Conversation at holiday dinner takes a turn with political overtones.
By Megan O'Neil
La Canada Valley Sun, 8/26/10As the sun slipped below the horizon on Friday, more than 100 Muslims gathered, filling the back patio at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge. Assembled in neat rows, they raised their hands to their ears.
"Allah Akbar," they intoned — "God is great" — before prostrating themselves, touching foreheads to the ground.
The attendees were there to share prayers and sustenance during the fourth annual Ramadan Interfaith Potluck Dinner, hosted by the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge (ICLCF) during the month of Ramadan.
Ramadan, which occurs during the ninth lunar calendar month, began on Aug. 11 and concludes on Sept. 9 with Eid al-Fitr, or the sighting of the new moon. The world's 1.5 billion Muslims observe Ramadan — which marks the month in which the Quran was sent down as a guide for the Muslim faithful — with frequent prayer and by practicing self-purification and self-restraint.
"The purpose for Muslims to fast is to exercise our free will as human beings, to willfully say we will not consume food or water from dawn to sunset," said Levent Akbarut, head of the ICLCF. "It is an exercise of our humanity to practice self-restraint and to become more spiritual, to read the Quran more and to do more service and be more generous."
The event, which attracted dozens of non-Muslims, continues to grow, Akbarut said. It helps to reinforce values within the Muslim community, he said, while fostering relationships with other religious and secular organizations. And it eases what Akbarut called the "sensationalism of the headlines, of killing and terrorism" that are so commonly, and erroneously, used to characterize Islam in the media, he said.
But despite the evening's celebratory mood, the dinner conversation returned again and again to the headlines — the end of Ramadan falling so close to 9/11, the slow international response to the catastrophic flooding in Pakistan and the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.
It is frustrating to hear anti-Muslim rhetoric in the media and constantly having to defend one's religion, said Doug Burpee, a Muslim, Glendale resident and retired Marine Corps helicopter pilot.
"You have to fight for what you want in America but at some point you've got to say, 'Come guys, we are Americans,'" Burpee said. "We are not the enemy."
Those who oppose the construction of the Ground Zero mosque are allowing extremists to hijack cherished American principles, Burpee said."I think that what has happened is the political atmosphere has taken a position where they are exceeding the Constitution of the United States," Burpee said. "The whole reason that guys like me defend our country is to protect those rights. The Constitution of the United States says freedom of religion."
Islam is being maligned because of the actions of a few fringe radicals, said Akbarut, adding that it is upsetting that an exercise of religious freedom is causing an uproar.
"It is unfortunate that our country has become polarized because of building a mosque," Akbarut said.
Others said that living out their lives as observant Muslims is the best anecdote for anti-Muslim sentiment.
"There is nothing that a Muslim can do to please those who dislike us," said Dawud Khalil-Ullah. "So my philosophy is I am not concerned about those kinds of things. I just try to do the best that I can do every day, have the best relationships with everybody that I come in contact with, and let God take care of the rest of that."
Old
Inter-Faithful
By
Michael
J.
Arvizu
La
Canada
Valley
Sun,
6/17/10
While many high school seniors capture the days leading up to graduation through a digital camera, a Twitter or Facebook post, La Cañada High School student Goldie Young, 17, recorded her experiences by putting pencil to paper.
Standing in the patio of St. Bede the Venerable Church on Tuesday afternoon, Young shifted her gaze from the classmates she was drawing, to her pad, then back again.
Her classmates had gathered in the patio to attend the fourth annual Interfaith Baccalaureate Service presented by the La Cañada Flintridge Ecumenical Ministerial Assn. The service is open to students and their families of all faiths from area schools, including La Cañada, St. Francis and Crescenta Valley high schools. The baccalaureate featured scripture readings from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths. |
Area graduates participated in the interfaith baccalaureate service at St. Bede Church Tuesday. (Raul Roa/Valley Sun)
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"It's interesting how we try and address the different faiths," said Young, a Christian who plans to attendUC Davis in the fall. "I know that when I go off to college, there will be a lot of diversity."
LCHS
student
Jeff
Facer
of
the
Church
of
Jesus
Christ
of
Latter-day
Saints
read
a
passage
from
the
Book
of
Mormon
that
focused
on
giving
thoughts
and
emotions
to
God.
Choral
pieces
were
also
presented,
and
the
keynote
address
was
given
by
LCHS
alumnus
John
May,
a
nondenominational
Christian
young
adult
ministry
Young
Life
leader
.
"In
this
day
and
age
when
the
evening
news
is
filled
with
reports
of
sectarian
violence
and
religious
intolerance,
it
becomes
more
and
more
imperative
that
people
of
all
faiths
come
together
and
work
to
build
the
world
in
which
all
religions
are
respected
and
all
peoples
are
free
to
worship
according
to
their
conscience,"
said
St.
Bede
Associate
Pastor
Rev.
Kevin
Kester.
The
baccalaureate
is
inclusive
of
as
many
faiths
and
schools
as
possible,
said
event
organizer
Levent
Akbarut.
Most
years,
75
to
100
students
attend
the
service,
a
fraction
of
the
total
students
who
graduate
from
the
area's
high
schools.
Although
the
event
is
publicized,
Akbarut
says
the
low
numbers
may
be
the
result
of
the
baccalaureate
taking
place
the
night
before
graduation
in
most
schools,
as
in
the
case
of
La
Cañada
High,
or
because
graduation
ceremonies
have
already
taken
place.
Begun
in
2007,
the
local
baccalaureate
is
organized
by
the
La
Cañada
Ecumenical
Ministerial
Assn.,
comprising
La
Cañada
religious
leaders
who
gather
to
address
issues
of
religious
importance
to
the
community.
LCHS
student
Kate
Hansen,
18,
of
the
Church
of
Jesus
Christ
of
Latter-days
Saints,
said
she
uses
her
faith
as
support
when
she
pursues
her
favorite
sport,
luge.
