"Celebrating Our Diversity, Building Bridges
and Working Together" Dinner
At Dar-El Dawah Mosque, Astoria Queens
March 10, 2006

Amid the ongoing global tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims, the Muslim American Society hosted a dinner to promote cooperation across religious communities to help reverse the trend towards verbal and physical violence. As part of the program, the Muslim American Society honored two organizations - the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding (a secular, non-sectarian group) and the Sacred Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou (a Greek Orthodox monastery in Astoria).

New York City Councilmen Leroy Comrie Jr., , John Liu, Hiram Monserrate, Peter Vallone were in attendance, along with NYS Senator’s John Sabini, George Onorato and NYS Assemblyman Bill Scarborough, in order to lend their support to the Muslim community and to help promote interfaith cooperation among the City's religious leaders and interfaith groups.

In addition to the President of the Dar-El Dawah Mosque (Ahmed Jamil), Imam Shamsi Ali of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York (96th Street Mosque) was present. The 96th Street Mosque, based in Manhattan's Upper Eastside, is the largest mosque serving NYC Muslims.

The Muslim American Society honored the Tanenbaum Center for its support of NYS Muslim students who were forced to decide between observing one of their holiest days, Eid al-Adha, and taking a mandatory statewide exam scheduled for that same day (Jan. 10, 2006). Although the tests did go on as scheduled, the Muslim American Society and Tanenbaum Center are hopeful that after this year's experience, the State will endeavor to accommodate the religious commitments of one of New York's largest religious minorities.

Saint Irene's was acknowledged for building bridges between Astoria's Greek Orthodox and Muslim communities; Astoria is a bustling hub of Greek and Muslim immigrants.

This was a great event Bringing the Muslim,Jewish and Christian Communities together and saying it is okay to work together and respect each other ,and each others religion’s, Council Member John Liu Said it Best,We live in New York The Capital of The World,and we have to respect every and anybody who lives in this great city.

Other Guests who also were in attendance were, Georgette F.Bennett, Ph.D.President Tanenbaum Centre, Chet Szarejko, Chair Polish American Congress, Morshed Alam ,Commissioner NYC Voter Assistance Commission, Imam Ashraf uz Zaman Khan, of Al Hera Islamic Institute Inc, Debbie Almontaser, Mulicultural Education Specailist/Consultant , Wael Mousfar, President Arab Muslim American Federation, Wasim Wasir,Executive Director, CAIR-NY and Attorney Omar T. Mohammedi.

We at Liberty News Online Magazine like to thank Yasmin Hamidi The Publicist for the event,who did an outstanding job, for more information about the organizations feel free to view the website at www.tanenbaum.org











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