Rhythm of Church and Life in the Sleepy Town of Suddlersville,Maryland… with Vicar Loretta Collins

Mary Godfrey’s twin granddaughters

It is my last week in Suddlersville Maryland and I am chatting with Mary Godfrey. ‘I hope you got your sweater,’ she says as we head out to church. ‘I always carry mine because sometimes the air conditioning is too cold and I like it warm!’ I burst out laughing, ‘Same here,’ and hurry back to the house to grab a sweater. Although I appreciate the beauty of winter wonderland and winter fashion; I like it warm too, naturally, as I am from the tropics! 

Mary Godfrey is a petite Caucasian lady in her 80’s and still active. She drives herself around most of the time and works on the Godfrey’s farm in Maryland which has been their family enterprise over some decades now.

Mary picks me up for church whenever we have service at St Luke’s Episcopal, Church hill. Whenever I travel for some time, I love to attend a local church. It’s one of the easiest ways to feel at home as a Christian. It also gives me the opportunity to appreciate how large and diverse the body of Christ (the church) is.

On this bright May Sunday afternoon, we go to the farm’s seasonal grocery where I get to buy some vegetables for my last week in town. This had been my home for 3 months as I worked on a project with a whole house to myself, courtesy of a dear friend. Later, we sit down where I get to enjoy a treat of freshly made Godfrey’s farm ice cream as I have a chat with Mary Godfrey.

fresh Ice cream at Godfrey’s farm

Suddlersville is a quiet little town located in Maryland. It’s one of those towns where everybody seems to know or be aware of each other. As we ‘take the ice cream flight’, we chat about different things going on in our world today. Mary Godfrey has been a member of St Luke’s Episcopal Church for most of her life. She gives me insight about how folk from across the river would come in boats to attend service at St Luke’s church, centuries back. That’s hard to tell because presently the church is somewhat fenced off from the river across. St Luke’s Episcopal church is currently composed of mostly elderly members and it is a delight when a new face or younger people join Church. I can imagine it was interesting for them that an African female seemingly appeared from nowhere to join in the fellowship.  As the Covid pandemic raged on, in person services had ceased until earlier in the year when vaccinations began. When Spring set in, it was allowed to have in person services with the use of masks.

On my first Sunday in attendance at the church I stare across the pews in wonder at the contrast. I am used to having a crowd of reasonable, large and very large sizes attending church services most of my life in Kenya, East Africa. It hasn’t been any different for most of my stay in the US, on the East Coast but not in this little town. There’s more…

Mary Godfrey lets me know that this particular congregation has been through worse times ….There was a time when the church had been shut and was used as a horse stable, she says. Presently, there’s just enough finances to keep it going with lights and other basic amenities. On this particular Sunday, those in attendance are delighted to have a young girl in her teens- a visiting granddaughter to someone – playing the organ.

It is at St Andrew’s church, which is part of St Luke’s Episcopal that I met Loretta Collins, the vicar. She gave me a warm welcome and I got to enjoy services over a few weeks. Loretta Collins is the vicar of St Luke’s Episcopal Church which consists of two locations, Church Hill, the main location I have been speaking about; and the smaller St Andrew’s Chapel building which was a walking distance from where I was residing.

St Luke’s Parish Maryland, Vicar: Loretta Collins

Over the weeks I did feel warmer in the midst of brethren and made some friends among them like Sandy Hartman, a widow in her seventies as well, who picked me up for church when I didn’t ride with Mary Godfrey.

My weekends were filled with such fun as my host Dezah Cruz, who lives in nearby New Jersey, drove into town with her large African American family and we went on drives, shopped and ate together with warm conversations. Dezah Cruz who loves African music said she felt the rhythm in Nathaniel Bassey’s song, Halleluya Amen. Dekyah, her sister, would actually get up to dance! As I concluded my visit, Loretta Collins acceded to my request for an interview and shed some light into the church at Suddlersville as well as her personal journey. Here is the full interview below:

Who is Loretta Collins?

I was born into a Mennonite (Anabaptist) family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Church was a focal point in our family for not only worship, but also social life.  Church and faith were such an integral part of life that I never considered not being a part of it.  College and graduate school led to a 30-year career as a school psychologist in public schools. Throughout this time, I participated in lay ministries in churches.

Marriage to Patrick, who grew up in the Roman Catholic church, brought a new challenge to us.  We resolved to find a church family where we could worship together.  After a few years and visits to various churches, we found a home in the Episcopal Church.  My experiences there, including a visit to a diaconal ordination, renewed my call to use my gifts of leadership in service in the church. I was ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church in October 2010 in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

Tell me the unique aspects of Anglican /Episcopal tradition of worship within the Christian faith.

St. Luke’s Parish is part of the Episcopal Church USA and is a member of the larger worldwide Anglican communion. We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church as the structure for our liturgy.

Worship in the Episcopal Church is about ‘Call and Response’ and ‘Practice for Life’.  Each time we gather, we hear God’s word (the Call) and we read psalms, sing hymns, pray for others, confess our short-comings and forgive each other (the Response).  In our liturgy, when we respond, we are practicing for how we are to live our lives.  We should read from the Bible every day; we should offer thanks to God on a regular basis; we should pray for the needs of others and we should work for justice.  Worship is the key to living as a follower of Jesus because it opens the door to experiencing the world and life in a way that focuses on loving God and loving each other.

Please give me a brief history on how you felt the call to become vicar at St Luke’s.

My husband Patrick, a priest in the Episcopal Church, was called to serve on the eastern shore of Maryland in the Diocese of Easton. We moved here about five years ago. I met with our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Santosh Marray, to discuss where I might serve. It was Bishop Marray’s decision to invite me to serve as the vicar at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Chapel and St Luke’s Episcopal Church. I have now been serving there for almost four years.

