NOW MORE THAN EVER,
WE NEED THIS MESSAGE OF HOPE
COVER STORY—On Sunday, women from many different religious traditions gathered in southeast Michigan to celebrate a decade of educational programs and peacemaking initiatives by WISDOM: Women’s Interfaith Solutions for Dialogue and Outreach in MetroDetroit.
These courageous women did more than simply toast their own hard work at this important milestone. They stood up and addressed the whole world, calling for women and men to stand up with them and demonstrate that millions of Americans welcome diversity. They called on all of us to shore up our inclusive communities.
Friendship & Faith—the newly expanded edition of their book, which they launched nationally on Sunday—proclaims on its back cover: “We can change the world—one friend at a time. With that inspiring call to action, Friendship & Faith was launched in 2010 featuring true stories from 29 women. Since then, these women have inspired readers nationwide. Now, the book is doubling in size to include new stories from women daring to explore cross-cultural friendship and build stronger, healthier communities.”
Their campaign promoting diverse friendships already has prompted other writers nationwide to lift their voices. Here are two women who already are adding their stories to this effort:
‘Find yourself a teacher
… and a friend’
RABBI MARLA HORNSTEN draws on Jewish tradition as well as practical spiritual wisdom in urging readers to explore the stories in this new book. She urges all of us to gain strength from the examples in this book to form our own new friendships. You’ll be inspired by the many connections and examples lifted up by the rabbi. And, please, share her column—and this good news—with friends.
Just Imagine:
No more ‘in’ group and ‘out’ group
MAGGIE ROWE is familiar to regular readers of our online magazine. In April, we published a cover-story interview with Maggie about her wonderful new memoir, Sin Bravely. Because that book is all about Maggie’s struggle to free herself from religious rigidity—she now welcomes this new Friendship & Faith as a vision of what diverse friendships can become. Enjoy Maggie’s column—and please share it with friends.
Got a story to share?
Got a story you want to share with the Women of WISDOM? Want to inquire about a group order of this newly expanded book for your small group? Interested in bringing a WISDOM program to your community? Please, reach out to WISDOM through this “Contact Us” page.
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‘FRIENDSHIP IS A CURRENT BENEATH THE SURFACE’
GodSigns—Columnist and author Suzy Farbman writes about many ways the powerful current of friendship “buoys us and keeps us moving forward.” Within Judaism, friendship is an essential element in tikkun olam, or repairing the world. Whatever your faith tradition, Suzy writes, friendship fuels creativity and expands our communities in healthy ways.
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HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS
Want to see all the holidays?
www.InterfaithHolidays.org
DIWALI—In Indian homes around the world, the festival of lights is coming! You may find Indian friends and colleagues planning well in advance for this popular observance. In gratitude for the triumph of light over darkness, Diwali holds great significance for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs alike.
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HISTORIC BAHA’I CELEBRATION
TWIN HOLY BIRTHDAYS—Five million Baha’is worldwide will celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the “Twin Holy Birthdays” this year, as adherents of the faith rejoice in the birth anniversaries of the two figures most central to their faith: Baha’u’llah and the Bab. This year is the bicentennial of Baha’is most central figure—Baha’u’llah—and the Bab is being honored alongside him.
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FAITH & FILM
ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.
Among Ed’s latest free movie reviews are:
- BATTLE OF THE SEXES—Ed McNulty concludes: “Lots to cheer for and to discuss in this well-crafted film!” The story of the famous tennis match between Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King reveals a lot about blatant sexism and other forms of bias in American culture. (4.5 out of 5 stars)
- MARSHALL—Ed McNulty: “Black history has been a gold mine for socially conscious filmmakers, providing great drama that also reminds us that the war for equality is far from over. Such is the excellent new film about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.” (5 stars)
- VICTORIA AND ABDUL—The movie is somewhat entertaining, but its mish-mash of British-Indian history makes this more fiction than fact. (3.5 stars)
- I’LL PUSH YOU—”It’s a stand up and cheer movie,” writes Ed McNulty, giving this documentary a full 5 stars. It’s the remarkable story of one man pushing his friend’s wheelchair along 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James.
- MOTHER! Ed tells us that viewers will find “dramatic excess and a strong dose of surrealism” in this puzzling film starring Jennifer Lawrence. (4 stars)
- MENASHE—It’s an intriguing film about the relationship of an Orthodox Jewish father and his son as they try to navigate the pressures within their insular New York neighborhood. (5 stars)
- ALL SAINTS—Our faith-and-film writer Ed McNulty writes: “At last! Here is a faith-based film that seeks to entertain and inspire rather than convert its audience.” (5 out of 5 stars)
- MOKA—A suspenseful drama about a mother grieving the loss of her son. (5 stars)
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