Many Faiths Come Together To Share a Meal

BY JESSE ZAPATA

The twelfth Annual Interfaith Dinner was held last Wednesday in the Marvin Center to highlight the various faith organizations on campus. Students who attended were treated to live music, food, guest speakers, and more during the annual event. Started after 9/11, the dinner strives to bring together students in solidarity against prejudice. Overall, the event was focused on examining faith’s common role in social justice and freedom. 

Tim Kane, associate director for inclusion initiatives, introduced the various performers and guests. Each campus faith organization was represented, and they also chose the speakers. The Voice Gospel Choir began the program with several hymns.

Speakers for the event included Muslim Student Association student Aabid Mohiuddin, Satyam representative Pavithra Chidambaram, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship choice Jon Yu, Allied in Pride representative Nicholas Gumas, GW Catholic student Olivia Bee, Jewish Student Association representative Joey Saban, and Kabir Gumer from the Sikh Student Association.

Each original speech was unique, yet they all taught lessons. Some were deeply rooted in the biblical tradition and quoted passages from the New Testament while others focused on a secular morality. Another defined the term “Tikkun Olam” as the Jewish faith's "one common goal of a better place for those who follow". A fellow speaker focused on the Sikh traditions of identity and scholastic petition. Each address, though different from the others, represented the night’s theme of the involvement of faith in freedom and social justice.

In closing, GW President Steven Knapp gave a brief history of the Interfaith Dinner and the university’s history of student led interfaith initiative. He also shared an excerpt of a letter written by George Washington to a Rhode Island Synagogue's congregation. The letter contained not just the theme quote of the evening, " to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance," but a larger statement about the power of diversity in bringing wisdom and prosperity to those who embrace it.

Interfaith Director for Satyam, the school's Hindu awareness organization and planner of the event Priya Yadav said she was happy with the dinner’s turnout. She added that the school had been working to “re-excite interest in interfaith and multicultural events.”

“We have so many [students] dedicated to their faith who want to let others know,” she said. 

Students Celebrate the Power of Words and Faith at Interfaith Dinner

by Justin Lee


Students celebrated diversity and the power of words at the 11th annual interfaith dinner held in the Marvin Center on Tuesday night. The theme of the two- hour dinner was words, and how they can be used to build and destroy relationships. Each guest was asked to take a slip of paper at the door with a positive action words can create. The guests were then asked to sit with people who were given the same word as them in order for guests to mingle and share their faiths and creeds with those around them. 

Through out the dinner different religious organizations spoke about how their faith includes the themes of words and communication. Sticking with the theme of communication, faith based singing groups The Voice Gospel Choir and Shir Madness, expressed their faith through song.  George Washington University president, Dr. Steven Knapp, also spoke about the importance of open communication between religions and the power of words. 

The Muslim Student Association and the Jewish Student Association started the Interfaith Dinner 11 years ago in order to open peaceful dialogue between the two groups.  At the original dinners, the two organizations ate both Kosher and Halal food in a show of mutual respect and tolerance. This tradition was extended to all student religious organizations in the name of multiculturalism.  This year a variety of food from different cultures was served.