"It
can
only
be a
good
thing
in
someone's
life;
it
can
never
be a
negative
thing,"
Hansen
said
about
her
faith.
"We
should
all
open
our
hearts."
The fourth annual La Cañada Interfaith Baccalaureate Service, a religious service for all graduating seniors in the La Cañada Flintridge area, will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Bede the Venerable Church in La Cañada Flintridge.
Sponsored annually by the La Cañada Flintridge Ecumenical Ministerial Assn., the service provides a contemporary and religious forum that supplements the high school graduation ceremonies. Following the American motto "E pluribus unum," Latin for "Out of many, one," which was incorporated in the seal of the United States in 1776, our community's baccalaureate offers a great way to celebrate the many great civic and religious values that represent American pluralism.
Since 2007, the service has been expanded from a Christian service to an interfaith service to include other faiths that have become an integral part of our great city. In as much the same way as Catholics, Jews, Mormons and other religious minorities made its inroads into the tradition of religious pluralism in our country.
This year's service will include prayers, scripture readings from the Torah, Bible and Koran, student testimonials and musical offerings by the La Cañada Chamber Choir. The keynote speaker will be John May, a La Cañada High School alum and current Young Life leader at La Cañada Presbyterian Church. The interfaith service will naturally reflect the life and future of our young leaders.
Each year the event is a welcomed ray of hope for the future. It is a welcome relief to the sad state of current affairs of the polarized, politicized and contentious way our world grapples with issues of the day. More than ever, we need the Christian principle of "love thy neighbor" and the Islamic principle of "O Mankind, God has created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the one who is the most righteous of you" (Koran Chapter 49, Verse13).
The Interfaith Baccalaureate Service will, therefore, serve as a peaceful and joyful celebration of the community's shared values.
The Call of Ramadan
By Michael J. Arvizu
Glendale News Press
9/24/09
 Members
of the Islamic
Congregation of La
Cañada Flintridge
andother faiths gathered
at the La Cañada
Community CenterFriday
evening to celebrate the
month of Ramadan.
The Ramadan fast was
broken by eating dates
passed out by member
Feisal Khan. The Maghrib
evening prayer was led
by Nesser Karam.
The third annual dinner
followed and featured an
array of foods brought
by guests.
The keynote speaker of
the event was state Sen.
Carol Liu.
The month of Ramadan is
dedicated to asking for
forigvenss for past sins
and praying for
guidance. Members of
other faiths were
invited to participate.
I am a sucker for free food.
And this past weekend was very tasty.
I went to three places where the opportunity for free food
presented itself. I sometimes joke that the only reason I go
to the events I am invited to is because of the free food.
The first event I photographed was the Ramadan potluck held
at the La Cañada Community Center on Friday night hosted by
the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge.
The place was packed, and so was the food table. Everything
from traditional dishes to In-N-Out burgers was served. It
was incredible. People were piling on as much food as their
paper plates could hold, and eating it just as merrily.
Of course,
you have to realize that half the people there had been
fasting for hours. I had several people telling me to get
something to eat; I had to politely decline, since I find it
difficult to work and eat at the same time. By the time I
had finished photographing the event, most of the food was
gone, but I felt happy for the Islamic congregation that the
event had been such a success.
The second place I photographed was the Wine and Gourmet
Food Tasting held at Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.
The place was packed, and so were the wine and food tents.
Everything from fresh peaches wrapped in prosciutto with a
balsamic glaze, to pulled-pork sandwiches, to red velvet
cupcakes was served. And enough wine and beer was available
for the city of La Cañada to open its own winery and
distillery. Even though the event was not religious in
nature, I’m sure most of the people who attended would put
wine and beer among the top three religions.
I had several people telling me to get something to eat and
drink; again, I had to politely decline.
The last place I went to was the Bernhard residence, where I
would be photographing the family partaking in the
traditional meal eaten after Yom Kippur.
Mom Amy had prepared an abbreviated version for me of the
meal that would break the family’s fast at the end of Yom
Kippur next week. The meal included servings of lox, or
smoked salmon, bagels with cream cheese and cinnamon rolls.
The rolls are nontraditional. The cream cheese is spread on
the bagel, a slice of red onion is placed on top of that,
and the smoked salmon comes next. By the time Yom Kippur
ends, the family will have gone without eating for 25 hours,
so the foods served post-fast have to be light or dairy in
nature, hence the salmon, bagels and cream cheese. I have to
say, by the time this assignment ended, I had to partake in
what Amy had prepared.
These foods reminded me of my own religious and nonreligious
traditions and their associated foods. I hearkened back to
the days of posadas and champurrado and tamales at
Christmastime; enchiladas, beans, rice and chiles rellenos
at quinceañeras and Virgen de Guadalupe celebrations;
respados, paletas and corn on the cob covered with butter,
mayonnaise and salt (you know, the ones with the stick
coming out the end, sold by the man with the cart?) after
Mass; or the fresh beef tacos, sprinkled with lemon and salt
that our prayer group sells each week fresh off the
barbecue.
I’d be curious to know what your foods are. What are the
foods of your religious and nonreligious traditions? Do you
still eat them? Or are you like me, craving a warm cup of
champurrado right about now because you haven’t had it in
years?
Ramadan Celebrated
By Mary O’Keefe
La Canada Valley Sun 09/11/08
Members of the La Cañada
Flintridge Islamic Congregation greeted each other and community
members warmly on Friday evening at the Community Center of La
Cañada Flintridge.
Since their first meeting in December 2006, the members of the
congregation have reached out to the community to share
information on their faith and to dispel misconceptions of who
they are as Islamic Americans.
On Friday they shared the meaning and the ceremony of Ramadan.
