Last Friday, we celebrated Avi Schaefer’s life at our Interfaith Shabbat. We welcomed our co-hosts, the Muslim Student Association (MSA), into our home at Hillel. Throughout the night, we hosted about 53 people. We all enjoyed chicken and tofu stir fry with rice and vegetables on the side, cooked by members of both Hillel and MSA.
Before dinner, we all introduced ourselves and explained our favorite traditions from our religions. We all got to know a little bit more about different traditions each faith has and we got to learn a little bit more about how they may differ from person to person. We also did a few prayers from Judaism and Islam that people chose to share with the group.
It was an amazing night filled with great discussion and meeting new people from the two different student organizations. Before leaving, MSA’s president, Lamine Kane, said that while we are all together now and enjoying each other’s presence, we shouldn’t let these new relationships end tonight. We should take these relationships outside of Hillel’s walls and onto campus and the outside world. “In a time where our country seems so split, it is so important to look out for each other and to build community,” said Kane.
