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Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom™

Enriching Women's Souls, Shattering Stereotypes

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        • 2020 7th Annual Sisterhood Conference: Together We Rise
        • 2019 6th Annual Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Conference
          • Hands-on Learning Lab Workshops- Gathering 2019
        • 2018 5th Annual Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Conference: RaiseYourVoice
        • 2017 4th Annual Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Conference: Rising Up
      • Building Bridges Trips
        • Virtual Building Bridges 2020: Civil Rights and Racial Justice Journey
        • Building Bridges Trip 2020: Tuscon, Arizona
        • Building Bridges Trip 2019: Germany and Poland
        • Building Bridges Trip 2018: The American South
        • Building Bridges Trip 2017: Azerbaijan
        • Building Bridges Trip 2016: The Balkans
      • Social Justice Action Groups
        • Immigrant Communities Action Group (ICAS)
        • Racial Justice Action Group
        • Uyghur and India Action Group
      • Tzedakah/Sadaqa Day 2020
      • Stranger/Sister Documentary Film
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        • Israel Palestine
        • Israel’s annexation plan of the West Bank
        • Racial Injustice
        • Uyghur Statement and Fact Sheet
        • Statement on Forced Hysterectomies
        • Statement Regarding Genocidal Practices Imposed on Uyghur Women
        • Sisterhood Statement On Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene
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    • Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Membership Manual
      • Introduction
      • Guide to Starting a New Chapter
      • Co-Leader’s Guide
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      • Suggested Meeting Themes
      • Sharing Holidays
      • Toolkits for Special Projects
      • Guidelines for Endorsements, Media Coverage and Social Media
      • Resources
    • Rise and Respond: Guide to Responding to Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism
    • Videos & How-to Guides
      • Engaging in Difficult Conversations: Series 1
      • Spiritual Activism and Community Service: Series 2
      • Responding to Biased or Offensive Comments by: Judith Kaye Training and Consulting
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      • Zoom Friendly Meeting Ideas
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Press

2021

  • Join a club! Synagogues and other organizations host book clubs, often with virtual options, The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, January 11

2020

  • The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom are Building Bridges Between Two Faiths, Facebook, December 16
  • Trump united Muslims and Jews. We must build on that to prevent another Trump, Forward, November 18
  • An Enduring Sisterhood For Unlikely Friends, The Inquirer, August 30
  • Faith Leaders and the 2020 Census, Interfaith Youth Core, August 11
  • Leaders and Organizers of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Talk About Peace & Commonality Betweens Jews & Muslims, Goltune, June 13
  • The Border Wall Diaries, Covey Club, May 13
  • Rising Loaves and Rising Hopes: Diverse Communities Come Together Over Bread, The Spruce Eats, March 11
  • What kind of country does this?, The Jewish News of Northern California, February 18
  • Muslim and Jewish Women Unite Against Hate on SXSW Panel, Broadway World TV, February 11
  • Jewish, Muslim sisters explore border issues, Arizona Jewish Post, February 7
  • Salaam Shalom, The Little Hawk, February 3
  • Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom donates to Gural JCC SHOP in Cedarhurst, LI Herald, January 23
  • Residents and faith leaders preach love in the face of rising anti-Semitism and hate crimes, TAP, January 16
  • Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Unity Vigil 2020 held at Temple Adath Shalom Parsippany Focus, January 16
  • Religious communities come together for Unity Vigil in Whitehall, 69 News, January 15
  • Interfaith Unity Vigil held in Whitehall, The Morning Call, January 15
  • Rabbis, elected officials speak out on recent anti-Semitic incidents, LI Herald, January 9
  • Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom members help with Hannah’s Project at Gural JCC, LI Herald, January 9
  • Muslim, Jewish women gather to break down barriers, misconceptions, Newsday, January 6
  • DC Area Demonstrators Denounce Attacks Against Jewish People, NBC4, January 5
  • Hundreds attend local vigil in response to anti-Semitic attacks in NY, ABCNews 10, January 5
  • March against anti-Semitism brings thousands to streets of New York, North Jersey.com, January 5
  • Interfaith vigil against hate held in Schenectady, NBC13, January 5
  • CapFed Best News: Jewish, Muslim women finding common ground through Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, The Topeka-Capital Journal, January 3
  • Letters: We must speak out against hate, Chicago Tribune, January 1