This year from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, the season of Ramadan is
recognized by the Islamic faithful with prayers throughout the
day and fasting from sunrise to sunset.
“Fasting is one of the five Pillars of Islam,” member Levent
Akbarut explained.
As dusk approached, members gathered in the exterior patio of
the center and began a series of prayers. Akbarut remained
inside the center with a non-Muslim guest to explain the
ceremony. He explained that the five Pillars of Islam are a
declaration that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is
the Messenger of God; prayer; charity; making a pilgrimage to
Mecca if possible; and fasting during Ramadan.
“Of course no one knows if you
are fasting. It is between you and God,” he said. “Many families
get up very early, [before sunrise] to have breakfast.”
That early morning meal lasts them until sunset and their
evening meal. Akbarut said that the purpose of the fast is to
relate to those who do not have enough to eat. Although they may
feel hunger for only a short while, they can only imagine how
desperate those in the world must feel as they go hungry day
after day. It is humbling and a time to add more prayers for
those less fortunate.
After the prayers last Friday, it was time to share a meal.
Tables were filled with a variety of cultural fare including
hummus, rice, and of course, the California tradition of
In-N-Out Burgers.
There were representatives from many local churches, including
St. Bede’s and Holy Redeemer Catholic churches, the Church of
Jesus of Latter-day Saints and St. George Episcopal Church.
“As-salaamu-alaykum,” Akbarut greeted the audience at the end of
the meal. “That is a greeting in Islam. It means peace be upon
you.”
Akbarut invited new visitors to introduce themselves. They came
from as far as the south bay and as near as Glendale.
“We are here to get together with our Muslim and non-Muslim
neighbors,” he said. “We have received such a gracious welcome
from the city of La Cañada, local organizations and churches.”
The congregation works closely with several charities throughout
La Cañada, Crescenta Valley and Glendale, including Habitat for
Humanity.
“We supported the Run for the Hungry [for the first time] last
year [in La Cañada],” he said.
During the time of Ramadan they will also be donating funds to a
local Muslim organization that will provide food during the time
of Ramadan. The goal is to be able to feed 60 families.
“It’s good to share our beliefs in God,” said Jay Johnson of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Cañada.
Johnson is part of the Interfaith Counsel that includes his
church and the Islamic congregation.
“People don’t really understand the Muslim faith,” he said.
He added that these meetings were a good way for those outside
the Islamic faith to understand the religion and their
ceremonies.
Outreach and the Bonds of
Friendship Celebrated
The Islamic Congregation of La Cañada
Flintridge hosted a summertime potluck dinner in a local
backyard on Saturday.
Members from St. George Episcopal Church, Holy Redeemer Catholic
Church and Church of the Lighted Window just to name a few of
the faiths, joined members of the congregation for a relaxing
summer evening of food, conversation and newly forged
friendships.
In the almost two years since its
formation, the Islamic Congregation has reached out across
faiths to promote understanding and find ways to support the
community. The meetings are normally held at the Community
Center of La Cañada Flintridge.
During the first meetings, the congregation invited members of
the Islamic community to speak on their faith and discuss many
of the misconceptions that have surrounded their religion
especially since the 911 Twin Towers attack. In those early
meetings, many of the Islamic faith would highlight the
differences between what was being said of their religion and
how the Koran, their book of belief, actually reads. The main
focus of the congregation was to build community understanding
and become a true interfaith outreach.
If the summer potluck was any indication, the plan is working.
Those from all faiths joined together in the calming setting of
the Alamdaris’ backyard to enjoy a meal and speak on a variety
of subjects.
The night was a time to just relax and enjoy each others
company, said Levent Akbarut, congregation member. But it was
also a time to give back. The congregation presented a check to
San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.
“This is for the work Habitat for Humanity does for the less
fortunate,” said Mohamed Rady, congregation member.
The check was presented to Howard Woo, treasurer of the San
Gabriel organization. He said that the check will go a long way
to helping with the construction of the homes.
“This is really going to help us out,” he said.
Many members of the congregation, as well as the other faith
members at the dinner, have volunteered to help in the
construction sponsored by Habitat for Humanity in the Glendale
area.
“We want to contribute anyway we can,” Rady said. “It is part of
our religion and our vision to help the community.”
Carol Martin, Habitat board member, said that congregation
members had volunteered many hours in the recently completed
Palmer project and are now working on the Kenwood project, both
in Glendale.
“This really crosses all barriers,” Martin said.
She added that they have volunteers from all religions and all
walks of life. “At the construction site they are just members
of the community.”
Martin said that the organization is always looking for more
volunteers.
Anyone 18 years or older can volunteer to help by going online
to www.sgvhabitat.org
or calling (626) 792-3838.
Seniors 'Can Find Guidance
Through God'
http://www.lacanadaonline.com/articles/2008/07/31/religion/lch-baccalaureate0619.txt
By Mary O'keefe
La Canada Valley Sun
06/19/08
An all inclusive Baccalaureate
Service for La Cañada High School was held on Tuesday night
sponsored by the La Cañada Flintridge Ecumenical Ministerial
Association.
The keynote speaker was Todd Johnston who is the William K. and
Delores S. Brehm associate professor of worship, theology and
the arts at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.
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He related a story of some children in an elementary school in
Chicago that were asked to do a life project.
“There were about 40 different nationalities at this
school,” Johnston said.
The children were asked to draw a life size portrait of
themselves. At the end of the project the students took their
very large drawings home.
“In the middle of all of these
children one child stopped and looked at his big portrait and
asked ‘now what am I going to do with it.’”
He related that question to what graduating seniors will be
facing.
“This is the time to look at this life project and look for
opportunities that value who you are,” he said.
He told the graduates that the world has not changed that much
since he graduated in 1978.
“On behalf of 1978 who would said they would make the world a
better place I say ‘oops,’” Johnston said. “It didn’t
work.”
