Dear Friend, Last month, New Yorkers saw just how challenging it is to keep our city free from hate and safe for religious diversity. ICNY respects the rights New Yorkers to peacefully demonstrate their views of Israel, Palestine, and the current conflict in Gaza--particularly when we find ourselves in the center of a conflct. While we believe political speech need not be polite or constructive to be protected by the First Amendment, ICNY’s mission calls us to be attuned to all expressions of hate—whether legally protected or not We are deeply concerned, when legitimate political speech takes on echoes or overtones of religious bigotry. Criticism of Israel and Zionism is not inherently antisemitic, but when critics of Israel vandalized the private home of the Jewish director of the Brooklyn Museum – splashing red paint and the accusation “blood on your hands” – we heard troubling echoes of the notorious “blood libel” that has plagued Jewish communities for centuries. Similarly, criticism of Palestinian organizations and aspirations is not inherently Islamophobic, but when the New York Post published an April 23 opinion essay describing pro-Palestine protestors at Columbia University as “barbaric” supporters of “genocidal jihadism,” we heard troubling echoes of dehumanizing stereotypes that have plagued Muslim communities for centuries. These echoes of ancient hatreds undermine legitimate political discourse, set back good-faith efforts to secure a just peace in the Middle East, and threaten the physical safety of both Muslim and Jewish New Yorkers. Indeed, recent reports by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Anti-Defamation League (in partnership with Tel Aviv University) have documented a disturbing rise in both anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hate crimes since October 2023. ICNY therefore calls upon all New Yorkers to consider the physical safety and emotional wellbeing of their diverse neighbors when expressing their views of Israel, Palestine, and the conflict in Gaza. Lives are at stake, both at home and abroad, and we must all conduct ourselves accordingly. Sincerely, |
|  | The Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer ICNY Executive Director |
| | | | Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy ICLA Graduation Congratulations to our 5th Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy cohort who graduated on June 27th. Fellows met together in workshops for six months and then completed independent community service projects. These projects ranged from a digital story-telling initiative for the Interfaith Commission for Housing Equality; to a health fair and Eid celebration for black migrants; to the formation of a new neighborhood interfaith council. Keynote speakers for the graduation were City Council Member Dr. Yusef Salaam and ICNY's Board Member Ruth Messinger who shared insights about the importance of faith and civic engagement in making New York City a better place for generations to come. In her reflections, Ruth Messinger said, “I am influenced by my faith, as is each of you. . . I learned early to be committed to interfaith efforts because we can get so much more done when we recognize our shared interests and are there to help each other.” It is not too early to start preparing your application for next Fall's cohort of ICLA Fellows. The Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy speaks to the needs of an increasingly diverse and divided city. The racial, ethnic, and religious landscape of New York has shifted dramatically in recent years, with the arrival of new New Yorkers from every corner of the globe and every faith tradition. The program is open to congregational clergy, lay leaders, and faith-based activists from all backgrounds, but above all supports religious leaders from marginalized or underserved immigrant and minority communities. By offering our fellows a combination of civic engagement, legal literacy, and community organizing training – as well as interfaith dialogue with their peers, and small grant support for their own community-based projects – the program helps grassroots religious leaders build healthy, supportive, inclusive communities for all New Yorkers. Contact info@interfaithcenter.org if you would like to be informed when the application is up. |
| | |  | Add Your Name Sign-On for TPS for West African Migrants It has been over a half a year since we all signed the Covenant with one another to welcome New York's Newest New Yorkers. We're reaching out today with an advocacy opportunity to help new New Yorkers work. Please join us in asking President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas to designate Temporary Protected Status for individuals from Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. There has never been a more important time to grant our newest neighbors the right to work, support themselves, and contribute to the community. We welcome signatures from faith communities, organizations, and individuals. Add your name here to the below letter: ****************************************** Dear President Biden & Secretary Mayorkas, As Faith and Civic Leaders across New York City & State, we are writing to ask you to designate Temporary Protected Status for Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. As the three states where the largest number of West African Asylum seekers originate from—15% out of total NYC census 64,218 individuals as of 3/25/24 according to data from the City—TPS is the single greatest need of asylum seekers and the Houses of Worship that support them. The asylum seekers in the United States from Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania have been forced to flee political, social, and economic situations that warrant Temporary Protected Status. In Mauritania, slavery was criminalized in only 2007 and an estimated 340,000 to 680,000 Mauritanians are still enslaved.1 In Guinea, sexual violence, genital mutilation, and forced marriage are exceedingly common and directly connected to a militarized police force in Senegal, the country faces a 40-year insurgency in the Casamance region that continues to endanger and displace people. (Click here to read the entire letter and to sign-on). |
| |  | Summer Institute for Teachers Religious World of New York July 8-26 This month, ICNY is thrilled to welcome the seventh cohort of teachers participating in our Religious Worlds of New York summer institute – a program offered in partnership with Union Theological Seminary, and with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. As in previous years, we will be working with 25 K-12 teachers from public, private, and faith-based schools throughout the country. In an intensive program running from July 8-26, we’ll introduce them to the religious life of the city, and help them teach effectively about American religious diversity. Look out for us as we visit sacred sites throughout the city, including the Bronx Lourdes Grotto, the Hindu Temple Society of North America, the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, the Chogyesa Korean Buddhist Temple, Abyssinian Baptist Church, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, the Centre Culturel, Spirituel, et Traditionel, and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. It’s going to be quite a journey! This year’s NEH summer scholars include: Joel Avery – New York, NY Karen Becker – Germantown, MD Henry Bryson – Tampa, FL Hailey Christensen – Herriman, UT Rebecca Cooper – Alexandria, VA Mellie Davis – Washington, DC Neil Desai – New York, NY Ben Zion Ferziger – Bronx, NY William Fonseca – New York, NY Rebecca Gould – Bronx, NY Mina Leazer – New York, NY Catherine Leogrande – Bloomfield, CT Kiran Masud – Bridgewater, NJ Christopher Murray – Bethesda, MD Lysander Puccio – Queens, NY Maureen Pasteris – Atlanta, GA Constance Phegley – Tumwater, WA Antonio Powers – Greensboro, NC Sean Radcliff – Rolling Meadows, IL Nancy Thompson – Waterbury, VT Wade Trosclair – New Orleans, LA Rebecca Tuchman – Jersey City, NJ Amanda Vender – New York, NY Kathy Wu – New York, NY Asra Ziauddin – Daly City, CA Please join us in welcoming these extraordinary educators to New York! |
| | New Expanded Options & Additional Funding: Houses of Worship & FBO Shelters for Asylum Seekers |
|  | New York City has recently approved additional food funding and a 15-bed option for houses of worship (HOW) and faith-based organizations (FBO) seeking to partner with NYDIS to shelter asylum seekers that continue to arrive in NYC on a daily basis. - 19 Beds: These shelters are now approved for a $50,000 monthly funding which increases the food allowance. Sites are still required to have a Sprinkler System and Central Monitoring System
- 15 Beds: These shelters are now approved for a $47,500 monthly funding which increases the food allowance. Sites are not required to have a Sprinkler System or Central Monitoring System but are required to meet all other code requirements.
Our Outreach Team looks forward to working with you to determine your eligibility. As a reminder, this program provides a safe haven for migrants and asylum seekers in dire need – and represents a significant service to our community and cost savings to NYC. NYDIS will support you house of worship with training, all shelter supplies, a monthly allowance advance, and regular operational assistance onsite. |
| |  | | The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) works to overcome prejudice, violence, and misunderstanding by activating the power of the city's grassroots religious and civic leaders and their communities. |
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