2019

  • Hanukkah celebration provides opportunity to observe similarities, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, December 26
  • Interfaith group spreads joy with giving out packages on Christmas, ABC5, December 25
  • Finding Sisterhood in a Season of Giving, Flatland KC, December 23
  • Muslim, Jewish women come together to promote tolerance, understanding, Daily Herald, December 20
  • Muslim-Jewish American Organization “Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom” Receives UNAOC-BMW Group Intercultural Innovation Award, Globe Newswire, December 11
  • Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom receives BMW Group-UNAOC Intercultural Innovation Award, Religion News Service, December 11
  • Fredericksburg Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom packs hygiene kits to support homeless students at Stafford County schools, Free Lance-Star, November 30
  • Similarities Make a World of a Difference, Verde Magazine, November 29
  • The Gift of Census, The Lilith Blog, October 4
  • We Muslims Must Fight Anti-Semitism in Our Own Communities, Forward, September 4
  • South Shore Nassau Jewish, Muslim Women Come Together in Salaam Shalom, LI Herald, August 2019
  • KCRA Project Community Religion, KCRA News, July 23
  • Amid Rising Hate Crimes, Muslim and Jewish Women Traveled Together to Auschwitz: Sojourners, July 2019
  • Before Chabad Tragedy, San Diego Built Bridges with Jewish/ Muslim Seder: Times of San Diego, April 28
  • The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom: Finding Common Ground: Bnai Brith Magazine, Spring 2019
  • From Marshmallows to Social Justice, These Muslim and Jewish Teens are Bonding:  Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, February 22

2018

  • Where Jewish and Muslim Women Find Sisterhood: Womensnews.org, November 19
  • Changing the World…One Muslim and One Jewish Woman At A Time: Jewish Herald-Voice, October 18
  • Perspective: Discovering Common Ground, Developing Friendships and Creating Impact: A Teenage Sisterhood Drive By Faith: West Hartford News, September 2
  • Muslim and Jewish Women on a Southern Civil Rights Road Trip: Lilith, July 5
  • Getting Past Hate: How Two Women of Different Faiths Are Starting a Movement: Next Tribe, July 3
  • Music, Food, and Erasing Borders: The Jewish Week, June 13
  • Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Brings Together Faiths: Hartford Courant, May 29
  • Amid Conflict, Jews and Muslims in US Seek Solidarity: Associated Press, May 15
  • Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Visits Selma: Selma Times Journal, April 26
  • Religious Left Emerging as U.S. Political Force in Trump Era: Reuters, March 27
  • The kids are alright: The American teens working to change Muslim-Jewish relations: Haaretz, March 11
  • Opinion: If our Jersey Sisterhood of Jews, Muslims can bond, so can the world: NJ.com, March 8
  • This International Women’s Day, Look to the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom for Inspiration: Teen Vogue, March 8
  • This Organization is Uniting Muslim and Jewish Women to End Bigotry: Global Citizen, March
  • An Unlikely Sisterhood: Boomer, February 15
  • Muslim and Jewish Women Fight Hatred Together: The Muslim Guy, February
  • Put Action to Dr. King’s Words, MLK March Leader Says: Sacramento Bee, January 15
  • Salaam Shalom: Muslim and Jewish women start a movement to thwart religious bigotry: Religion News Service, January 5
  • Essex County Muslim-Jewish Sisterhood Pray in Unity: South Orange Patch, January 1

