Archive for the ‘Youth’ Category

By: Rabbi Sarah Bassin 

When I first began working with NewGround, I expected that the most significant obstacle that I would face in strengthening Muslim-Jewish relations would be apathy- that people just wouldn’t understand why it matters if Jews and Muslims in Los Angeles get along.  But it seems as though my concern was misplaced, especially among millennials.

On two separate occasions, I was approached by leaders in the Jewish community who said that high school students came to them wanting to connect with the Muslim community.  So I reached out to your beloved Soha Yassine.  After one meeting, we had the basic outline for the Muslim-Jewish High School Leadership Council and it must have been pretty compelling because just about every religious leader we called to get on board jumped at the opportunity.  The project has practically launched itself.

What will this council do?  I’ll spare you the details but here’s the gist:  the council brings Muslim and Jewish high school leaders together to put their religious values into action.  Too often when people think of Muslims and Jews, they think of what drives them apart.  They don’t think of how both our communities have built organizations to respond to the most pressing social issues of our time: hunger, discrimination, homelessness, education, etc.  They don’t think of the similar religious values that drive us to engage in this work.  They don’t think of the fact we’re all Angelenos.

The Council is designed to change what people think when they hear “Muslim-Jewish” –  not Israel/Palestine, not medieval Spain, not funny hats, not hummus and falafel, but partners with a shared vision for what our Los Angeles community ought to look like.  Intrigued?  Find out more on Facebook and our website- www.muslimjewishleadership.org.    

By: Khtija Khair 

By: Maha Kamel 

The deep aroma of Persian food in the air in the midst of laughter and conversation. It was the image of da’wa. It was a Friday afternoon and the Granada Hills Charter High School MSA was holding its First Annual Eid Banquet, inviting students from various high schools to gather and enjoy a night of laughter, food, communication, and most importantly, exchange. The banquet was just another chance to create an atmosphere for Muslims and non Muslims to feel comfortable. It was a place were once entered all stereotypes were left at the door, a place just like our very own Muslim Youth Group (MYG).

The night was a success. alhamdulillah. The MSA was so blessed to have the Islamic Center of Southern California’s own youth coordinator to serve as an inspiration for a group, as Soha Yassine was the keynote speaker for the evening. I’ve never felt more proud to be apart of such an amazing support community.

By: Wasi Momin 

There was a feeling of familiarity in the air as I stepped through those double doors.  It was to mark the beginning of another one of many successful MYG years. With all the amazing memories of the previous year now behind us, it was time to do it yet once again. This year we had the support of  our talented, skilled, and most eager Youth Coordinator, Soha Yassine, who had hit the ground running from day 1.

Many new faces were present, many of whom I had never seen before, many faces I had, and many I don’t see very often. There were also those who had moved on, who I will miss dearly. In total, over 130 parents and youth were in attendance. The program began with a very packed MYG room. Dr. Maher Hathout spoke to the parents and youth of the humble beginnings of this Youth Group nearly 40 years ago: its mission, the ideas and morals it represents, and his joy for what it has become. The Board of the MYG was introduced and this was followed by a small introduction by Jihad and Soha informing us of new opportunities, developments, and  overview of the year. MIT (Muslim Intellectual Training) Coordinator, Yusif Lee, also spoke about the youth program for kids grades 6-8.

The parents were then asked to leave as the youth program began. They met separately where they formed a the Youth Group Parent’s Circle. This circle consists of more than 40 parents who meet weekly to discuss how they can support the vision and goals of MYG and MIT. We started with laughs and a little bit of fun as we acknowledged the accomplishments of MYG members and “brushed off their shoulders.” We then shifted  to a somewhat more serious tone to look at our topic of discussion for the day: Shahadah, the MYG theme of the month. We examined it in a deeper light, which engaged the minds of the youth present.

The ICSC to me is much like a second home, and the MYG a place where I have found myself, received endless knowledge, and made bonds that will hopefully last a lifetime. We’re set to make some real magic happen this year. To all my MYG peeps out there: what it do?

By: Wasi Momin 

Ramadan. I spend every year in anticipation for it, eager for it to arrive. And when it comes, it just seems to fly by. And when it has passed, I’m wondering where it went. They say that good things don’t last forever. I try to take with me for the rest of my life the little bit of goodness I take from it every year.