Tell me more about St Luke’s Parish.

St. Andrew’s Chapel, where we first met, along with St. Luke’s Church, make up St. Luke’s Parish. We are one congregation, two houses of worship. St. Luke’s Church is located in Church Hill, Maryland; St. Andrew’s Chapel is located about 10 miles away in Sudlersville, Maryland. St. Andrew’s has traditionally been primarily a farming community. That has changed over the last 50 years as farms are larger and fewer. The church community is made up of persons of various occupations.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Chapel is a historic Episcopal chapel located in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, built as a chapel of ease for St. Luke’s Church which had been established earlier in 1728. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

The Chapel was built as a small Carpenter Gothic-style structure, constructed in 1878. It is divided into two principal parts: a large rectangular sanctuary with a steeply pitched gable roof, and a slightly smaller but similarly proportioned chancel. The entry features a wide Gothic-arched double doorway with a steep gable roof. The sanctuary has stained glass windows on the first floor, and a circular stained glass rose window in the upper gable.

Do you think the church in America is in decline?

That is a very big question. There are folks better trained than I who study church history and who follow the data and could answer this question more accurately. My humble opinion is that to answer that question we have to define church. If we define church as bodies of believers who identify as Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and so on; in the United States of America, then those numbers as a whole are declining. If we define church as followers of Christ around the world, then there is no formal way to track that information. There is information that suggests that the body of Christ is growing and thriving around the world, perhaps just not in the traditional way we have thought about church in the last few centuries.

Considering that your congregation consists of older citizens with established families, do you think something could’ve gone wrong in passing the baton to the younger generation in cases such as this?

There are many faithful church leaders who ponder that question. I do not know of anyone who has the answer to that. I imagine the answer is multi-layered and complex. Perhaps the Protestant denominations became too complacent, too comfortable in society over the last decades. Perhaps we have not stayed true enough to the way of Jesus. Theologian Phyllis Tickle has an interesting theory about this. She has studied church history and suggests that about every 500 years the Christian church has gone through a time of challenge and questioning. About 500 years ago was the Reformation and now, about 500 years later, the church is again in a time of challenge. It is important that we don’t lose hope but continue to teach Jesus’ way of love.

What are your hopes and dreams in your calling?

In the Episcopal Church, it is the Bishop who plans calls for deacons, based on where the needs are. I am enjoying my work with the folks at St. Luke’s Parish. The Bishop will decide when he believes it is time for me to share my gifts elsewhere. In the meantime, I hope to continue to be able to offer some hope and inspiration and to encourage each person to demonstrate the love and healing of Christ in their corner of the world.

What are St Andrew’s hopes and dreams as a parish and congregation?

The congregation of St. Andrew’s, as part of St. Luke’s Parish, has memories of a full church. Many of the older members fondly remember full pews and children’s programs and Sunday School. One of their dreams is to increase membership again and in doing so, show the love of Christ and offer hope in our towns and county.

Below: St Luke’s Parish Church Hill, My morning and evening view

You Don’t Want to Miss Black History Month Celebrations!

Highland Vibes Steel Pan Band @Manalapan Library

February is Black History Month in the U.S. and I am privileged to be here for some time and to interact in a deeper way with communities and specifically, in this month of February, the African American community.

Whether one is an African who has emigrated to America for work or study reasons or whether one is African American brought here from the 17^th century slavery period, by virtue of the colour of our skin and every other similarity we have, except that of our history, when you come to America as an African; you are joined to the identity of African Americans. Because of their triumph against slavery and for equality, we enjoy the freedoms we have today.

Black History Month is a month with a lot of meaningful and joyful activities as the dark history of slavery is remembered and the price of freedom even as the milestones achieved by African Americans are celebrated as a central part of history. On this month, there is Civil Rights Day ,Martin Luther King day as well as the very meaningful commemoration of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, two deeply beloved figures of history  among those who opposed slavery.

And so among many events, there is a Black History Music Celebration being held at Manalapan Library in New Jersey, Monmouth County  on February 3rd highlighting the contribution of African Americans in the arts, especially music.

We attend this function on a Saturday afternoon and unmistakably in the presentations there is a focus on the African drums which I know and understand well and what they represent. However, this is where I come across the steel pan- a musical instrument that has evolved from the 1930’s to what it is today.   Originating from Trinidad and Tobago, the instrument was developed as a result of the black slaves being denied the chance to participate in the French carnivals by the French in the 1700’s and coming up with their own. In 1834 after emancipation of slaves, the African carnivals became more colourful with the incorporation of drums but even that was banned by the British in 1881. The use of sticks was retained but outlawed as well in 1934.

It is in these circumstances that the steel drum came into being as a new instrument in the 20^th Century. The steel pan was created out of rusty discarded steel drums and through hammered dents onto the steel surface, different musical notes resulted.

Among the performers today at the music event in New Jersey is a band known as Highland Vibes consisting of four young men specialising in the steel pan. They play about four pieces of their music and it is a lovely sound.

The event is well attended and family oriented as parents mingle with children. Amidst all this, it is admirable how parents ensure their children are educated on their history, culture and faith as well as equipped with confidence for the future in the multicultural setting that American society is, with its challenges.

On yet another event during the Black History Month Celebrations is a Christian event held at Monmouth Worship Center. Another striking expression of creativity on this afternoon is the art of step dancing that is part of the African American heritage, similar to the body movements of the Lady Smith Black Mambazo band who used to slap their bodies, clap their hands and also do the gumboot dance.

