Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/804156
28 March 30 • 2017 jn P eace is a warm house on a winter night filled with friends and soon-to-be friends drinking hot tea from mismatched mugs sharing conversation and laughter and music. In a country where leaders are calling for walls of division, we, Jews and Muslims, crowded side-by-side on sofas and hardwood floor and reached across labels to share our time together. Last month, the grassroots group Muslim- Jewish Forum gathered at Detroit City Moishe House on the east side of Detroit for a meaningful night of grassroots interfaith relations through dialogue, food and music. "Growing up in competitive musical envi- ronments, constructive criticism was essen- tial to improving my practice technique prior to any given performance," Melanie Rivkin said. "Yet as only one of three performers at Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit's Music Night, the only hope I had was to effectively relate my music with the audience. "For me, this was a simple task. In my expe- rience, people come to Muslim-Jewish Forum events looking for a sense of belonging with one another. Our greater desires to build relationships are what we grapple with and, inevitably, also share. We all have the capac- ity to connect and give back to one another in times of greater struggle." The forum started about two years ago with Lindsay Acker and Tarik Baraka conven- ing a group of young professional Muslims and Jews to see if there was an interest, and it grew from there, explained Sam Woll, who is active in the group. "Lindsay had recently returned from living in Israel in an Arabic-speaking community and was inspired to bring both communities together in Detroit," she said. Since then, the Muslim-Jewish Forum of Detroit has held potluck dinners, a film screening and discussion, book discussion and more. They have met in various loca- tions, including Repair the World Detroit, Tech Town, the Balkan American Community Center in Troy, the Taubman Center at the College for Creative Studies and the University of Michigan- Dearborn. Currently, no activities are planned, but check the group's Facebook page for any updates. • Night Of Music Muslim-Jewish Forum offers growth for interfaith relations. ABOVE: Lara Khadr and Molly Elizabeth Mardit. PHOTOS BY JANE GAZMAN Melanie Rivkin performing JANE GAZMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS jews d in the Relaxing with cups of tea Rachel Lerman and Sam Woll N O T T I N G H I L L o f W E S T B L O O M F I E L D 6535 Drake Road , West Bloomfield , MI 48322 phone 248.592.2000 | www.cienafacilities.com A M E N I T I E S : % 68 Private Rooms % Gourmet Chef on site full-time % Room Service % Formal Dining % Happy Hour % Medical Spa % Personal Telephones with private numbers % Personal Televisions % Massage !erapy % Luxury Transportation % Tablets available for use Notting Hill of West Bloomfield offers both short-term rehabilitation and skilled care for residents in a serene setting while receiving unsurpassed high quality care. We take a team approach to patient care, ensuring that all disciplines work together to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of our patients. Our goal is to help you or your loved one regain independence and return to life, family and community. in Rehabilitation and Skilled Care R edefining E xcellence Spacious Sitting Areas for Socializing Customized Upscale Dining Program 1914800 2167570 ANXIETY and STRESS Crippling Your Life? Take back a sense of SERENITY and feel EMPOWERED, by simply taking ACTION Now. You are not alone. xÇxÊ°Ê }Ê i>ÛiÀ]Ê-ÕÌiÊÓÈäÊUÊ/ÀÞ]ÊÊ{nänÎ "ÊÌiÊ ÀÌÊ-`iÊvÊ }Ê i>ÛiÀÊLiÌÜiiÊ,ViÃÌiÀÊ,>`Ê>`ÊÛiÀà Ó{nx£xnnÇÎ ÀÊ`ÛVi]Ê6`iÃÊ>`ÊÀÌViÃ]Ê iVÊ"ÕÌ\ ÌÌ«\ÉÉ/ÀÞ*ÃÞVÌiÀ>«Þ°VÉL}É Jewish Owned Local Business 2169010 29488 Woodward Ave. #235 Royal Oak, MI 48073 Phone: 248.417.9443 Web: angelarmscare.com Email: cheryl@angelarmscare.com A COMPANION CARE SERVICE t#BUIJOH t'FFEJOH t-BVOESZ t)PVTFLFFQJOH t(SPPNJOH)ZHJFOF t.FEJDBUJPO3FNJOEFST Cheryl Patton, President/CEO