Sarah Margles, Education Officer for American Jewish World Service ended the Guest Speaker Series for the 2007-08 Unity Program. She spoke about her work experiences for a Jewish agency which focuses on global issues and support in the developing world. Sarah also presented her personal experiences with individuals in both Jewish and Muslim communities abroad and locally relating it to her inner growth and mission.

Mark Rosenblum, History professor at Queens College and founder and political director of Americans for Peace Now visited Al-Iman to speak about his involvement in numerous Middle East conflict resolution initiatives. The students enjoyed hearing about the courses offered through his program in which Jewish, Muslim and Christian students act as the 'other' to develop peace making strategies.

Jo Hirschmann, Rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College spoke to the Al-Iman students about her experience as a Jewish female in the Reform tradition. She presented an activity which provided Biblical text depicting women and their roles in early Judaism as significant to the faith. The students thoroughly enjoyed hearing her unique perspective.

Dr. Ivry, professor emeritus of Hebrew and Judaic Studies and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at NYU spoke to the Al-Iman students about comparative sacred text, specifically referencing the Joseph narrative common to both Islamic and Jewish faith. His research interests include medieval Jewish and Muslim philosophy, as well as medieval philosophy, the history of philosophy and modern Jewish thought.

The final guest speaker of the year for the Unity Program at Heschel, Ambassador Azmat Hassan (center) spoke about the role of diplomacy in Muslim-Jewish relations and in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. His thirty years of foreign service included postings as Ambassador of Pakistan to Malaysia, Syria and Morocco, and as Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York. In Fall 2000 he joined the Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall University, where UP Director Houda Abadi (right) studied with him. On the left is UP Co-Educator Andy Shugerman.