Yasmine, Mimose,Dolly and Bernie, organisers of Black History Month at Monmouth Worship Center

 

Celebration at MWC

Within the context of African American history, step dancing became especially useful when the African Americans were denied the use of instruments by their slave masters and therefore used their bodies as instruments to add onto the creativity of their expression. The gumboot dance on the other hand developed in the mines of South Africa, once again because of the oppression in the mines during the apartheid and colonial period, where the miners first used it as a codified means of communication through tapping their wellington boots; popularly known as gumboots.

Isn’t it remarkable that these two very similar forms of dance expression are tied to oppression as far as the African American community and the South Africans are concerned.

The event at Monmouth Worship Center is a luncheon celebration and I must say the soul food is amazing and I am deeply enjoying this African American thing, understanding and appreciating them more!  So if you live in the U.S.A or when next you visit in February,please remember to check out among the variety of events commemorating Black History Month and join in the celebration.

When all is said and done it is important to note that as the African American community grows stronger that no matter what colour we are, the church is one body in Jesus Christ and it is Christ that sets us free from the yoke of bondage. It is He that breaks the bonds of the oppressor.

And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke… (Ezekiel 34:27)

Banner indicating the Celebrations at MWC- Monmouth Worship Center

 

Won’t you go to our face book page here:  https://www.facebook.com/Belief-Magazine-197600063593331/     and enjoy clips of these two rich artistic forms?

 

 

One More Way to Celebrate Christmas- Rangoli Art with Ananya Nayak

My friend Ananya Nayak, is an artist and recently she created quite a bit of artistic designs  that caught my eye and so I have shared some of the patterns below.

 

Rangoli  is an art originating in India in which patterns are created on the floor in living rooms or courtyards using materials such as coloured rice, dry flour, coloured sand or flower petals for the purpose of decoration, and it is thought to bring good luck.

Ananya began drawing when she was a little girl and today she is an artist and graphic designer. Due to the easy access to materials,Rangoli is an art form carried out by both rich and poor. And it is passed down within a family. The background is usually a clear floor or wall.

Ananya Nayak  (right) and Chandan Kumar Giri, her husband(left)

Here below is more of Ananya Nayak’s beautiful Rangoli art which she did recently during the Diwali celebrations. As Christmas approaches, the holiday season may as well be made colourful using this art form which Christians in India practice as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below are images of Christmas Rangoli art, one more way to celebrate Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OH! tidings of comfort and joy,India

Source: OH! tidings of comfort and joy,India

OH! tidings of comfort and joy,India

Gifty(far left,Gracie,Sheila,Blessie,Apeksha,Sarah)

Christmas was beckoning. It was hot as usual in the port city of Mumbai.

Having arrived in India a few months before December for studies, I had just made a prayer some nights before asking the Lord Jesus that I may meet some Christian colleagues to create friendship and fellowship.

About two days later, suddenly; there she was.

A girl in a leg cast who I felt drawn to attended class and I learned that she had had an accident just as I joined the class, having been admitted late and so we missed each other.

Her name was Gifty and she had this smile and as we chatted with others outside the department. We got talking and made that divine connection instantly. Yet another girl who grew to be a close friend joined us, Apeksha.

We were about to break Masters degree classes for the Christmas holiday and being fairly new in India which is predominantly Hindu and Muslim, I wondered how Christmas would turn out.

In our conversation, Gifty was reaching out to Apeksha, who is Hindu, inviting her for her first Christmas experience and to my surprise; she gracefully extended that invitation to me and thus began a beautiful relationship with Gifty and her family.

I boarded a train on 24th December and met Apeksha,my new friend at her home train station in Thane,Mumbai and we boarded a bus to Vasai; where Gifty’s home was.

 

To those who may not be born again Christians (those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal saviour) Christmas sounds like a fairy tale. A heavenly king taking on earthly form and choosing to be born through a humble, poor, maiden from the lineage of David; an ancient Israel ruler. This incarnated King chooses to be born in a stable among oxen because there was no room for him elsewhere instead of the finest place, for example the best hospital in our days. And eventually this king will lead an extraordinary public life, without sin, for 3 years and die at 33 years of age, taking away the sins of the world.

During Christmas, we focus on his birth and celebrate it and later on in the first quarter of the New Year we commemorate the seemingly tragic yet victorious side of the story that is: Easter.

Christmas therefore is filled with singing and going to church, choirs, pageants, gathering of families for meals and celebration; new clothes and a lot of sharing with the poor, giving of gifts to friends and family and yes, the beautiful decorations. This constitutes the Christmas tradition across the world. There are also Christmas movies mostly based on the winter season. The feeling is surely magical. We from the tropical places like Africa and India don’t have snow but nevertheless, we enjoy.

 

And so we arrived at Gifty’s house, and meet a most gracious Christian family originally from Kerala, a Southern state of India, belonging to the Malayalam speaking community. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is said to have come into India through the apostle Thomas through Southern India and so Christianity has more adherents in the South. After the introductions, we get to interact and as the evening sets in it becomes clear that the Holy Spirit has arrangements for us to sing together this Christmas. Therefore Gifty, her cousins and some other members of her church begin rehearsing Christmas carols for the service to be held later on that evening.

Apeksha enjoys the music and this new experience. She goes on to share her sentiments and wonder that  Gifty’s cousins, I and others know the same songs and have a connection that is instant. I  am also marveling inside that yes indeed, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is the same no matter where you go on this earth. When one meets a genuine body of believers in God, in many ways, one is at home. And I am reminded of God’s faithfulness that He will take care of us and that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Gifty’s grandparents and I

We continue with activities on this two day visit with Gifty and her family and Gifty’s dad especially explains the story of Christmas from the gospel of Jesus Christ to Apeksha from a perspective she can understand well, in bits and pieces which begins to unravel the Christmas puzzle as it may have seemed to her. ( Matthew Chapters 1,2)

At this time my palate has began getting accustomed to the delicious Indian cuisine mostly with spicy chilli flavoured food. And so when the time comes for us to leave we are grateful, enchanted and blessed for the invitation.