He reminded the seniors that they when they are lost they can
find guidance through God.
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Yusef Akbarut delivers a
testimonial on what his Muslim faith means to him. |
Local
Residents Host Ramadan Event
http://lacanadaonline.com/articles/2007/11/01/society/lch-leventeidulfitr1101.txt
By Mary O’Keefe
La Canada Valley Sun
La Cañada residents Connie and Essy Alamdari, opened their home to a group of young adults as they celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan.
Ramadan is a time of retrospect and life renewing for those in the Islamic faith. This year it began on Sept. 12 and ended on Oct. 11. During the time of Ramadan, members of the faith fast from sunrise to sunset. At the end a great celebration, Eid-ul-Fitr, similar to the Thanksgiving holiday, is a time when friends and families get together to share how grateful they are for their health, strength and opportunities.
Alamdari, along with members of the La Cañada Flintridge Islamic Congregation including Levent Akbarut and his wife Nahid Ansari, hosted a potluck dinner with members of Muslims Establishing Communities in America [MECA].
“Members of MECA are young adults undergraduates that are single, married, or married with young children,” Akbarut said. “They [MECA] hold monthly pot luck dinners in homes in Los Angeles and Orange County.”
Akbarut said that the group usually has a theme for dinners that coincides with their faith goals. Last month they had an interfaith dinner in West Los Angeles where they joined with those of the Jewish faith and celebrated Ramadan and the Jewish high holy days.
“For 9/11 MECA was involved in putting together the Interfaith for Homeless [project],” Akbarut said.
Through this project they gathered canned goods and other food for the homeless.
The group was established in 2005 and at present only has members in Southern California. However, Akbarut said that they are hoping to become a nationwide movement.
Eid-ul-Fitr was actually the week before the La Cañada potluck but the choice was made to celebrate a week later to allow members to be with their families.
“[The night] was a celebration. We prayed our sunset prayers and ate,” Akbarut said.
After dinner, the members read passages from the Koran and discussed what each passage meant. |
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On Friday night friends, family and community members joined together at the Roger Barkley Community Center to celebrate Ramadan with the La Cañada Flintridge Islamic Congregation.
From Sept. 13 to Oct. 12, Muslims of the Islamic faith recognize Ramadan by fasting from sunrise to sunset. It is a time of retrospect and life renewing for the faithful, a time to look inward to reevaluate how they are helping others. It is also a time to gather with friends and celebrate their faith.
“There are a lot of social events during this time,” said Levent Akbarut, a steering committee member of the congregation. “It is a time that tests our character when we are deprived yet we still give.”
Akbarut admitted that fasting is not always easy, especially when you are used to having coffee throughout the day, but the time of reflection is worth the time of doing without. He calls the fasting a “spiritual boot camp,” he said.
On Friday night, several long tables were filled with a variety of dishes, some traditional and others typically Californian but before anyone could even sample the main dishes, the members prepared for prayer. At sunset a group of men and women passed around a snack of dates. Then there was an Ithan, a call to prayer by Saleh Kholaki, who in his professional life is a dentist in La Crescenta. All gathered in the courtyard of the community center and prepared for the Turaweh, a series of special prayers said at Ramadan.
The men stand in several rows in front of the women. Despite what has been rumored about the women position behind the men being a show of male superiority, Akbarut explained that it is more a matter of comfort. During the prayer, the members bend over and kneel, touching their heads to the floor.
“Women pray separately because they do not like to bend in front of the men,” Akbarut said.
At every meeting the congregation invites members of other faiths to their meetings in an ongoing attempt to bridge the misunderstanding that has plagued the Islamic faith.
Members of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. George’s Episcopal Church and Habitat for Humanity representatives share a meal and common faith goals with the congregation. Akbarut has said that the best way to combat misconception is to reach out to others so they can understand the real Islamic faith, not only what they have seen on television.
In that attempt, the congregation invites many speakers to their meetings. On Friday the speaker was Dr. Gasser Hathout, a radiologist who lives Glendale. A Flintridge Preparatory and UCLA graduate, Hathout is an Islamic scholar and speaks classical Arabic. He spoke to the audience about the importance of Ramadan and serving their fellow humankind, which is at the foundation of their religion, Hathout said.
“[Fasting] allows us to empathize with those that fast involuntarily,” Hathout said.
“To call helping other charity makes it sound like an act of goodwill. [In the] Islamic faith it is much deeper, it is not charity but justice.”
“The test of your character,” he told the audience. “ Is when we are deprived and yet we still give.”
When asked why he felt the Islamic religion is so misunderstood in America he said that the action of a small group of Muslims does not represent the entire Islamic faith.
“There are 1.5 billion people [of Islamic faith] in the world,” he said. “Perhaps 1.5 million of them are extremist, that would mean that 150,000 in each country. It does not take much extremism to make a difference.”
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Guest column: Six years of American Muslim outrage
http://lacanadaonline.com/articles/2007/09/14/commentary/lco-levant913.txt
By Levent Akbarut
La Canada Valley Sun 09/06/07As I look back on the tragedy of 9/11 six years ago, the horror and disbelief that I experienced then remains with me today as an emotionally traumatic event in my life. The outrage for me is twofold. First, as a baby boomer born in the United States, it was the only time that I experienced an attack by a foreign enemy on American soil. Second, as an American Muslim, I was deeply disturbed and offended that a group of extremists despicably committed this criminal act of violence, hijacking the name of Islam.
During the tumultuous days after Sept. 11, 2001, American Muslims not only mourned this tragic event, but also had to deal with the backlash of anti-Muslim sentiments and hate crimes.
