Rabbi Sits Down with Imam for Frank Conversation About Faith
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HEADLINES | 4 SPECIAL SECTION | 16 WOMEN’S PANEL ROSH HASHANAH Successful Jewish women 'Reverse Tashlich' is an share personal stories and opportunity to cleanse the professional advice ocean of human 'sins' SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | ELUL 20, 5779 | VOLUME 71, NUMBER 37 $1.50 Rabbi sits down Israeli hockey player impresses with imam for frank Coyotes during tryouts NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER conversation about n many ways, 20-year-old Israeli ice Ihockey player David Levin has the faith, discrimination ultimate underdog story. NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER Since he was a kid, he dreamed of n an effort to promote more interfaith communication, the East playing for the NHL, but growing up IValley JCC has started two new speaker series, the first of which in Israel, he wasn’t in the most ideal launched on Sunday, Sept. 15. place to develop his ice hockey skills. In the initial installment of the quarterly “Conversations With the But not even the desert could stop Rabbi,” EVJCC CEO Rabbi Michael Beyo sat down with Imam Levin from getting on the rink. Faheem Arshad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to discuss Now his dream may become a reality being part of a minority religion in America. as he advances to the veteran’s training Arshad graduated from the Islamic seminary of Jamia Ahmadiyya camp for the Arizona Coyotes, the next step for players who impressed during in Canada and has been to various countries as part of his training, Israeli hockey player David Levin trains in the Arizona Coyotes veteran’s camp including Africa, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Pakistan, before against goalie prospect Erik Källgren. SEE HOCKEY, PAGE 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARIZONA COYOTES being stationed in Arizona. Karolyn Benger, former executive director of the JCRC of Greater Phoenix and owner of KB Enterprise, moderated the event. Nearly 70 people came to hear the two spiritual leaders converse about maintaining their religious identities, raising children within a faith-based community and what’s it’s like to build a community That Valley-Israel connection while facing bigotry, whether anti-Semitism or Islamophobia. What is it about the Valley that makes it such a hotspot Growing up in Italy, Beyo said, he experienced anti-Semitism con- for partnering with Israel? Go to Page 18 to read about the latest partnership between a local company and stantly. “I remember walking to the synagogue with my father and a the land of milk and honey. person approaching us said, ‘I know why you wear a kippah — because you’re hiding your horns.’ That’s one of the classical stereotypes of SEE CONVERSATION, PAGE 2 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL ISRAEL New federal processes to combat American diplomats press lawmakers Growing threats prompt debate over growing anti-Semitism in Germany, Ireland to oppose BDS US-Israel mutual defense pact HEADLINES CONVERSATION will also be the first guest speaker CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 for the Interfaith Series, a monthly Open Beit Midrash series featur- anti-Semitism, so I always knew ing diverse faith leaders speaking I was a religious minority when about their faith’s history, tenets growing up.” and current challenges. Arshad The confrontation with hate only and Beyo became friends after the strengthened Beyo’s resolve and EVJCC received a bomb threat in religious commitment. He vowed 2016, when Arshad and the Valley’s to always wear his kippah, no matter Ahmadiyya Muslim community 2019 Phoenix Jewish News what, to show that he is proud of offered the EVJCC support and print dates his religion. comfort. Arshad’s childhood experiences Both programs are part of January 4 June 7 similarly led him to embrace his the EVJCC’s recently launched religion. From left: Moderator Karolyn Benger, Rabbi Michael Beyo and Imam “Community. Outreach. January 11 June 21 “When I was a kid, I came from Faheem Arshad during the first “Conversations With the Rabbi” event. Relationship. Engagement.” proj- January 18 August 9 PHOTO BY NICK ENQUIST Pakistan — which is a majority ect, or C.O.R.E. Beyo said that January 25 August 30* Muslim religion — and then I moved to population persecuted in Pakistan. And the goal of the Interfaith Series is to raise February 1 September 6 America, where I was a minority,” Arshad even here in the U.S., there are those awareness within the Jewish community of said. “I was the only Muslim in my class, who question Ahmadiyya Muslim legiti- the history and traditions of other faiths. February 8 September 13 or the only brown person in my class, and macy, as Beyo learned when some people Arshad’s interfaith lecture will be on February 15 September 20 because of that I really got to know my own questioned why he was bringing someone Thursday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. He added February 22 September 27 religious identity.” representing this particular sect of Islam that he was excited to be a part of this event March 1 October 4 Arshad said that because a lot of his class- for the event. Comments like those, Beyo because “it allows us to better understand mates asked him questions, he was able to said, are the reason the EVJCC is doing each other, our beliefs and our culture. March 15 October 18 educate them — and himself — about his this program. Through Interfaith we can talk about the March 29 November 1 faith. “My hope is that it will create and increase issues that matter most to us and how we April 5 November 15 “The important thing is that you should opportunities for further dialogue and part- can find solutions to them.” April 12 December 6 hold on to your religious identity no mat- nership among faith communities, building Beyo said that he hopes everyone who ter what faith group you are,” Arshad said. bridges across faith lines to strengthen the attends the events will do away with pre- April 19 December 13 “Because religion holds those strong moral peace, security and goodwill throughout our conceived notions about other religions. “I May 3 December 20 core values that are important for us.” broader community,” Beyo said. “It is only very much hope that the evolution of these May 17 *Annual Educating people and sharing love, he through collaboration, partnership and true programs will be communal work together, May 31 Directory said, were the best course of action in the friendship that we will be able to eradicate where we unite to help each other not only face of discrimination. the virus of bigotry and hate.” in words but in action.” JN And Arshad has faced plenty of dis- In addition to being the first guest of WWW.JEWISHAZ.COM crimination as an Ahmadiyya Muslim, a “Conversations With a Rabbi,” Arshad Visit evjcc.com for information about future events. 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Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jewish News, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road., Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. VOL.71, NO. 37 | SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 2 SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 JEWISH NEWS JEWISHAZ.COM HEADLINES HOCKEY Cohen said. “He had a great rookie tour- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 nament and really impressed our coaching the rookie training camp. Rookie training staff. He’s not a veteran player so there are camps are for both undrafted and drafted some obstacles to making the club, but he’s players who have not yet played in the a great player and we’re looking forward to Join us to remember and honor your loved ones NHL; the term “rookie” refers to players see what he can do in the veteran’s camp.” buried here or anywhereJoin us to rememberin the world. and honor who have a chance to be a rookie in the Levin’s story is an inspiration for Israeli your loved ones buried here upcoming season. Typically, only a few play- hockey fans, Cohen said, adding that it or anywhere in the world. ers have a realistic chance at making a roster. was exciting to imagine children in Israel Sunday, September 8, 2013 “looking up to David Levin and saying, “There have been some great players on A M the Coyotes in the past and everyone has ‘Wow that could be me.’” 10:00Sunday, .