different views about religion and politics.
Doors to Graham Chapel will open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is general admission; first come, first served.
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to presenting a wide diversity of ideas and opinions and encouraging free discussion of those ideas and opinions. It is with this commitment in mind that we aim to create an event where guest speakers should expect to be heard without interference from or harassment by those who oppose their views or positions, and that posters, banners, and other forms of expression should not be brought into the presentation area during the talk so that an environment free of interference, distraction, and intimidation shall be maintained. The University policy is: No placards or banners inside Graham Chapel or other presentation areas on campus, either in support of or in opposition to the speaker. Groups are free to gather outside, to leaflet, to display posters, and to distribute literature, as long as they do not obstruct entry or disrupt the speaker in any way. Washington University, a private institution, is a community free from concealed weapons. All students, visitors and employees, including contractors and third-party vendors, are prohibited from carrying firearms (concealed or otherwise) on university premises and may not stow any firearm in a vehicle parked in or on a university-owned parking facility or metered parking space.