We found ourselves having to explain that Islam in fact condemns such acts of violence, as any other major religion would, that the actions of a few fanatics should not malign an entire faith, and that American Muslims are just as patriotic as their fellow citizens. But out of the ugliness of terrorism in our nation also came some of my most heart-warming moments on a personal level, thanks to the kindness, compassion and understanding of my friends and colleagues who share different faiths. I believe the fair-mindedness and inherent sense of justice that an informed American society can embody will overcome our collective shortcomings.
One part of this mixed bag of post 9/11 experience is a lingering perception that American Muslims have not expressed enough outrage and condemnation about these horrific attacks on our nation. I believe this misperception can be easily corrected as Muslims reach out and engage more with the American society at large. Outreach will give our nation a real opportunity to know its Muslim citizens on a personal level and not rely solely on the sensational headlines of the corporate media outlets.
As a matter of information, I’ll chronicle a mere sampling of what Los Angeles area Muslims have done in response to the tragic events of 9/11.
First, on Sept. 8, 2002, the Islamic Center of Southern California brought together local Muslim leaders and our elected officialsas well as law enforcement officials to mark the first memorial service of 9/11. Here a very special 9/11 memorial quilt, handcrafted by three Muslim women from the Los Angeles area, which displayed the name of every single victim of this tragedy, was signed by the mayor of Los Angeles and dedicated at a special ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City on the first anniversary of the attacks.
Since that first memorial service, the Los Angeles community leaders have gathered in the halls of the Islamic Center every year to remember the 9/11 victims and to honor the community leaders of all faiths who work for peace as one community united in the fight against terrorism on US soil. This past Sunday, at a reception at the Center, the 2007 Interfaith Peace Awards were given to the Rev. George Regas of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Imam Abdul Karim Hassan of Bilal Islamic Center of South Central Los Angeles, and Rabbi Leonard Beerman of Leo Baeck Temple. As part of a two-day 9/11 memorial service, the award ceremony followed a special community service project that brought together various faith communities and corporate sponsors to prepare approximately 1,000 hygiene/first aid kits for the homeless and over 300 backpacks stuffed with school supplies for underprivileged children.
The American Muslim community has expressed its peaceful outrage in a multitude of ways by official Islamic religious decrees, statements of denunciation, and heroic stories of Muslims serving our country’s armed services.
Local Muslims formed the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge to help our great city become a beacon of peace and mutual understanding amongst the neighborhood residents and in the greater community. By demonstrating that in one city, diverse faith groups can join together in ethics, community service and citizenship; we are setting a model for the elimination of the scourge of terrorism in the long run. We not only validate the greatness of our country, but as Americans coming together, Jews, Christians and Muslims, we will deliver a crushing defeat to Osama Bin Laden’s hateful ideology and the extremists responsible for 9/11.
Levent Akabarut is a member of the steering committee for the Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge, www.iclcf.org
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In their continuing
effort to reach across
faith lines, the Islamic
Congregation of La
Cañada Flintridge
invited Michael
Josephson to speak at
last Friday’s potluck
meeting.
Josephson, who is known
for his Character Counts
commentaries on KNX
radio is also founder of
the Joseph and Edna
Josephson Institute on
Ethics, spoke to the
audience of their common
bound of ethics.
Members from all
religious backgrounds
including Jewish and
Christian faiths joined
the congregation at the
Community Center of La
Cañada Flintridge to
share a meal and find
common ground, said
Levent Akbarut, of the
Islamic Congregation.
“He spoke in the content
that character counts
and encouraged us to
build bridges instead of
building walls,” Akbarut
said.
He added that although
many times diversity in
faith is emphasized more
than what unifies
different congregations,
a unity of family love
and respect is a
foundation that is not
only just based in
Islamic faith but also
in other faiths. Akbarut
said that Josephson’s
philosophy of ethics
highlighted the
congregation's initial
goal of reaching out to
the community.
“[Josephson’s
philosophy] is not to
focus on what makes us
different but what
brings us together,” he
said. “He represented an
ideal speaker.”
Many issues Josephson
touched on in his speech
rang true to all in the
audience.
“He [Josephson] read a
poem at the end of his
speech that really hit
the mark,” Akbarut said.
He quoted the poem:
“Living a life that
matters doesn’t happen
by accident. It’s not a
matter of circumstance
but of choice. Choose to
live a life that
matters.”
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Letter to the Editor
http://www.lacanadaoutlook.com/stories/070802/Letters.shtml
La Cañada Outlook 08/2/07
I was dismayed to read Bob
Tanabe’s letter to the
editor (“Democratic
Presidential Candidates,”
July 26). His baseless
attacks on Senators Obama
and Clinton and on the
religion of Islam, in
general, smacked of
ignorance and xenophobia.
First, Obama was not
schooled in “the most
radical of Islamic
doctrines” as a child. This
issue was brought up early
in his campaign and quickly
refuted by journalists who
researched his background
and discovered that the
school he attended in
Indonesia at the age of 7
and 8 is simply a public
school that serves Muslim,
Christian, Buddhist and
Confucian children, far from
being radical.
Tanabe demonstrates his lack
of knowledge again when he
questions Obama’s
authenticity as a practicing
Christian and demands that
he denounce “Allah,” which
simply means “God” in
Arabic. It’s a term used by
Christian and Muslim Arabs
alike, and refers to the
common God of Abrahamic
traditions of monotheism and
not some strange deity that
only Muslims worship.
Tanabe further displays his
xenophobia by stating that
“it’s one thing to have a
radical Muslim in Congress,
but another to have one
occupying the White House.”
The “radical Muslim” he is
referring to is Keith
Ellison, the recently
elected congressman from
Minnesota who has a
distinguished record of
public service and whose
family has lived in the U.S.
since 1742. But his
patriotism is questioned and
he is branded as a radical
because he happens to be a
Muslim.
Tanabe next lays into
Hillary Clinton, warning us
that she too would sell us
out to the “Muslim
terrorists if the price was
right.” I believe she
deserves to be judged based
on real issues and polices,
not imaginary and unfounded
charges.