Essentially, the Christmas experience is indeed a tale of the greatest love and the greatest price paid for love and this is the love of God for his creation, man.( Genesis 1:26-28; John 3:16) The love of Jesus is truly the greatest experience I have in my life as a Christian and it is available for anyone who chooses to believe in Him. And so for me it was a wonderful experience to join in celebrating the birth of a universal King, Jesus Christ who came to earth as a Jew and who in actual reality is Almighty God, during that year  in India. Jesus Christ is indeed the reason and the Spirit behind Christmas. I have shared the clip of our singing right here on  Belief Magazine Facebook homepage . Join in and enjoy!

A horseman and carriage in Colaba, Mumbai

 

 

 

 

Deep Thoughts with Dr Isaac Lubelsky on History and the Problem of Genocide

Sheila: Shalom Dr Lubelsky, Good afternoon!
Dr Lubelsky: Hello Sheila!
Dear readers we are privileged to interview Dr Isaac Lubelsky who is a lecturer at the Open University of Israel. Dr Lubelsky is a scholar of History and is currently teaching Genocide studies as one of his courses at the Open University.

Sheila: Tell us a little more about yourself, where you grew up.
Dr Lubelsky: I was born in Haifa, on the Carmel mountain, Israel, have lived for several years in Tel Aviv, and currently reside in Herzlia, a small town near Tel Aviv.

Sheila: Besides being a history professor, you are a talented classical pianist as well which is remarkable. What role does music play in your life and who are some of your favourite musicians?

Dr Lubelsky: Well, I would consider myself an amateur. I love music and guess that a list of my favourites would last forever. J.S. Bach is certainly my favourite composer and I enjoy playing his music on my piano. I like jazz a lot and naturally rock music, which was dominant in my childhood and teenage years’ life soundtrack.

Sheila: I understand that you have also studied Theosophy, conducting your research in India. What exactly is theosophy? And why India?
Dr Lubelsky: I have written a large scale study about the history of the Theosophical Society, which was very popular in the USA, Europe and India during the last quarter of the 19th century till the 1930’s. The society was founded by Madame Blavatsky, and became crucially involved with the foundation of the Indian national movement, which owes it a lot.

Sheila:Yes indeed,Jawaharlal Nehru,India’s first prime minister was a theosophy enthusiast for some time. How about your family life? Are you married?
Dr Lubelsky: I was married for 16 years.
Sheila: Any kids?
Dr Lubelsky: I have three kids, Michael (17), Shira (15) and David (9).
Sheila: Dr Lubelsky as you may know, Belief is a religious forum among other things..would you mind telling us a little about your religious conviction? Since you are in fact Jewish,(am I right?) could you be Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or even Hassidic? Or maybe Christian, Agnostic?
Dr Lubelsky: I would define myself a non-practicing Jew. I’m Jewish by nationality. My grandparents were religious, but I grew up in a secular environment, in which tradition was respected.

Sheila: Why do you think an increasing number of Jewish people are increasingly Agnostic compared to people of other faiths and identities?
Dr Lubelsky: I don’t really think that this is the case in hand, Sheila. As much as I understand, this depends mostly on geography. For example, most of the Western Christian Europeans declare themselves atheists nowadays, where their fellow Eastern Europeans witness an ever growing popularity in terms of Christian faith, some 25 years after the collapse of the communist system. In Israel you would find a stable, although steadily growing number of Jewish and Muslim believers. However, you should bear in mind that the state of Israel was founded by the Zionist movement, which was fundamentally secular, progressive and modern in its views. However, religious people are absolutely free to practice their religion in Israel, whatever religion that may be.

Sheila: Dr Lubelsky, I got to meet you during the course on Genocide studies which you have conducted for a number of years now at the Open University of Israel. Why Genocide studies?
Dr Lubelsky: I first became interested in the Holocaust during my twenties, in my history BA studies, but eventually decided to take another direction in my research, since I found it too morbid back then. As the years went by, I found myself once again busy with questions which have troubled me since I was very young, mostly questions regarding the good and evil nature of mankind, the common source of racism in various societies and eras, etc. Therefore my natural interest in the field of genocide studies.

Sheila: For how long have you taught the course?
Dr Lubelsky: The Genocide course was originally developed by Prof. Yair Auron of the Open University of Israel. I have become in charge of it four years ago.

Sheila: I understand that this course is quite popular at the Open University of Israel and yet it is an elective course. Why do you think this is the case?
Dr Lubelsky: The are two main reasons for that: the first has to do with the fact that young Israelis know relatively a lot about the Holocaust, but almost nothing about other cases of genocide. The second lies with the fact that our course gives a wide historical view on various periods of time, cultures, continents and ethnic groups. It is perhaps strange to say that we scarcely deal with actual violence, but rather deal with the cultural and historical background of the various cases we present to the students. The combination of these two reasons makes the course extremely interesting, but all together a moving experience for anyone who studies it.

Sheila: What is the worst reaction on forums between various participants and to the subject matter so far both within campus and online?
Dr Lubelsky: We sometimes witness negative reactions, which are, I’m sorry to say, usually typical to people who are not aware of genocide cases other then the Jewish Holocaust. However, this is not usually the case, since my feeling is that most of the students are deeply moved by the contents of the course.

