There is no question that we are experiencing an extremely stressful and emotional time right now. We are witness to the devastation, destruction, and death occurring in Israel/Palestine. We may have friends and family in the region who are being severely impacted. At home, we are dealing with the consequences of it in our communities, including a sharp rise in anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate. Our Muslim-Jewish relationships are being put to the test through difficult conversations and, more commonly, through social media posts. We may see posts from our sisters that we find upsetting or even offensive. We ask that you all have patience, empathy, and grace for each other. We can recognize the underlying, deep pain that both our communities feel – our shared humanity. Both receiving and sending these types of messages can take a toll on our mental health. However, rather than “un-friending” or commenting negatively on the posts, perhaps consider “hiding” those posts or finding a way to reach out to the original poster personally for a one-on-one discussion. We are an organization that seeks to build bridges and fight hate. As members of the Sisterhood, we are not pitted against each other. Offering each other emotional support does not undermine our support for our own communities, rather, we are leading the way by standing together for peace, for safety.
We know that some of our chapters have been able to have deep listening sessions, which have brought some relief, hope for common humanity, and a deepening of relationships. However, it is also true that some may not be able to have meaningful dialogue on this topic right now. Either way, now is not the time to give up on the Sisterhood! Membership is not exclusive to chapter involvement. You can participate in our programs, trips, and our upcoming annual conference. We strongly believe that sitting at the table (either virtually or in person) and finding our shared humanity will pave the way to a future of peace. As Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian peacemaker the Sisterhood often engages with, said, “Sitting apart will not make you feel better, it will make you feel bitter.” We have an amazing opportunity for all to engage – please register for our hybrid annual conference on Sunday, November 19th at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Among other topics, we are planning to have a vibrant session on Palestine/Israel.
Our religious traditions teach us that we all carry the spark of the Divine within us, that there is ease after difficulty, and that goodness can come out of tragedy. That is the power of God. So, we will hold fast and continue to dialogue.
Atiya Aftab Roberta Elliott
Co-Founder & Chair Emeritus President
November 10, 2023