Legal Updates

CAIR-Philadelphia Collage

In addition to his regular duties this summer, Staff Attorney Ryan Tack-Hooper taught a course on legal writing and reasoning to international students at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The class focused on getting students to write and speak…

Jacob Bender Interview on El Zol 1340 WHAT-AM (audio)

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CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Jacob Bender was interviewed on El Zol 1340 WHAT-AM. He discussed CAIR, world events, and his documentary film, Out of Cordoba. Listen to the show below:

Director Jacob Bender on WHAT (El Zol), August 30, 2014

Because of the interest in CAIR and the Muslim community, Jacob will be interviewed again this coming Saturday morning, Sept. 6 at 8:00 am, on Radio El-Zol, WHAT-AM 1340. Listen and call in with a question or comment!

Director’s Desk, August 14, 2014

CAIR-Philadelphia Collage

On Friday, Aug. 8th, I joined CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Committee member Iftekhar Hussain at the Islamic Society of Delaware for jumah. Iftekhar gave a wonderful khutba on the theme of how Allah (SWT) requires us to respond to injustice in the world, which was much appreciated by the community in light of the events in Gaza this summer. Following the khutba, I also addressed the community on the same theme, and specifically about the anger and sadness I feel as an American Jew watching Israel’s brutal attacks against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Guided by History, a Jew Tries to Unite Two Faiths Divided by War in Gaza

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The New York TimesShortly after the latest cease-fire expired in Gaza on Friday, Jacob Bender gingerly climbed the steps of the mimbar, the pulpit at the Islamic Society of Delaware here. A Jew in a mosque, his hands palpably quivering but his reedy voice steady, he read some brief comments to close the afternoon’s worship service, called Juma’a. Mr. Bender offered both hope and censure, twinned: Muslims and Jews could still be “partners for peace and justice,” he said. Israel and Hamas bore shared responsibility for the current carnage, he added, and more hatred would lead to more violence, while love would lead to reconciliation.

Thank You

CAIR-Philadelphia Collage

Dear Friends and Supporters of CAIR-Philadelphia, Asalaam Alaykum. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who donated this Ramadan to CAIR-Philadelphia. Your generous contributions will enable us to continue serving the Delaware Valley Muslim community…

Director’s Desk, August 6, 2014

CAIR-Philadelphia Collage

In our last Newsletter, I reported on the opening of a photo exhibit at Philadelphia International Airport on the history of civil rights in Philadelphia at which Mayor Michael Nutter spoke both about CAIR and my own role as Executive Director. See video of Mayor Nutter's remarks...