2017

  • “Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom brings Muslim, Jewish Women Together to Fight Hate,” NorthJersey.com, December 28, 2017
  • “A Year After Trump’s Election, Jewish-Muslim Group Takes A More Pointed Approach To Fighting Hate,” New York Jewish Week, November 26, 2017
  • “Sisters are Doin’ It For Themselves: The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom®,” altM, November 20, 2017
  • “Reflections from the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom® Conference,” The Lilith Blog, November 16, 2017
  • “Through Ties of Friendship, Muslim and Jewish Women Unite Against Hate,” The New Jersey Jewish News, November 15, 2017
  • “These Women Are Bringing the Muslim and Jewish Communities Together Despite Their Differences,” Huffington Post Sponsored by National Geographic, November 2, 2017
  • “How One Muslim Jewish Women’s Group Goes Beyond Feel Good Interfaith Work and Tackles Israel Palestine,” Tablet Magazine, August 31, 2017
  • “Muslim and Jewish Sisterhood Group Canadian Chapter,” Canadian Jewish News, August, 2017
  • “Come Together: American Jewish-Muslim Solidarity in the Age of Trump,” Jewschool, July, 2017
  • “Toronto Muslim and Jewish Women Find Power and Joy In Building a Sisterhood,” Muslim Link,  July 22, 2017
  • “Breaking the Ramadan Fast in a Synagogue Is the Latest in Jewish-Muslim Outreach,” Ha’aretz, June 18, 2017
  • “Muslims, Jews, and Women in America,” The Economist, May, 2017
  • “As Immigration Crisis Deepens, Jews, Muslims Draw Closer,” New York Jewish Week, February 1, 2017

2016

  • “Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom® Co-Founder Sheryl Olitzky Offers Lessons in Bridge-Building,” The Forward, December 30, 2016
  • “Celebrating 7 Jewish Nasty Women of 2016”, Lilith Magazine, December 30, 2016
  • “Muslim Jewish Unity Fights Stereotypes and Hate”, NPR WHYY Philadelphia’s Radio Times, December 20, 2016
  • “Facing the Age of Trump Together: Jewish and Muslim Sisters Build Sisterhood”, Haaretz, December 2016
  • “Muslim and Jewish Women Celebrate Sisterhood,” Hadassah Magazine, December 2016
  • “Both Feeling Threatened, American Muslims and Jews Join Hands,” New York Times, December 5, 2016
  • “Why Jews Are Coming To the Defense of Mosques in America,” The Christian Science Monitor, December 1, 2016
  • “How Do You Build A Strong Muslim-Jewish Alliance For the Trump Era?” The Forward, November 25, 2016

2015

  • “Muslim and Jewish Feminists Gather to Seek Common Ground,” The Forward, December 18, 2015
  • “Waging Peace: The Story of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom®,” altmuslimah,  December 17, 2015
  • “Parable on Bigotry and Citizenship Plays Out in Supermarket Aisle,” New York Times,  December 12, 2015
  • “Jewish and Muslim Sisters are Doin’ Coexistence for Themselves,” Ha’aretz, December 12,2015
  • “Interfaith Sisters Seek Common Ground,” New Jersey Jewish News, December 9, 2015
  • “Muslim, Jewish Women Seek Camaraderie at Leadership Conference,” Newark Star-Ledger, December 7, 2015
  • “Be the Protector,” Huffington Post, November 18, 2015
  • “The Magical Thing That Happens When Women Get Spiritual Together,” Huffington Post, October 06, 2015
  • “Not My America Campaign Responds To Mosque Protest With Message of Inclusion,” Huffington Post, May 29,2015
  • “Interfaith Push To Muslims Could Face Headwinds,” Jewish Week, May 19, 2015
  • “Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom® Included in Organizations Seeking Federal Investigation Of Chapel Hill Murders,” Muslim Advocates, February 13, 2015
  • “Building Jewish Muslim Friendships One Woman at a Time,” Interfaith Observer, January 2015

Coverage in 2014 and earlier

  • “What’s a Nice Chabad Girl Doing at a Jewish-Muslim Interfaith Conference,” “JEWCY“, November 30, 2014
  • “Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom® Changing The World, One Jewish and One Muslim Woman At A Time,” Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, November 27, 2014
  • “Women Gather to Build Alliances for Peace,” New Jersey Jewish News, November 11, 2014
  • “Muslim and Jewish Feminists Mingle In the City of Sisterly Love,” Jewish Daily Forward, November 11, 2014
  • “Muslim and Jewish Women Talk the Talk,” Jewish Exponent, November 5, 2014
  • “Jewish and Muslim Women Join at Interfaith Conference at Temple,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 2, 2014
  • “Mothers Seek Peace in Midst of Gaza War,” New Jersey Jewish News, August 11, 2014
  • “Mothers on the Side of Peace,” Kansas City Star, August 5, 2014
  • “For Our Children,” Huffington Post, July 7, 2014
  • “Muslim-Jewish Dialogue Group Expanding,” New Jersey Jewish News, January 14, 2014
  • “Sisters’ Seek Peace Among Jews, Muslims,” New Jersey Jewish News, May 20, 2013
  • “The Power of Sisterhood Enriches Souls, Shatters Stereotypes, Boundaries,” Abrahamic Alliance, May 19, 2013

