The Biweekly Briefing, a quick-read overview of upcoming events and opportunities, will arrive in your inbox twice each month on Wednesdays. To stay up-to-date with the Sisterhood, all you need to do is open this briefing!
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Director’s Note
Dear *|FNAME|*,
At the beginning of this month, we started our Virtual trip to Israel and Palestine. We have embarked on this important, emotional, and often difficult journey under the skilled and experienced guidance of Mejdi Tours.
The tour participants are all taking part in something special for the Sisterhood. This is one of the first events that we have opened not just to our members but also to the larger community. We will continue offering other educational programs and workshops for the broader public.
This tour and follow up programs represent a shift for the Sisterhood. For the first ten years, we focused on building trusting relationships. Yet we’ve always been aware that the conflict is an elephant in the room between Muslim and Jewish communities throughout North America. After many years of building our friendships and strengthening the bonds between Muslim and Jewish women, we are approaching this topic together.
We’re starting with the Virtual Trip, which is based on a dual narrative approach where, while “traveling” through different areas of Israel and Palestine, we hear parallel perspectives and learn from each guide and presenter about how each location relates to two peoples, Palestinians and Israelis, living in this region. We will continue deepening our understanding of this issue and developing tools to strengthen our bonds while resolving to support peace and justice in this land that is holy to Jews and Muslims, as well as to our Christian sisters and brothers. Over the next few months, we’ll offer more programs on this topic and be joined by peace builders, activists, and academics who will offer their perspectives and further our understanding of these issues. We will share more details about these programs at the end of January and hope you will join all or some of these workshops.
Recently, the Sisterhood Board has revised its position statement on Israel and Palestine, which I would like to share to underscore this shift and contextualize this program within the broader work of our organization.
The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom holds a wide spectrum of views on Palestine and Israel. We recognize the complexity of the issues, the passions they evoke and endeavor to hold space to hear each other. We believe any response to the conflict must be based on human rights, safety, and self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis alike. The mission of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom is to, based on our shared values, build relationships between Muslim and Jewish women of all ages, to promote and advocate for human rights, and to end acts of hate against all human beings.
We commit to freedom, equality, and justice for all. We commit to working with individuals and organizations, especially those in the region, devoted to nonviolent means to achieve peace and justice. We are compelled to engage with those working to transform conflict, empower those most affected by the occupation, and foster relationships that are necessary to build a just and peaceful future.
I invite you all–chapter and community members–to join this work, to “stay at the table,” and to continue to learn and discuss these issues together. I also kindly ask that we all listen to what is being offered in these programs with our ears, minds, and hearts.
I would like to thank all Sisterhood members for their support with this and future programs and offer a special thank you to the staff, Board, and the Israel Palestine Committee, who courageously and compassionately dedicate their time and efforts to this work.
In peace and sisterhood,
Tahija Vikalo, Executive Director
As we look ahead at the new year, we want to take a moment to thank you for donating to our year-end campaign, attending events and programs, and spreading the word about our mission. Your support this past year allowed us to expand our programming, reach new members, and create new and meaningful connections across our network.
We are proud to serve as a space for Muslim and Jewish women of all ages to come together, learn about and with one another, and build bridges of solidarity, trust, and understanding.
It’s not too late to join us for this virtual, dual narrative trip to Israel and Palestine! Hosted by Israeli and Palestinian tour guides from Mejdi Tours and joined by guest speakers who are peace activists, this trip invites Sisterhood members as well as the broader community to explore the history of the region and present-day peace-building efforts.
As a bonus, immediately following each session, Sisterhood members are invited to join a private, optional, 30 minute debriefing designed to allow members to have further discussion in small groups.
1:00-2:30 P.M. EST/ET
January 16, 2022
January 23, 2022
January 30, 2022
Trip Cost: $100 per person*
*COST COVERS ALL SESSIONS. INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. If you are unable to attend one or more sessions, a recording will be available to registered trip participants following the session.
Questions? Email Nicole Souadda, Operations Manager, at [email protected].
The Sisterhood Seeks Volunteers YOU – our Members – are our greatest asset!
As we continue to grow our organization, we want to draw on your volunteer skills and passions to support our mission and values.Please use this linkand tell us more about yourself and your areas of expertise. Thank you for your support!
Stranger/Sister Screening Opportunities
Stranger/Sisterhas officially launched, and the one-year social impact campaign is in full swing! If you’ve been wanting to bring this powerful catalyst for dialogue and change to your community, now’s your chance! Odyssey Impact/Transform Films are leading a campaign designed to educate, engage, and activate local communities to unite against hate and create peaceful dialogue across lines of difference.
Stranger/Sister is available for screenings hosted by individuals, community organizations, corporations, houses of worship, schools, universities, and more. The Odyssey Impact team can offer guidance from beginning to end and will provide a digital Screening Toolkit, which includes a Facilitator’s Guide, Community Discussion Guide, Classroom Guide, marketing materials, and a social media press kit, all designed to make the screening experience as impactful as possible.
Now is the perfect time to host a screening in your community. If you’d like to request additional information or are ready for next steps, fill out a host a screening inquiry form today.
Virtual Coffee Connection
Join the 150+ women who’ve met another sister through our Virtual Coffee Connection! Ready to give it a try?Click this link, fill out the brief form, and we’ll match you to a fellow sister. The two of you can then arrange your own virtual coffee/tea date! Please note, pairings are made in order of request and are not solely Muslim-Jewish matches. Thank you!
Your donation supports the critical mission of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom to build bridges and destroy the barriers of hate.
