Cincy Multifaith Calendar

Multifaith educational tool

Interfaith Collaboration Grants

InterfaithCincy, in partnership with A Blessing to One Another, is offering Interfaith Community Engagement Grants. Any Faith community or any faith-based youth group that partners with a faith community or youth group from another faith tradition to work on a community engagement project can apply. To view the grant application, please click here. For Information and application form contact Dr. James Buchanan at A Blessing to One Another at interfaithcincy@gmail.com.

Volunteering Opportunities

Ohioans For Gun Safety- Needs Your Help

More Opportunities >>

Sacred Connections Creates Opportunities to Build Community Across Faiths

By Katie Sellers

On May 24th the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, Chùa Bảo Lâm – Jeweled Forest Monastery, hosted guests from faith communities around Cincinnati. Fifteen guests attended the event, which included a presentation on Buddhist teachings, communal prayer led by a Buddhist monk, a tour of the Chùa Bảo Lâm gardens and temple, refreshments, and Q&A with Aruni Marapane, a Buddhist chaplain. This was the third of four such programs planned so far in 2023 through Sacred Connections, a program under the Festival of Faiths that organizes diverse religious groups to host an in-person event at their place of worship. The Sacred Connections program began in 2019 and has been hosted by dozens of faith communities around the Great Cincinnati region. Previous events this year have been hosted by the Cincinnati Friends Meeting and Congregation Beth Adam. Each one of these events incorporates opportunity to learn, pray, converse, and break bread together.

As a first-time participant in the Sacred Connections program, I was struck by the ecology of Chùa Bảo Lâm and the hospitality of its members. I’m a member of a Roman Catholic parish and am accustomed to spiritual spaces that are often constructed indoors. The Buddhist Monastery grounds, however, included both an indoor temple—with space for meditation, communal meals, and a monastic residence—as well as an outdoor garden—with blooming flowers, flowing water, sculptures of sacred figures, and places to sit and gather. Not only were we welcomed into these beautiful spaces, but our questions were welcomed, as we learned about the symbols, rituals, beliefs, and communal practices typical of this faith community. After a short presentation and prayer service inside the temple, accompanied by several members of the community, we were taken on a tour of the grounds, where we saw numerous of Vietnamese sculptures, and learned about their symbolic meaning within the faith tradition.

We also learned about the wider Buddhist community of Cincinnati, which includes more than a dozen places of worship, many created and sustained by Cincinnati’s Asian diaspora. We ended our evening sharing conversation as we enjoyed vegetarian refreshments, a practice that made me, a longtime vegetarian, feel especially at home. This practice, we learned, is typical of Chùa Bảo Lâm, which, following weekly prayer services, regularly shares a vegetarian meal together, often using produce grown on the grounds of the Monastery.

If you would like to learn more about the diverse tapestry of Cincinnati’s faith communities, I would strongly encourage you to participate in a Sacred Connections program. All are welcome, and attendance is free. Simply register in advance. The next event is being hosted on June 11th by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. More information can be found on the Equasion website.

Opinion: Hate Crimes and the Invisibility of Sikhs in America

By: Navkiran Chima

This opinionated-editorial was adapted from a speech given by Navkiran Chima, founder and President of Miami University’s Sikh Student Association, at the Candlelight Vigil on April 22nd for the victims of the FedEx hate crime / mass shooting in Indianapolis, IN held at the SEAL on Miami University’s campus.

A link to an article covering the vigil can be found here: https://www.fox19.com/2021/04/22/miami-u-students-hold-vigil-sikh-lives-lost-indy-shooting/

The news of the shooting in Indianapolis was heartbreaking and infuriating. Gun violence is a repeated and unchanging problem in our country. The xenophobic, racist, and targeted nature of this shooting was an act of hate and white supremacy, but furthermore it was one against my community and my identity. My family and I are always potential victims.