It is wrong to malign any
religion based on the
actions of a few fanatical
individuals who regrettably
distort the teachings of
their faith to justify their
horrific crimes. I suggest
Tanabe stop his fear
mongering and start
educating himself about
different religious or
political ideologies. He may
be surprised to find out
that Islam promotes the same
universal values of peace,
justice and compassion that
are advocated by other major
religions. He may also be
surprised to discover that
right here in our wonderful
city, there is sizeable
Muslim community whose
members are patriotic
American citizens,
Republicans as well as
Democrats, who are actively
involved in the betterment
of their community and their
country. (See the website of
the Islamic Congregation of
La Canada Flintridge at
www.iclcf.org).
Nahid Ansari
La Cañada Flintridge
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Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge to Hold
Potluck
La Canada Valley Sun 07/12/07
The Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge is
holding a potluck dinner meeting at 7 pm on August
17 at the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge
(formerly Roger Barkley Community Center).
This is the organization's fourth meeting since its
inception in December 2006.
The featured guest speaker will be Michael S.
Josephson, founder of the Josephson Institute of
Ethics and regular commentator on KNX (1070 AM) News
Radio.
In
attendance will be members of Circle of Faith and La
Canada religious groups. La Canada residents at
large are welcome to attend.
Since seating is limited, RSVP by calling
818-692-5983 or emailing
info@iclcf.org
by August 10.
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On the evening of Tuesday, June 19, many La Cañada High School graduating seniors attended the first interfaith Baccalaureate service at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church.
In the past, services were a cooperative effort between Christian churches; however, this year services included a Hebrew scripture read by Christopher Vance of St. Bede, a scripture from the New Testament read by Abraham Frandsen of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an Islamic scripture from the Holy Koran read by Ahmad Hussain and Ammar Moheize of the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge.
The keynote address came from speaker Shannon Oliver. He is a former Tuskegee University linebacker and joined the Peace Corps in 1998. Recently he has worked as a project manger for Catholic Relief Services in Pakistan. He spoke to the audience of privilege and responsibility.
"I was raised in a housing project in Alabama," Oliver said.
He explained his background of growing up in one of the poorest areas of the United States where joined a gang with other boys.
"None of those friends are alive," he said. "I grew up with five cousins. Two died and the others are in prison."
Because of his background he said that he fell into a trap of blaming others for his situation.
"In America it is very easy to become a victim," he said. "It's easy to say 'woe is me, I deserve something for nothing.'"
But then he learned about others in third-world countries and his life changed. He related stories of his travels from Iraq to Sierra Leon and how he has witnessed first hand the true hardships of suffering. He was blunt in his description of death, beatings and rapes that occur in these countries.
He told the seniors to understand their privilege and to realize the hardships of the world beyond La Cañada.
"I don't want you to think that I am blasting people for their wealth," he said.
Oliver said that he wanted the seniors to realize that with privilege comes responsibility.
"It is your responsibility to act," he said.
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Friday, May 18, the Islamic Congregation of La Canada Flintridge [ICLCF] had a potluck dinner at the Roger Barkley Community Center where they met fellow members of the Islamic faith as well as continued their outreach to the community crossing all religious barriers.
This is the third meeting of the newly formed group and the first one that was held during Daylight Saving Time. Part of the Islamic faith is to pray five times each day, the last to be at sunset. In the past, members prayed at their home before the potluck however with the time change they prayed as a congregation in a room at the center.
The meeting continued with a brief wrap-up of what ICLCF has been doing over the past few weeks. Members had worked with San Gabriel Habitat for Humanity on projects in Glendale and plan to volunteer again at the end of June. They continued to reach out to other faiths with churches like St. Bede Catholic Church where members of the church visited the Islamic Center of Southern California. Members of ICLCF plan to visit St. Bede in July. Invited guests included Jay and Debra Johnson, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Cañada, Carol Martin from SGV Habitat for Humanity and members representing ILM [Intellect, Love and Mercy], an outreach organization from Los Angeles.
The members of ICLCF plan to work with ILM as they feed the homeless in Los Angeles. The organization not provides 200 meals for those in need but also hygiene kits and offers a health table where people can ask questions to nurses and doctors that have donated their time.
"But most of all it is you giving precious time and conversation," said Naim Shah Jr, executive director of ILM. "Just to talk to these people makes a difference."
The goal of ICLCF has been to reach out to other faiths in the community and to open up lines of communication. It is also a way for those within La Cañada to meet others of Islamic faith.
For more information on ILM got to www.ilmfoundation.com; for Habitat for Humanity, www.sgvhabitat.org; for ICLCF, www.iclcf.org
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| LENDING A HAND - Levent Akbarut shows blisters he earned while helping SGV Habitat for Humanity. Photo by Mary O'Keefe. |
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Last Saturday the Valley Sun was invited to go on a Habitour with the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity. The tour included two construction sites and a visit with a family that received a life- changing chance to be a homeowner.
The tour began at Habitat's office in Pasadena on N. Fair Oaks. The office is full of construction equipment including paint, doors, appliances and tools among other items that have been donated for sale.
"Construction people love this place," said Sonja Yates, executive director of SGV Habitat. Sales generated assist with Habitat's efforts.
Yates began the tour with a DVD that was produced thanks to donations and guidance from Don Goodman, president of Walt Disney's Imagineering. The informational film was hosted by Harrison Ford and included volunteers, many from Crescenta Valley and La Cañada including Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, describing what Habitat gives to others and how it can make a difference.
"It is a hand up, not a hand out," Portantino said.
"They don't just build homes, they change lives," said Ford.