The Islamic Center hosts a pre-Ramadan banquet every year, which is titled, “Ramadan: A Time of Renewal.” The word, “renewal,” sums up Ramadan to me pretty well. Ramadan to me is a time of renewal of spirituality, family, a sense of community, belonging, and most importantly, of faith. Going through about our lives, we seem to compromise with our faith at times. This may mean to not do things that we know we’re supposed to and do some things that we know we’re not.

I feel sometimes that we neglect ourselves, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Ramadan is a perfect time for me to reconnect with myself and God. It’s a time of spiritual healing. It is also, however, a time to grow spiritually, to grow in faith, and to become a better person. The Quran says that the purpose of fasting is to attain taqwa, God-consciousness/awareness of God. That for me is the essence of faith. Muslims all over the world during this time of the month fast and pray diligently to grow in spirituality, in faith, to become better people, in the Cause of God. Ramadan for me is a blessing from God, Alhamdulillah.

–Reposted from spr.org/news

Aug. 29, 2011 | KPCC

Thousands of Muslims will gather at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Tuesday morning to kick off Eid al-Fitr, a three-day celebration that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

In many parts of the world Muslims rely on the new moon to determine the end of the holy holiday, but Jihad Turk of the Islamic Center of Southern California says most Muslims in North America and Western Europe use astronomical calculations instead.

He called the calculations very precise and said, “We actually have a couple of our members who work at JPL, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, who are astronomers and so we’ve had numerous conference calls with them over the last several years to determine exactly when the start and end of each month is.”

Muslims commemorate Ramadan by engaging in prayer and dawn-to-dusk fasting. Turk says Eid al-Fitr is a chance for Muslims to get together with family and celebrate after 29 days of intense spiritual discipline.

Video interview:

Click here to view the full article.

By: Soha Yassine, MYG Coordinator 

Click here to View KCRW’s Photos from the interview. 

By: Maha Kamel 

A quiet moment of reflection during the MYG Youth Night

I felt the tears fall upon my cheeks as I turned left and right to end my prayer. I had just finished a prayer that would not only change my entire mindset but that simply touched my soul. That blessed night I attended a youth group qiyam and as a part of the program Jihad Turk led us in a prayer in both Arabic and English. I entered the prayer like any other but left it with a determination to strengthen my relationship with Allah.

As the prayer began, I placed my hands over one another and listened to the Al-Fatiha being recited, but as the English translation began I felt something change in me. The words didn’t enter through my right ear out my left, rather they entered and touching my soul and sending tears down my cheeks.

I asked myself why was this prayer so special? But all I could think of was how I was standing amongst such a beautiful Umma pushing away all the opportunities God sent my way. I knew exiting that prayer that my priorities were set and my faith would be strengthened from that moment on.

I knew at that moment on my knees before Allah, amongst the members of my umma, tears down my face, with the words of salam in my ears that I was a Muslim.

MYG is a place I never thought I would end up loving. It’s more than just lectures our parents drag us to every Sunday, in fact it has become a family to me as well as for others within the group. It teaches us everything from morals to gender relations. It has taught me how to apply my religion on a daily basis while taking into consideration that I am an American-Muslim, who sometimes struggles when it comes to balancing my Muslim and American identity.

This year, MYG is planning on making our group more spiritual than it was before. Our goal is to not only make our Muslim relationships stronger, but to build our relationships with Allah (SWT) stronger. The group is here to make us love one another for the sake of Allah (SWT) and to help us better connect and understand our struggles as young Muslim Americans. For example, the group is having a 1-week summer program “A Young Muslim’s Guide to Surviving Ramadan” starting July 26 for middle school kids and August 2 for high schoolers and college students (don’t miss it!).

Some of the events we have had in the past will continue to happen in the upcoming year, such as: our Ski Trip in Big Bear, Spiritual Nights at the ICSC, our Annual Summer Retreat, as well as many different community service activities throughout the year. These events are the main events that many “MYG-ers” look forward to attending every year, however, we are also planning other exciting events so we can create new traditions to look forward to.

MYG wants to attract new members so that more kids can join the big loving family we have here at the ICSC. I’m sad that MYG will resume after summer vacation, but I am looking forward to a new year with new additions to the family. And, most importantly, I’m excited to see what the new board has in store for us!

For additional information, visit www.MYG.org as well as the “MYG at the ICSC” Facebook page.