It feels like we are in a vicious cycle of anti-Asian hate crimes and racist police brutality. The deaths of Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, George Floyd, and Ma’Khia Bryant were all products of systemic racism. The murder of eight people in this mass shooting, four of them Sikh, is a product of hate. When are we able to catch our breath? When does the disregard for black and brown bodies end? When will the proliferation of hate cease? It is devastating that we as a nation have become numb to these crimes due to their recurrent nature.

The news that this mass shooting was a racist hate crime did not come as a shock. How can I be shocked when the history of Sikhs is riddled with ignorance and violence against us? From our fight for justice against the Mughals in the 1500s and 1600s and the execution of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji to Sri Guru Hargobind Ji’s call for the release of Hindu prisoners; from Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Chaar Sahibzaade, and the creation of the Khalsa Panth’s great sacrifices in the fight for religious freedom to anti-colonization efforts in South Asia; from serving in the World Wars for the U.S. and the U.K. to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre 102 years ago on Vaisakhi; from the bloodshed during the 1947 Panjab Partition to Gandhi’s broken promise of an independent state for Sikhs; from the Green Revolution of the 1960s, which led to exponential farmer suicides and cancer rates to the Genocide of 1984 and the human rights violations of the 1990s during the struggle for Khalistan; from post- 9/11 when our strength in displaying our articles of faith made us victims of escalating Islamophobic hate crimes to the mass shooting and hate crime at a Gurdwara in Oak Creek, WI in 2012; finally, from the farmer protests that continue in India today to this very moment, Sikhs have been fighting for ourselves and others.

Yet the world still does not know that Sikhs are a people who want the world to be more just, equal, and loving. We have struggled against oppression since our founding Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, renounced the practice of sati (widow-burning) and the caste system to fight against the patriarchy and societal oppression of South Asia in the 1400s. Students at my university have “no idea” what Sikhi is, yet we are the fifth largest religion in the world. If they do know us, they do not know how to say our name correctly (often pronouncing it “seekism”). Yet, following our faith’s values of charity, we continue to come to the aid of Americans and others, whose government does not provide adequate resources for its own people, even during a pandemic. We continue to provide care for others facing injustice, yet we are not granted the simplest respect of pronouncing our name correctly.

I do not write this out of resentment or anger, but rather to encourage mutual understanding and respect, which is necessary to create a better, more just world. Educating others about diversity helps confront ignorance towards your fellow Americans and human beings. The principles of Sikhi -social justice, equality, charity, and love for humanity- equip us to respond to and eradicate the hate and injustice which threatens our identities and communities.

I keep the victims of this atrocious crime with me in my heart and my ardaas (daily prayer). I stand with the families of the victims, those who ask to be heard and demand action, and the constitutional right of freedom to practice religion without fear of violence. I stand against hate, violence, white supremacy, xenophobia, and injustice which fails to recognize and appreciate my community as fellow Americans. I stand for equality and love for all. I hope you all will stand with me.

Largest day of multifaith climate protests presses governments, banks to end fossil fuel funding

Church bells rang and ceremonial gongs clanged in demonstrations around the globe Thursday as faith groups called for governments and financial institutions to take 10 specific steps to accelerate action on climate change, including an immediate end to support for fossil fuel and activities that cause deforestation.

More than 400 events were held in 42 countries as part of the multifaith day of action, called “Sacred People, Sacred Earth.” It was the first major initiative organized by the recently formed GreenFaith International Network, a partnership of faith organizations in 14 countries coordinated by the U.S.-based GreenFaith environmental coalition.

Organizers called “Sacred People, Sacred Earth” the largest single day of faith-based mobilization for action on climate change to date.

Continue Reading…

Springfield Hindu community plans prayer event for peace

Springfield Hindu community members will combine with the Hindu Temple of Dayton this weekend in using spiritual means to promote positive feelings during overwhelming times.

The livestream program “Vedic Prayers & Meditation for Peace, Healing & Welfare for All” will be 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 through Zoom. The program is open to everyone and RSVPs are requested.

With several previous community events organized by the Springfield Hindu members, Dr. Ravi Khanna found this another opportunity to continue bringing positivity locally along with the larger Dayton area.