Sheila: Professor Yair Auron dedicated most of his life to genocide studies and has especially done remarkable work on the Armenian genocide for example. What inspiration do you draw from this great figure having worked closely with him and what do you admire about him? Apart from Professor Yair Auron, are there any other scholars in this field who you look up to and credit with the advancement of genocide studies as well?
Dr Lubelsky: Prof. Yair Auron is a close colleague and friend. He is definitely the most important genocide scholar to have worked so far in Israel. There are other distinguished scholars who have worked alongside Yair, out of which I admire the most Yisrael Charny, a former American Jew, who has been living in Israel for most of his life. Unfortunately, the current genocide studies scene seems to lack scholars like these two, but I would guess that this is a matter of the Zeitgeist in many other research fields in the Humanities and social sciences, which tend to promote narrow-scale research during the past few decades.

Sheila: As advocated by Professor Yair Auron, it is important to teach in your schools in Israel not only the occurrence and impact of the holocaust but other genocides as well to avoid isolating the lessons that must be learnt in these studies. How do you think this inclusive approach will enable the children understand and relate better in their own society and elsewhere?
Dr. Lubelsky: I find this notion quite crucial, not only for Israeli kids, but for any other schooling system. I believe that teenagers who are exposed to various genocide cases would grow up to become better people, more liberal and tolerant, and definitely less xenophobic.

Sheila: Any positive feedback from students who have done this course and engaged in community?
Dr Lubelsky: We receive quite a lot of positive feedbacks from graduating student in each and every semester. Many of them claim that the course has changed the way they think, no less than that.

Sheila: We discussed the role of the U.N convention on genocide and if the U.N has been effective at all in its role both to prevent and punish crimes of genocide and found that the body has not been effective in its role. In your opinion, what hotspots in our world today should the U.N have its eye on as far as genocide or the possibility thereof is concerned?
Dr Lubelsky: Unfortunately there’s never a dull moment in regards to acts of genocide. Right now, the Yazidies are been butchered by ISIL in Iraq and no one seems to really care. I could go on and on, but the picture is clear. Unless you are military strong, or economically significant, no one, including the UN, would come to your aid in case of genocide.

Sheila: Recently there have been increased reports of racism in Israel, especially against Ethiopian Jews and African immigrants. How best do you think Israel can handle its race issues and improve relations with Ethiopian Jews and other African immigrant groups especially considering the fact that Jewish people have themselves experienced a lot of persecution from other peoples in the form of anti-Semitism?
Dr Lubelsky: The examples you have mentioned seem to prove that even victims of genocide may become intolerant in terms of racism or xenophobia. The case of the Ethiopian Jews is in my opinion not a definite case of racism, and I do believe that it is a matter of time until the Ethiopian Jews would become a genuine part of the Israeli society. In regard to African refugees and immigrants, this is a serious case of xenophobia and needs to be seriously taken care of by the authorities, which until now have treated it quite badly, in my opinion. Since Israel is geographically the nearest democracy to Sudan (where most of the refugees and immigrants come from) it has been a desired destination for immigration. However, the Israeli government is not capable of, or perhaps even worse, is not interested in helping these people. In my opinion, this calls for an international effort which perhaps will succeed in what the Israeli government has failed to do so far: providing the refugees and immigrants a humane solution.

Sheila: There’s the universality of the human race expressed in this course and the human nature at its worst has been highlighted. On a personal note, as an African, when we learnt the details of the slaughter of Indian tribes across the Americas to become what it is today as well as the gypsy genocide I was one again amazed at how much blood has been shed in the name of race and nationalism. This reiteration of history and racial aggression somehow dulled my view of the high moral demands by Western Nations on Africa and its issues with human rights and corruption for example. Do you think these aspects of history contribute to the hardening of the leadership in Africa especially when called to account not by their own people but by Western powers?
Dr Lubelsky: I am certain that the not that far history of Africa, which was dominated by the colonialist Western Empires of France, Great Britain, Belgium, and others, ought to leave traces and scars in nowadays African independent countries. One should bear in mind that these foreign powers have destroyed large parts of the local cultures they occupied, and that these cultures need to heal from this brutal phase before being able to become peaceful and fully democratic. However, I believe that despite this horrific history, Africans should be responsible themselves for the changes they wish to fulfill. Therefore, When I hear of a massacre or even of a genocide in Africa, I always remember that the predators cannot blame anyone but themselves for what they do.

Sheila: What is your opinion on the Iran Nuclear deal being negotiated by the U.S Obama administration? What are the positive and negative elements?
Do you think it may result in another genocide, specifically against Israel, if Iran concludes this deal with world powers?
Dr Lubelsky: I certainly hope that these fears would never become an actual reality. My impression of President Obama is that he’s a very intelligent person who genuinely tries to change the world we are living in and make it a better place. If I would be an American, I would be proud to have him as my president. Since I’m not, I can only wish that the Iranians and Israelis alike would become less hostile towards each other. I do believe that in this case, the people of Iran and Israel are driven to hostility by their governments, and that this hostility is based mostly on political propaganda, rather than on actual justified causes.

Sheila: When is the next class being held? Any final remarks?
Dr Lubelsky: We intend to open another online genocide course during the coming academic year. I hope to meet interesting people as yourself in this upcoming course, which is the perfect example to the benefits of modern technology, which helps to bring together people who live in great distance from each other.

Sheila: Thank you Dr Lubelsky, it has been a pleasure interviewing you.

A Different Breed of Muslims?

Mrs Khalid on the left-lecturer and restauranteur,Sheila and another guest

The elders give us a talk

 

 

 

 
While still in New Mexico, we had the privilege of visiting the Islamic Cultural Centre in Albuquerque. We had earlier met Mr Besheer Mohammed, in Washington D.C a Muslim and research associate at the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life who also gave a very informative review of the activities of the Centre and the statistics then of the various religions practiced within the U.S.A. Today, some of these figures stand at 70.6% who identify as Christians, 22.8 % unaffiliated with any religion, 2%Jewish and 1% Islamic.