The tour then continued in Glendale to a construction site near Palmer Avenue and La Boice. Several volunteers had been working the site since early morning, including Levent Akbarut and other members of the Islamic Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge. At a recent ICLCF meeting, the organization invited several members of the community to the Roger Barkley Community Center to speak to their group on a variety of outreach programs. Emily Mullranin from SGV Habitat spoke at that meeting and inspired several members to take a Habitour of their own. Last weekend was the first time members joined with other volunteers to work side-by-side to build a home. It is not an easy job; volunteers work at hammering nails, dry walling, painting and digging holes for plumbing.
"We have a manager help guide them," Yates said.
"This is what happens when you work in an office," Akbarut said, showing his blister-filled hands.
Although the work may be different than most are used to, it is worth it. According to Akbarut, the community of volunteers and the knowledge that you are helping a family is worth any blister. It is also a way of meeting others who also have outreach programs, like Big Sunder Jewish Center and Bentley Prince Street, a carpet store that not only sent volunteers to work at the homes but also donated all the carpeting for the project. Blisters aside, the ICLCF will be returning to help with SGV Habitat at the end of June.
The next stop on the tour was the future site of the Kenwood Condominiums in Glendale. This is an ambitious project, the largest SGV Habitat has attempted. There will be 11 units on the property, all two stories with subterranean parking and landscaping. This will give 11 families a place to call their own and help not only to turn the empty lot from a dried storage area to a well kept housing complex, but will help bring students to the Glendale Unified School District, which is suffering from declining enrollment.
Then there was a trip the home of a family who had emigrated from the Philippines. The father had come over to the United States, received a green card and worked for four years before he was able to bring his wife and children over. The mother worked for many years in the garment district, sponsored by a manager, until she received a green card. They qualified for a Habitat home and moved in about three years ago.
"Habitat turned our life around," said the father.
He, his wife and five children were living in a small apartment.
"We had a very nice landlord but the ceiling leaked, and we never knew when our rent was going up," said the mother.
For a family to qualify for a Habitat home they must first meet the financial need requirement, must prove their ability to pay the zero interest loan and be a willing partner with Habitat, volunteering time to help at the construction sites.
The family now lives in a comfortable home, their children are successful in school with their oldest son in college majoring in accounting and the parents are preparing for their citizenship interviews. They remind their children how lucky they are to live in America and how grateful they are to their community.
"A lot of kids don't recognize the opportunities they have here," said the mother.
They also continue to support and volunteer with SVG Habitat.
"The whole Habitat experience is to give back to the community," said the father.
Which they continue to do in many ways from Habitat to volunteering at their children's schools.
Because of the screening process of Habitat families, there has never been a recipient that has not paid their home loan and not one home within the SGV Habitat has been sold. They keep the homes to pass down to their children, Yates said.
The most notable aspect of the Habitat experience is the strength of the family and the community.
"Getting a home of their own really reinforces families," Yates said.
To donate or volunteer with the SGV Habitat for Humanity, go online to www.sgvhabitat.org or call (626) 792 3838.
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| BUILDING FOR A CAUSE - Left to right, Sonja Yates, executive director SGVHFH, Assemblyman Anthony Portantio, Carol Martin, Mary Beth Salter, Jan Robinson and Emily Mullranin of SFVHFH. |
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Essy and Connie Alamdari* of La Cañada Flintridge once again hosted San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity for the annual volunteer recognition event on April 15. More than 100 volunteers gathered to celebrate the ongoing work of SGVHFH, which involves the community to volunteer time, talent, funding and donated materials to build affordable housing. In the process, volunteers help build families, communities and relationships that will last for years to come. All areas of society such as individuals, houses of worship, businesses and governmental agencies get involved. Sonja Yates, executive director of SGVHFH, presented awards to local volunteers who have contributed everything from construction work, office support, pro bono services, hot coffee, prayer and fundraising support.
Working in partnership with over 2,000 volunteers a year, 187 men, women and children are now living in decent, affordable homes. This number will grow to 204 when the three more homes are completed this summer.
SGVHFH successfully raised over $1 million in the past year toward an 11 unit condominium development in Glendale. Further builds are in the process for Monrovia and Pasadena's Desiderio Army Reserve site.
Read more about San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity at www.sgvhabitat.org or contact the office at (626) 792-3838.
*Essy and Connie Alamdari are members of ICLCF Steering Committee.
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Islamic Congregation
Continues Its Reach
By Mary O'Keefe
La Canada Valley Sun
3/1/07
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COMMUNITY
OUTREACH
- The
Islamic
Congregation
of La
Cañada
Flintridge
invited
non-profit
organizations
to speak
at their
meeting.
Speaking
is Naim
Shah
Jr.,
executive
director
for ILM
(Intellect,
Love and
Mercy)
Foundation
of Los
Angeles.
Photo by
Mary
O'Keefe
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The Islamic Congregation
of La Cañada Flintridge
(ICLCF) held a potluck
dinner meeting last
Friday night at the
Roger Barkley Community
Center. It was the
second meeting of this
newly formed group and
the atmosphere was
relaxed and inviting.
The ICLCF had its first
meeting in December. The
organization's main goal
at that meeting was for
La Cañada residents of
the Islamic faith to get
know each other and to
introduce them to the
ICLCF goals of community
awareness and service.
Although many had met
throughout the years,
the organizers wanted
Islamic faith community
members to join as one
voice to promote
understanding and
philanthropic service.
That first meeting was
cordial as participants
introduced themselves
and gave a brief history
of their background.
Their meeting last week
was much more relaxed.
When ICLCF member and
master of ceremony for
the evening Levent
Akbarut asked everyone
to introduce themselves,
laughter and jokes
seemed to be the key
component. There were
many members of the
medical profession who
offered their services
as they introduced
themselves. This became
a running joke around
the room until another
member introduced
himself as a consultant
for the McDonald's.
"So, if your kids need a
Happy Meal … ," the man
joked.
"Finally, a service we
can eat," Akbarut said.
Laughter roared through
the center.
