Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom<sup>®</sup>

Enriching Women's Souls, Shattering Stereotypes

2019 6th Annual Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Gathering

Three women, one in purple, smiling for a photo

November 1-3, 2019

The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom celebrated its 6th Annual Gathering on the first weekend of November at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The weekend started off with a community service day, Jummah prayers, and Shabbat services and dinner on Friday. Saturday was a day of creative experiences and casual get-togethers, followed by a concert and dessert reception in the evening and a full day of conference activities on Sunday. The numerous hands-on learning labs, workshops and table breakout sessions were highlights of the day, and helped connect so many Muslim and Jewish women. Seeing over 300 Muslim and Jewish women and teenage girls coming together to Rise and Respond gave us immense hope for the future.

Spoken word artist Hannah Hasan, first Latina Jewish Representative Alma Hernandez, and panelists Farah Pandith and Hannah Rosenthal shared powerful words, personal stories, and productive ways to combat anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Our teens spoke confidently about their own stories and their hopes and dreams of bringing about change in the future and working together as one to overcome hate. 
We thank all who attended for making this weekend so special. You are helping us to change the world, one Muslim and one Jewish woman at a time.
Three women, one in purple, smiling for a photo

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the 7th Annual Gathering!

Rokeya Akhtar, Conference Chair

This year’s gathering took place over the course of three days, starting on Friday with a day of service benefitting A Woman’s Place, a local domestic violence shelter, and First Friends, an organization serving refugees and asylum seekers, and a full day of training for our regional coordinators, followed by Shabbat services and dinner Friday evening with members of the Sisterhood and Doylestown’s many faith communities.Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom t-shirt and scarf, reading, from strangers to sisters women standing assembly line style at a table sorting through packages

two lines of women grouped together and posing for a photoOn Saturday, attendees had the option of attending Shabbat services and lunch, arts and music workshops, or casual get-togethers before convening on Delaware Valley University’s campus for a concert by Interfaith Music Project and a dessert reception.woman in hijab seated between two young girlstwo women, one in hijab, sharing a song sheetteens gathered around a table creating artworkgroup of singers and musicians gathered on stagewomen standing with arms around one anotherwomen standing and sharing a song sheetwomen clapping in song

On Sunday, over 300 Muslim and Jewish women and teenage girls gathered at Delaware Valley University. The morning kicked off with keynote presentations by Alma Hernandez, of the Arizona House of Representatives, who shared the inspiring story of her childhood and journey into politics, and Hannah Hasan, powerful spoken word artist and poet. woman in scarf standing and clapping and smiling

Hannah Hasan in headscarf speaking at conference

woman in headscarf working on an art project

teen girls gathered on chairs talking to one another

Women chose from a dynamic list of workshops that included authors, interfaith leaders, artists, and academics, and spent several hours in small groups discussing issues of great importance to both the Muslim and Jewish communities. During this time, our teens created artwork that represents their connection to the Sisterhood and to each other. In the afternoon, panelists Farah Pandith and Hannah Rosenthal joined us for an honest discussion about their time as special representatives combating Islamophobia and anti-Semitism under the first Obama administration and their role as leaders and friends.three women smiling and posing for a photo

Teen leaders from Pittsburgh, Providence, and Princeton spoke of their experiences as religious minority teens and what the Sisterhood means to them, and we debuted a mini-documentary film featuring our teen chapters and their commitment to social justice.  woman in hijab speaking to woman with purple streak in hair two women in hijab standing at table in smiling

group of women smiling for camera woman with microphone speaking while seated at table surrounded by other women

three women smiling for camera with arms around each other

In all, it was a day of learning, of coming together, and of reaffirming our commitment to the Sisterhood and to each other. We can’t wait for you to join us at our 2020 gathering!teen speaker in orange sweater at podium

Muslim woman in hijab clapping, surrounded by other clapping women

two women huggingwomen sitting together at table

man and woman shaking hands and smiling for photo

two women smiling with heads bent together

 

 

 

circle of standing women facing inward with hands raised upwards woman sitting with head bent forward to listen, wearing a bandana and glasses

 

 

 

 

 

teen smiling at camera from podium with woman in purple jacketteen in orange sweater holding microphone for second teen in white t-shirt

toddler grinning for camera with hand held out

OUR PROUD SPONSORS

                    

         


MARCIA HOROWITZ AND RICHARD S. COHEN 

SHERYL SANDBERG

MILSTEIN CENTER FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 

two teens speaking from podiumAJC PHILADELPHIA/SNJ  

   THE ABRAHAM INITIATIVES