“There is so much going on. People are anxious with the pandemic, job losses, hunger, homelessness. We will be chanting for peace through prayer, for healing and to show unity to the community,” he said.

Continue Reading…

Patriot Front posts propaganda on Xavier’s Premises

White supremacist group vandalizes banner, leaves stickers
BY HUNTER ELLIS AND CHLOE SALVESON, MANAGING MULTIMEDIA EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

Xavier Police (XUPD) and the Bias Action Response Team (BART) are investigating the vandalism of a “Black Lives Matter” banner displayed in front of Bellarmine Chapel, and stickers promoting the White nationalist group Patriot Front were found posted across campus earlier today. The vandalism on campus happened concurrently with an admissions event at which many prospective students toured Xavier.

An XU Alert Me message sent this evening alerted students of the vandalism and stickers, specifying that there is no evidence at this time to indicate that the stickers were placed by a member of the Xavier community. Part of the message read: “Xavier is aware that material from a group that advocates extremist ideologies (were found on campus)… and that a Black Lives Matter sign was vandalized… XUPD has removed the material and is investigating the situation. Hate has no home in the Xavier community.”

The banner, which read “Racism is a Sin: Black Lives Matter” has allegedly been sliced twice with an unspecified object, before it was taken down by XUPD on Saturday afternoon.

Continue Reading…

WINCS Interfaith Prayer for Peace

WINCS INTERFAITH PRAYER FOR PEACE – Compiled by Judie

Let us gather today in prayer for peace… Oooommmm shanti, shanti, shanti. Creator of the Universe, fill our hearts with peace. Give us that divine spark to make us a channel of your peace.  

For peace in our own homes, it is said that making peace between two people is more precious than prayers and fasting. Ameen

For peace between neighbors, we are told to love our neighbors as thy self.  Amen

For peace in our community, our cities and country, we are told by the prophets to welcome the stranger and to be our brother’s keeper. Shalom.

Let us know peace. For as long as the moon shall rise, for as long as the rivers shall flow, for as long as the sun shall shine, for as long as the grass shall grow, Let us know peace says our Cheyenne Natives.

For peace in our world, it is said that we are like a link, Golden Chain of Love that stretches around the world. Keep our link bright and strong. Namaste.

God adjudges us according to our deeds, not the coat that we wear: that truth is above everything, but higher still is truthful living. Know that we attaineth God when we loveth, and only that victory endures in consequences of which no one is defeated.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Om lokoh samastah sukhino bhavantu.

May all beings everywhere be happy and free.

Good day, As salamu alaykum, Shalom aleikhem, Sat shri akal, Namaste

World Refugee Day Cup & RefugeeConnect

On June 4th, the Junior League of Cincinnati, along with the support of several area sponsors, hosted a soccer tournament for refugees at Withrow High School. The program was intended to build stronger community ties and raise awareness to the over 25,000 refugees living in the tri-state area. RefugeeConnect was created out of a need for a collaborative effort to welcome, provide support and services to those who have had to leave their country. By educating our community about the refugee experience, Cincinnati can become a more active and loving neighbor. The mission of RefugeeConnect is “to improve the lives of refugees in Cincinnati, to foster community acceptance and inclusion, and to construct a sustainable support system.” To find our more, see https://www.jlcincinnati.org/community/current-projects/refugee-connect/

GO Cincinnati: Building Up Our Community by April Hoak

“May the challenges in the ecumenical journey encourage us to know each other better, pray together and unite in works of charity.” ~Pope Francis

Dear Family, Friends, and Neighbors,

This past Saturday was an invaluable opportunity to come together with Crossroads Church to make the community of Cincinnati a little bit better. We, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati partnered with other christian organizations in serving agencies all over Cincinnati that live out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Thank you to all my family, friends, and neighbors who joined us in volunteering to be God’s love to our community.