Like at their December
meetingm ICLCF members
invited representatives
from other faiths to
speak to the membership
in an effort to find
ways they can work
together. St. Bede the
Venerable Catholic
Church sent
representatives, as did
the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
"We want to join hands
with all the community
of La Cañada
Flintridge," Akbarut
said. He added there are
many misconceptions of
the Islamic faith. "With
the conflicts in the
world and even in our
country [it is
important] to promote
mutual understanding and
peace."
Another goal of the
group is to promote
community service.
"We are not a
self-serving
organization," Akbarut
said. "We want to come
together in service."
In that light,
representatives from
non-profit organizations
were invited to the
meeting, including Emily
Mullranin from the San
Gabriel Habitat for
Humanity and Naim Shah
Jr., executive director
for ILM (Intellect, Love
and Mercy), a Los
Angeles group.
Shah said that from a
South Central point of
view, La Cañada has a
reputation as a closed
community.
"We are here to dispel
that notion … to bridge
that gap," he said.
Members watched a video
of ILM volunteers
distributing clothes,
food, backpacks and
other items to those who
call LA's skid row home.
Shah explained how his
organization is reaching
out to those who need
the most help.
"Downtown LA is
changing, but this is
the hidden reality," he
said.
As the meeting ended it
was obvious connections
had been made and even
some stereotypes had
been broken.
For more information
on ILM go to
www.ilmfoundation.com;
for Habitat for
Humanity,
www.sgvhabitat.org;
for ICLCF,
www.iclcf.org.
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2006 Year in
Review
La Cañada Valley Sun
12/28/06
DECEMBER - The newly-formed Islamic Congregation of
La Canada Flintridge held its first meeting at the
Roger Barkley Community Center. Some 75 adults and
children turned out for the event. The ICLCF's
mission statement: "To strengthen the bonds of
Islamic fellowship at the neighborhood level and to
develop a Muslim presence in the city through
outstanding citizenship and community service
promoting peace and mutual understanding."
La Cañada
Muslims Reach Out to Community
By
Mary O'Keefe
La
Canada Valley Sun 12/14/06
Last
Friday night a group of about 75 adults and children
gathered at the Roger Barkley Community Center. They
had two main things in common: they all love their
La Cañada community and are all members of the
Islamic faith.
This was the first meeting of the Islamic
Congregation of La Cañada Flintridge, a newly formed
congregation whose purpose is to get to know other
Muslim families, support their community, be a
presence within the La Cañada charitable
organizations and to be more active in the political
area. They also, according to member Levent Akbarut,
want to reach out to the community as Muslims to
educate others and to bridge the gap of
misunderstanding between Muslims and other
religions. He quoted ICLCF's mission statement:
"To strengthen the bonds of Islamic fellowship
at the neighborhood level and to develop a Muslim
presence in the city through outstanding citizenship
and community service promoting peace and mutual
understanding."
Akbarut said, "This concept is so important.
According to a recent poll only ten percent of those
who say they personally know someone who is Muslim
say they would not want a Muslim as a neighbor. That
is a 21 percent gap of those who do not know a
Muslim."
He was citing an August USA Today/Gallup Poll that
focused on U.S. attitudes toward Muslims living in
the United States. The poll found that 22 percent of
Americans questioned would not like to have a Muslim
as a neighbor, however there was a considerable
difference in attitudes toward Muslims if there is a
personal acquaintance. The ten percent Akbarut
mentioned is in comparison with 31 percent of those
who are not acquainted, thus the 21 percent gap in
views.
"[Reaching out] is important with what is going on
in the media with perceptions and terrorism and
everything," he said.
"There is a general misunderstanding in the media
[of the Muslim faith]," said Faisal Khan, member of
ICLCF. "Our kids are in the local schools, we are
involved in the La Cañada Flintridge Educational
Foundation and other charities."
He added that in addition to helping the community
he hopes that the congregation will be a way for all
Muslim families to get to know and support each
other.
Also attending this first meeting was LCF Mayor Greg
Brown and state Assemblymember Anthony Portantino.
"On my way here tonight I counted at least eight
different congregations. It is my pleasure to
welcome yours [to La Cañada]," Brown said. "La
Cañada is built on volunteerism, it is great that
you are going in that direction."
The congregation had asked Brown and Portantino for
suggestions on charitable organizations and
committees they could get involved with. Brown
suggested many, including the schools.
"A large part of our city's success is because of
our schools," Brown said.
Many members of the congregation have or have had
children in the La Cañada public school system. They
are personally active members of the schools however
welcomed the suggestion as a congregation to become
involved.
"I applaud your efforts to get together," Portantino
said. "To know your neighbors, there is nothing
better."
Portantino also added that he would be happy to
sponsor any adult interested in the Kiwanis Club and
that he understood how preconceived ideas can affect
a community.
"One thing that I have learned over the last 30
years is there is a perception of La Cañada being a
closed community," Portantino said.
He added that he had been asked in a recent
interview by a Los Angeles newspaper how he could be
the mayor of such a racist community. "I said,
'Well, I am an Italian from New Jersey. I don't
exactly fit the profile of La Cañada.'"
The symbol of the ICLCF, a tree with sweeping
branches and leaves reaching out, was designed with
the thought of the community and the congregation's
purpose. Ozman Trad, a professional graphic
designer, began his design with the community in
mind.
"The first thing I wanted was to represent the La
Cañada community," Trad said. "The community coming
together, forming the branches....I used stylized
Arabic calligraphy [that is the symbol for God] that
forms the trunk of the tree. The root of our work is
God."
When asked what he hoped this congregation will
accomplish, third grader Osama Zulfigar said, "I
hope it helps them [non-Muslims] understand us."
"And a lot about our country America," added his
brother Hasoan.
Information on the ISCLCF can be found on their
website at
www.iclcf.org. |