During this tour, we were meeting a different breed of Muslims. These are Muslims who do consider the unspoken principle of Nationality as sacred as far as is possible, within their practices. They are therefore proud to be citizens of the U.S.A against the general outlook more radical Muslims have of the West.
This sense of belonging as well as the law of the land, of course, automatically excludes militant Islam which is synonymous with the Middle East and lately, sections of Africa. The American Muslim therefore cannot include calls for jihad in the Jumah sermons or any form of radicalisation.
The American Muslim will also not engage in open polygamy because it is outlawed there not just among Muslims but the society as a whole including the Mormon community which is rumoured to have elements of polygamy.
We were allowed into the mosque and the moment we entered, those of the Islamic faith among us were as excited as possible and quickly went into the ablution rooms to wash their feet in order to enter the mosque. They did proceed into the mosque as we waited and even after they were done, the Imam was still not present. However, our able guides had made a phone call immediately we had arrived and the imam had sent a representative to handle our session and an invite to an evening meal at a restaurant owned by one of the Muslims in the community.
Meanwhile Monia, the linguist interpreter of French and English and -the leader of the travelling interpreters and tour managers -was also touched by this particular mosque and she had gone upstairs to the women’s section for a breath of fresh air with another linguist. Monia, as you may recall in a previous post, is Tunisian and was born and studied there before becoming an American citizen. Some gentlemen came in and we gladly answered their inquiry as to where we were from. To my delight and suspicion, one of the young men was a Somali- I could tell from the looks- but he previously lived in Kenya before moving to the United States. Suddenly we were like old friends as we reverted to Kiswahili which we speak here as the national language, referring to Nairobi as ‘Nairoberry!’
We exchanged titbits about home’ for he expressed a deep love for Kenya and the welcome that has been extended to the refugee Somali community over the years, even though a section of Somalis are Kenyan. He expressed sadness about the crackdowns on the community that had began after escalation of militant Islam activities within Kenyan borders culminating in Kenya Defence Forces going into Somalia in 2011.
Shortly after this interaction, the representative sent by the Imam came in and we were allowed to get in and listen to him as he spoke about the history of the mosque and the Muslim community within their reach. The Muslim community in New Mexico began meeting in the early 70’s at the University of New Mexico Chapel. The first mosque was built and opened in 1986 and in 2006 an expanded center was opened to meet the needs of the growing community. Most of the members were immigrants from the Middle East and now naturalised American citizens. The gentleman spoke of their leaving big and better homes that they had in their native countries for better education and life opportunities. They also migrated for a more stable and peaceful environment. One of the key goals of the Islamic Cultural Center was ‘To promote friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims and enhance awareness and understanding of Islam’ which was an interesting aspect to our group since inter-religious harmony was a concern for each of us.
We left the centre having learnt a little more about the community in the area. Later, in the evening we went to dinner hosted by the Kenyan Imam Shafi Nyayi Aziz at a Restaurant owned by a Mr Khalid and his wife. I had been privileged to trace a colleague and friend, Ms Consolata Nthemba Mutua. We had worked together back at Oxford University Press and she was now completing her PHD thesis at the University of New Mexico. As we gathered at dinner, Imam Shafi welcomed us warmly. The invite at the mosque had indicated that he was very eager to meet us all and especially his fellow Kenyan. It was a very special moment indeed when he immediately looked for his fellow Kenyan among the delegates which happened to be me and even better with my colleague Consolata. Of course we briefly conferred in Swahili. Our Muslim colleagues were especially impressed by the outlook and philosophy of the imam as well as our hosts.
Unfortunately, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict popped up again at dinner and it became especially emotional and uncomfortable for our guide Ms Monia Chehata who left the discussion for the hotel. Some aspects of this tour were proving to be quite emotional for all of us. I had myself been in tears at the airport in Los Angeles due to a flight delay that had lasted 24 hours and a mix up of only my flight details when I was already on board and had to disembark!

Mrs Khalid was very passionate and repeatedly referred to sections of what is known as Israel today like Haifa and Jerusalem as Palestine. My friend Consolata did agree with her point of view and being a lecturer as well, they exchanged contacts as we took pictures and completed a very beautiful evening.
While still in New Mexico, we had the privilege of visiting the Islamic Cultural Centre in Albuquerque. We had earlier met Mr Besheer Mohammed, in Washington D.C a Muslim and research associate at the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life who also gave a very informative review of the activities of the Centre and the statistics then of the various religions practiced within the U.S.A. Today, some of these figures stand at 70.6% who identify as Christians, 22.8 % unaffiliated with any religion, 2%Jewish and 1% Islamic.

During this tour, we were meeting a different breed of Muslims. These are Muslims who do consider the unspoken principle of Nationality as sacred as far as is possible, within their practices. They are therefore proud to be citizens of the U.S.A against the general outlook more radical Muslims have of the West.

This sense of belonging as well as the law of the land, of course, automatically excludes militant Islam which is synonymous with the Middle East and lately, sections of Africa. The American Muslim therefore cannot include calls for jihad in the Jummah sermons or any form of radicalisation.

The American Muslim will also not engage in open polygamy because it is outlawed there not just among Muslims but the society as a whole including the Mormon community which is rumoured to have elements of polygamy.

We were allowed into the mosque and the moment we entered, those of the Islamic faith among us were as excited as possible and quickly went into the ablution rooms to wash their feet in order to enter the mosque. They did proceed into the mosque as we waited and even after they were done, the Imam was still not present. However, our able guides had made a phone call immediately we had arrived and the imam had sent a representative to handle our session and an invite to an evening meal at a restaurant owned by one of the Muslims in the community.

