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.

UP student Sarielle Luger (l) stands with Tanya Reza, Director of Muslim American Society's Youth division in New York, who spoke to the UP students at Heschel about the challenges Muslim youth in the United States face today in seeking to balance their religious and American identities. Tanya spoke from personal experience about difficulties she encountered during her college years, experiences that have led her to work with and on behalf of other Muslim youth in New York.

Dr. Shaykh Ibrahim Adbul-Malik, who teaches religion courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University, presented to the Unity Program students on comparing sacred texts from Judaism and Islam. He discussed the similarities and differences between the Muslim and Jewish views about the figures of Sarah and Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac. Shaykh Ibrahim also explained how Islam relates to other figures who preceded Muhammad, including many Hebrew prophets, as prophets of Islam.

Hebrew Union College rabbinical student Joseph Skloot spoke to the Al-Iman students about being a fourth-generation Reform Jewish rabbinical student and about his family's experience being a part of the denomination. He also taught a lesson on the various other Denominations/Movements within Judaism, giving an introduction to the similarities and differences between them. The students enjoyed hearing him read from the Talmud and his perspective on interfaith dialogue.