About:
In the world of terrorism and extremism, the image of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim relations has been portrayed as volatile and irreconcilable. However, the many positive and lost stories of reconciliation, rescue, and religious roots have been buried by extremist agendas and media. How is the Holocaust connected to Muslims? Why is this significant in creating a bridge of understanding between Jews and Muslims? How can we acknowledge one another’s narratives of suffering at different times in history? Dr. Afridi will shed light on these aspects at a challenging time for religious dialogue and healing. She will discuss the common and shared biblical stories of Jews, Christians, and Muslims; how these relate to the stories of rescue during the Holocaust; and innovative interfaith projects that have brought these traditions together.
Speaker:
DR. MEHNAZ M. AFRIDI
Dr. Mehnaz M. Afridi is an associate professor of religious studies and director of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan College. She teaches a variety of courses on Islam, world religions, genocide studies, gender, and Arab and Israeli literature. Her articles have appeared in books such as: Sacred Tropes: Tanakh, New Testament, and Quran as Literature and Culture and Not Your Father’s Anti-Semitism: Hatred of the Jews in the 21st Century. She is the co-editor of Orhan Pamuk and Global Literature: Existentialism and Politics and author of her recent book, Shoah Through Muslim Eyes. Dr. Afridi is also very active in interfaith initiatives both nationally and internationally.