St Susanna’s Parish project was at St Joseph School and Parish on Ezzard Charles. We spruced up the landscaping, spread mulch, planted flowers, and made new friends! And of course God is good! The early morning rain softened the soil making weed pulling and planting of flowers easier, then just as we arrived the clouds parted. We stayed dry and were able to complete our project.

Peace & Gratitude,
April Hoak

Bringing out the Voices of the Cincinnati Immigrants and Refugees – Heartfelt Tidbits by Judie Kuhlman

Heartfelt Tidbits

Why should we listen to stories of immigrants and refugees? Just visit www.hearfelttidbits.com and you will learn. This vibrant community website focuses on the voices and stories of immigrants and refugees who now call Cincinnati their home. Their stories give us important insights to the places that they once called their home. Their stories of survival and determination can change our indifference by helping us become agents of change. They teach us why we need to be aware of the injustices that persist in our world. Their voices bring their world into our world making it one. Their stories are stories of survival from economic hardships to persecution and ethnic cleansing. Heartfelt Tidbits gives power to voices that may have never been heard, so please listen to them.

‘Heartfelt Tidbits is a 100% volunteer-based organization that provides support and services refugees need during and beyond the initial days of resettlement, in order to become truly settled in our city. Heartfelt Tidbits serves both immigrants and refugees, and many of the recent refugees Heartfelt Tidbits work with come from the tiny country of Bhutan. The purpose of www.heartfelttidbits.com is to share Cincinnati’s refugee and immigrant stories with the community.’

Why Jews should Honor Black History Month: Sermon given on Feb. 5 by Student Rabbi Leslee Estrada

This week my friend sent me a video from back in 2014 which is being circulated around again as we enter February, which we all know is designated in the US as Black History Month. In honor of the Month’s celebration, Saturday Night Live cast members Jay Pharoah, Sasheer Zamata, and Kenan Thompson released a skit. Posing as students in a class, they sang a song that offered 28 reasons to hug a black guy today. Reason number one: they deserve a chance. Reasons two through 28: slavery. SNL’s skit was very funny and very powerful. And, in light of this week’s Torah and Haftarah portions about slavery (Exodus 21 and Jeremiah 34, respectively), in light of the fact that we’re just starting February, I was inspired to come up with a list as to why I, as a Jew, want to participate in Black History Month, and why I think all of us should. To keep my list a reasonable length, I came up with my top 5 reasons.

Number 5: Jews participated in slavery in America.

In the mid-19th century, Rabbi David Einhorn stood at the pulpit of Har Sinai in Baltimore and gave a sermon to his congregation, many of whom were slave owners and slavery supporters. In this sermon our Reform forefather proclaimed that slavery should be abolished, and explained why it was immoral, and why as Jews we should stand against it. The sermon, as you can probably imagine, received a great deal of negative response: congregants walked out, congregants disagreed, congregants complained. But Rabbi Einhorn remained quiet all week, listening to the words of his congregants, until the next Shabbat arrived, when he once again stood at the pulpit. That week, he gave a stronger sermon as to why he identified as an abolitionist and why his congregation should as well. He began his sermon with these words: “It seems I was not clear last week.” And what happened? Congregants walked out, congregants disagreed, congregants complained. A week went by, and the next week, he stood at the pulpit for a third time and said “I apologize for my last two sermons. Apparently I have not been clear,” after which he gave one of the strongest Jewish sermons ever recorded against slavery.[1]

This anecdote shows us that some Jews were staunchly against slavery, while others were pro-slavery. The historical record shows that during the Civil War, Jews fought for both the North and the South. As many as 4 thousand Jews bore arms for the Confederacy, which would have protected the institution of slavery. The members of southern Jewry who owned slaves or otherwise benefited from the slave trade were able to because…

Number 4:  Ashkenazi Jews, who are genetically descended from a long line of other Ashkenazic Jews, look very white, and along with other light-skinned ethnic Jews and Jews by Choice, we benefit from white privilege in America.

Here’s why I think so:

1. Jews look like every other American. I look like every other white American woman, and get treated as such when I’m out in public. That means everyone around me assumes from my looks that I am a member of that majority group. I don’t feel the experience of racism. The prejudice that I’ve experienced first-hand has been sexism, but NOT racism.

