CAIR-Philadelphia

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is the “most pre-eminent and largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the country,” according to the Philadelphia chapter’s executive director, Jacob Bender. It began 20 years ago and now has 30 chapters across the country, about half of which have attorneys on staff. The Philadelphia chapter started in 1994. The council has a two-pronged mission, as Bender described it: One, legal protection of civil rights; and two, advocating for and educating the public about the Muslim community.

Although it might seem unusual for a Jew to lead a Muslim organization, it was a natural next step for Jacob Bender. In October, he became executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Philadelphia chapter — and the first non-Muslim to head up any of the 30 chapters. The organization focuses on civil rights protection for Muslims and counteracting negative stereotypes about Islam through education and advocacy. Continue reading (subscription required) ...

Starting Saturday, Osama Al-Qasem and his wife, Manal Shurafa, started letting go of worldly concerns and focused on spiritual renewal. The Northampton couple weren’t alone. Muslims all over Bucks County are doing the same during Ramadan, the season during which the practice of prayer and sacrifice is intensified. The annual tradition, which lasts for 30 days, marks what Muslims believe was the time before the message of the Koran, Islam’s holy book, was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

Non-Muslims often view the holy month of Ramadan as another manifestation of an oppressive religion. Like many misinterpretations of Islam, this is way off the mark, for at its heart, Ramadan is imbued with thankfulness, joy, and compassion. Through fasting and self-denial, Muslims are reminded of all they have by temporarily living the life of those who have not.

As the director of “Out of Córdoba,” a documentary film about the religious coexistence of medieval Muslim Spain and Catholic Spain, I had the privilege of filming for several hours in the Great Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba when it was empty of tourists. It was a transcendent experience, and walking among its forest of columns and under its canopy of arches, one is easily transported back to a time when Muslim Córdoba was the most advanced city in all Europe, and visitors referred to the city as “the ornament of the world.”