Read news connected to the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom®:

  • “Why Muslim Jewish Cooperation Matters to America,” Religion News Center, December 21, 2016–written by Eboo Patel
  • “When a Scarf Means an Invitation to Hate,” NJJN, December 16, 2015–written by Essex County member Johanna Ginsberg
  • “From Family and Faith, A Non-Profit is Born,” US 1, Princtoninfo, March 4, 2015 — written by Princeton Chapter member Michelle Alperin
  • “Who Gets to Say What is ‘Islamic,'” Huffington Post, February 26, 2015 — written by Sisterhood Board member Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer
  • “Other Stories,” Hebrew College Blog, January 2, 2015 — witten by Sisterhood Board member Nancy Fuchs Kreimer
  • “Celebrating Muslims on International Human Rights Day,” Huffington Post, December 8, 2014 — written by Sisterhood Board member Engy Abdelkader

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© Copyright 2021 — Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom™

Taking the Sisterhood to the Next Stage--Announcement on Transition and Town Hall Meeting
Dear Friends,

As someone who cares deeply about the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, you will be most interested in the important news we share with you today. It has been more than a decade since Sheryl Olitzky co-founded the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, together with Atiya, to develop a “circle of friendship” between Muslim and Jewish women. With mixed emotions, we share the news of Sheryl’s retirement as Executive Director on March 1, 2021.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Sheryl for her passionate commitment, countless hours, and abundant energy. She has grown the Sisterhood to be an international organization with more than 8,000 Muslim and Jewish women committed to interfaith exchange and partnership. Sheryl has created a healthy organization that is well-positioned to achieve our goals in 2021 and beyond, with a talented and hard-working staff team and a dedicated board of trustees. Following a well-deserved break, we are so fortunate that Sheryl will join the Sisterhood’s Board of Trustees later this year.

The Sisterhood’s succession planning committee and Board of Trustees has hired Ceres Group Advisors (interimdirector@sosspeace.org), an experienced interim leadership team. Ceres Group Advisors will ensure a smooth transition and a strong organizational foundation as we search for our next executive director. Sheryl will help shepherd this process with her vast knowledge, strong community connections, and experience.

The last decade has been a time for great growth and powerful impact for the Sisterhood’s network. What started out as a small chapter of 12 women grew into an organization and evolved into a movement of Muslim and Jewish women and girls committed to building bridges and tearing down barriers of hate and prejudice.

This year, we were confronted with challenges that none of us could have imagined. Last March, when Covid-19 impacted all of our lives, the Sisterhood pivoted to virtual programming, creating space for engagement and participation to connect in new ways across geographic boundaries. We are excited to continue on the Sisterhood journey with you to envision the next stage of the Sisterhood’s development as we emerge from the challenges and opportunities of the last year.  We commit to doing more to meet your needs and opening our tent to reach more Muslim and Jewish women and girls who want to make this world a better place. And, we look forward to your engagement in this brave space of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom.

Now, more than ever, our mission to build trust, respect, and relationships between Muslim and Jewish women and teenage girls and to work together to end hate for all human beings is more important than it has ever been. With your continued support and participation, we are confident that the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom will thrive and set the stage for bold programs and important new connections during this crucial time in history.

Please feel free to reach out to us or to Sheryl (sherylolitzky@gmail.com) with any questions or thoughts.

Warmest regards,


Roberta Elliott, President     
(robertabelliott@gmail.com)

Atiya Aftab, Co-founder & Chair Emeritus
(criterion17@gmail.com)

To join the Townhall meeting on Wednesday, February 3rd at 8pm ET, please email Nadia at nadia@sosspeace.org for ZOOM registration link.

Town Hall Facebook Live With One of The Sisterhood's Greatest Supporters inThe U.S. Senate!
Cofounders, Sheryl Olitzky and Atiya Aftab, in dialogue with Senator Cory Booker as we focus on the issues facing us as Muslim and Jewish women in this challenging time in our history. Click here to watch.