2. While Jews face economic and social difficulties like everyone else does, many Ashkenazic Jews benefit greatly from the social status attained due to the fact that they look like all other white people. Here’s one example: during the 1950s, Jews were part of the migration of (white) Americans into suburbia. Some settled together into Jewish neighborhoods, and many didn’t, and all around they became integrated into the larger suburban establishment. They joined country clubs and rotary clubs; socialized at block parties and barbecues; sent their kids to the same schools and after-school activities as all the other kids. And those who couldn’t participate in ANY of this? Blacks. Hispanics. Asians. Any other minority group who is regularly discriminated against because of their looks. I know that I personally have benefited greatly from the social and financial status I inherited from my parents, who in turn benefited from white privilege to be able to get a better education, get ahead in business, get better mortgages, etc.

I would never dream of discounting antisemitism or the continuous persecution that Jews have faced throughout history. But the antisemitism in America has largely consisted of prejudice against Judaism as a religion, not as a race. And I know that because of my skin, I benefit from the system that is rigged to benefit me every step of the way. While my skin tone is shared by the majority of Jews in America, we must remember that…

Number 3: Many Jews aren’t white! 

Studies show that 20% of Jews in America are either non-Ashkenazi or non-white. More and more Jews from black, latino, and Asian descent are gaining visibility in the Jewish community. In the last decade, Hebrew Union College has ordained the first female Asian-American rabbi, Angela Buchdall of New York, and the first female African American rabbi, Alysa Stanton of Ohio. As rates of intermarriage and conversion rise, so too do we see more Jews of color in congregations. Other Jews of color became Jews through adoption. Rabbi Kelly Gludt adopted her son Romi as a baby from Asia, and he dazzled the congregation his mother served with his charming smile and zeal for our tradition, for his tradition. In American Judaism we even have several predominantly black congregations. Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago has 200 members. We must remember our fellows Jews of color, and recognize that…

Number 2: Black History Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate the best of black history and culture.

“All too often, only the most negative aspects of African American culture and communities get highlighted. We hear about the poverty rates, incarceration rates, and high school drop out rates. We are inundated with images of unruly athletes and raunchy reality TV stars as paradigms of success for Black people.” And we are daily subject to unfair stereotypes and assumptions from a culture that is, in some aspects, still learning to accept people of color among a white majority culture.

We should be careful not to talk about all Black people as in need our help or rescue. I listened to a sermon recently by an Orthodox rabbi who went off in this sermon about the absence of the black father. This rabbi completely othered the American black community, and any Jews of color among his congregation, as he painted a highly nuanced issue with a very broad brush that he had little business using in the first place. 

Black History Month provides the chance to focus on different aspects of the African American narrative. “We can applaud Madam C.J. Walker as the first self-made female millionaire in the U.S. We can let our eyes flit across the verses of poetry Phyllis Wheatley, the first African American poet and woman to publish a book. And we can groove to soulful jazz and somber blues music composed by the likes of Miles Davis and Robert Johnson. Black History Month [encourages] us to seek out and lift up the best in African American accomplishments.”

Number 1: Black History Month gives us the opportunity to honor our history.

Author Jemar Tisby writes, “It pains me to see people overlooking Black History Month because Black history –just like Hispanic, Asian, European, and Native history–belongs to all of us. Black and White, men and women, young and old.  The impact African Americans have made on this country is part of our collective consciousness. Contemplating Black history draws people of every race into the grand and diverse story of this nation.”[2] As Americans, as advocates for pluralism and multiculturalism, as Jews, we should take time this month of February to celebrate the history of our brethren. Jews are pros at celebrating history, right?

[1] https://islandrabbi.wordpress.com/2015/10/10/erev-shabbat-sermon-10-9-15-may-i-only-give-this-sermon-once/

[2] https://www.raanetwork.org/5-reasons-you-should-celebrate-black-history-month/