Meanwhile Monia, the linguist interpreter of French and English and -the leader of the travelling interpreters and tour managers -was also touched by this particular mosque and she had gone upstairs to the women’s section for a breath of fresh air with another linguist. Monia, as you may recall in a previous post, is Tunisian and was born and studied there before becoming an American citizen. Some gentlemen came in and we gladly answered their inquiry as to where we were from. To my delight and suspicion, one of the young men was a Somali- I could tell from the looks- but he previously lived in Kenya before moving to the United States. Suddenly we were like old friends as we reverted to Kiswahili which we speak here as the national language, referring to Nairobi as ‘Nairoberry!’

We exchanged titbits about home’ for he expressed a deep love for Kenya and the welcome that has been extended to the refugee Somali community over the years, even though a section of Somalis are Kenyan. He expressed sadness about the crackdowns on the community that had began after escalation of militant Islam activities within Kenyan borders culminating in Kenya Defence Forces going into Somalia in 2011.

Imam Shafi Nyayi Aziz,Sheila and Consolata on the right.

Shortly after this interaction, the representative sent by the Imam came in and we were allowed to get in and listen to him as he spoke about the history of the mosque and the Muslim community within their reach. The Muslim community in New Mexico began meeting in the early 70’s at the University of New Mexico Chapel. The first mosque was built and opened in 1986 and in 2006 an expanded center was opened to meet the needs of the growing community. Most of the members were immigrants from the Middle East and now naturalised American citizens. The gentleman spoke of their leaving big and better homes that they had in their native countries for better education and life opportunities. They also migrated for a more stable and peaceful environment. One of the key goals of the Islamic Cultural Center was ‘To promote friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims and enhance awareness and understanding of Islam’ which was an interesting aspect to our group since inter-religious harmony was a concern for each of us.
We left the centre having learnt a little more about the community in the area. Later, in the evening we went to dinner hosted by the Kenyan Imam Shafi Nyayi Aziz at a Restaurant owned by a Mr Khalid and his wife. I had been privileged to trace a colleague and friend, Ms Consolata Nthemba Mutua. We had worked together back at Oxford University Press and she was now completing her PHD thesis at the University of New Mexico. As we gathered at dinner, Imam Shafi welcomed us warmly. The invite at the mosque had indicated that he was very eager to meet us all and especially his fellow Kenyan. It was a very special moment indeed when he immediately looked for his fellow Kenyan among the delegates which happened to be me and even better with my colleague Consolata. Of course we briefly conferred in Swahili. Our Muslim colleagues were especially impressed by the outlook and philosophy of the imam as well as our hosts.
Unfortunately, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict popped up again at dinner and it became especially emotional and uncomfortable for our guide Ms Monia Chehata who left the discussion for the hotel. Some aspects of this tour were proving to be quite emotional for all of us. I had myself been in tears at the airport in Los Angeles due to a flight delay that had lasted 24 hours and a mix up of only my flight details when I was already on board and had to disembark!

Mrs Khalid was very passionate and repeatedly referred to sections of what is known as Israel today like Haifa and Jerusalem as Palestine. My friend Consolata did agree with her point of view and being a lecturer as well, they exchanged contacts as we took pictures and completed a very beautiful evening.

the group photo

Heaven is for Real- read the interview and the journey of two Kenyan boys

Heaven is for Real- read the interview and the journey of two Kenyan boys.

We’ll never forget New Mexico and Our Subtle Homecoming at Congregation Albert

Wonderful concert at Congregation Albert.We all sang along BOTH Christian AND Muslim especially my brother Seth from Ghana and I

The State of Albuquerque in New Mexico was probably the most memorable state we visited. Most of us found our coordinating host Ms Carmen Martin, a retiree working with the Albuquerque council of visitors, exceptional. In Albuquerque, a local Hispanic family held a wonderful dinner for us, complete with dancing which was quite refreshing!

It is there too that we met our very own Kenyan Imam who made me, as a Kenyan, and the Muslims among us very proud. For us Christians, and eventually the Muslims too, the invitation from Congregation Albert to attend the Shabbat service at the synagogue was quite heart warming. Having attended one here in Kenya on a Saturday and having interacted with Judaism to a certain degree due to work and personal interest, I was quite honoured at the invite.

Judaism has many faces and there are various myths and beliefs both accurate and inaccurate that people believe about Judaism, its outlook and the present Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Synagogues are spread across America and wherever we went it was a common sight indicating a strong presence of a small yet flourishing community.We were especially lucky to be invited at a time when the synagogue was hosting the New Mexico State-wide Synagogue musician’s Shabbaton or concert.

Admittedly, the Muslims among us initially had butterflies about it, not knowing what to expect. My good friend Sheikh, the Imam and fellow East African from Ethiopia got cold feet and could not attend. I sat next to one of the translators we were traveling with whom we appreciate very much. She of Arabic, Tunisian descent had a lot of trouble staying put during the service. At one instance she muttered, “Why are Jews so cold?”

On entering the synagogue, we were seated and advised to take pictures during the preliminary moments as this would not be allowed during the service. We were also informed that there is usually no clapping after a song to appreciate the singing in a synagogue. I thought this was quite okay for then the focus squarely remains on God and does not shift to applauding the musicians.

Judaism is the oldest among the three monotheistic world religions and therefore, a lot of scriptural content and worship traditions both in Christianity and Islam are drawn from Judaism.

Jewish music would be incomplete without stringed instruments like the lyre, harp and presently violins and guitars. Within a few minutes the band was already playing very well. The members got seated in similar arrangement as in a church where men and women sit anywhere they wish and not separately, unlike my experience here in Kenya where women sat separate from the men. We are later informed that Judaism in America is quite progressive.

On the pulpit was the ark representing the ark of the covenant and a light known as Tamid or ‘eternal light’ which reminds all of the continuous presence of God and permanence of the Torah-the handwritten parchment scroll containing the five books of Moses. And how can I forget the glaring emblem and symbol of all Jewish people as well as Judaism adherents: the Star of David decorated both sides of the altar.

The service was divided into four parts: opening prayers consisting of Psalms of Praise and welcome of the Sabbath; Prayers surrounding the Sh’ma, a statement of faith in God; the Amidah or standing prayer which is a group of communal petition prayers and the Conclusion including prayers for a better world and an affirmation of God in remembrance of the departed.

We read several scriptures during the service, from right to left, as is the tradition with Hebrew. Some of the songs were pleasantly easy to follow and we found ourselves singing along. We would continue to sing two such exceptional songs that I and my colleague Seth Ibrahim Ayi of Ghana, a Muslim, recorded. Eventually, all of us had these as our sole music as we rode in the bus for the rest of our trip. Francois Paul Ramde, the gentleman from Burkina Faso would imitate a conductor as we listened and sang along.

At the close of the service, it was a solemn moment for congregants and ourselves as some death announcements were made. The heart breaking factor was not only in the deaths themselves but rather due to the fact that these members, who were away, had died as a result of the usual Palestinian-Israeli conflict: an attack at west bank.

Later, we had snacks served to celebrate a member’s birthday and a dinner as well.

At the beginning of the next week, we made another visit and had the privilege of engaging in a question and answer session with the Rabbi and we asked whether one could convert to Judaism and the answer was yes. Another question was as to whether Judaism was a separatist religion and if so why? According to the Rabbi Rosenfield, one is considered Jewish not as a result of ethnicity alone but as a result of following the teachings and traditions of Judaism. According to this Rabbi, a secular Jew would be considered more Jewish as opposed to a person who claims Jewish ethnicity and had converted to Christianity, for example. He also stated that Judaism is strictly monotheistic and in this particular respect, Judaism would identify more with Islam which is strictly monotheistic as well, unlike the aspect of the triune God or trinity in Christianity.

The synagogue runs a school. This enables the community to incorporate religious education, to inculcate religious values to the children as well as to teach Hebrew. This is only possible in a private school setting due to the separation of Church and State. However, any parent who may desire to enroll their child in the school, whether Jewish or not is welcome to do so. The recurring Israeli-Palestinian issue inevitably came up and in all wisdom, the Rabbi declined to handle the topic in order to avoid fiery argument or acrimony..

While one of the educators emphasised that Jews are an ethnicity, the Rabbi seemed to relegate this factor as not all important. This is probably true considering that Jews have quite a cocktail of heritages apart from their faith, having been scattered all over the world, prior to the reconstituting of the sovereign state of Israel in 1948. Undoubtedly, we had a mixture of sentiments at the close of our two encounters with the members and leadership of Congregation Albert. Nevertheless, for me, whose roots as a Christian inevitably lie in Judaism, it was a deep enriching personal experience.

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In the Quest to Understand the Concept of Separation between Church and State

In the Quest to Understand the Concept of Separation between Church and State

Washington D.C January 2013

In Kenya, the term separation between church and state is not usually a welcome statement in the public domain even though our present constitution now clearly states that Kenya is a secular state and that there is as a matter of fact separation between Church (read Religion) and State.
In the typical Kenyan layman’s domain of understanding, separation of church and state implies a godless government or society which is unacceptable to the Religious person. However, this is not necessarily accurate as I came to understand. I hereby share with you some aspects of the concept of separation between church and state as practised in America.
So here we were on a whirlwind, very enriching and insightful tour of the United States from January – February 2013.The theme we were exploring during the tour is ‘Tolerance and Interfaith Dialogue’.
I am in the company of 7 gentlemen- all devoutly Religious – 4 of whom are Muslim, including one imam: Sheikh Mohammed Omer Fetah from Ethiopia. Mr Mohammed Sani Manzo from Niger, is the Vice President of a private Islamic association known as ANASI. The other two Muslim gentlemen are Mr Seth Ayi, a producer of Muslim television programmes from Ghana and Mr Abasse Yekini from Cote D’Ivoire, also president of Young Muslims Association in his country. Mr Mehngoankeh Baymie, from Liberia and the only one whose faith isn’t quite classified as Abrahamic was the Liberian representative and Chairman of Bahai Youth of Liberia.
The other two gentlemen were Christians: Mr Francois Paul Ramde from Burkina Faso, a catholic and NGO co-ordinator and Director, Peace Center Dudal Jam and Mr Elly Terra an Evangelical Christian and president of the National Executive Committee of the Biblical Students of Mali.
So what was I, the only female and single, born again (read Evangelical) Christian lady doing in this unlikely company? I was honoured to be the Kenyan nominee of the International Visitors Leadership Programme run by the United States Embassy which highlights various themes. This was as a result of publishing a periodical magazine journal online and on print known as Belief whose clarion call was ‘Helping People Understand People’. Academically speaking, this effort is classified under Comparative Religion. As the editor, carrying out my duties had lead me to discussions with imams, pastors, priests and lay people of various faiths. The company of Religious people was therefore not strange to me. However, I must admit that as I read the list of delegates; being on tour with these people over a period of time in unfamiliar territory was quite a challenging thought.
On the other hand, I encouraged myself with Bible heroes like Paul who was a master of being all things to all people.(scripture) and Joseph who became the most powerful man in Egypt ,after pharaoh, even though he was a Hebrew stranger. How about Daniel? … The Bible is as intriguing a book as any; full of cultures and personalities whose activities were measured against a theocratic axis. ‘I’ll be okay,’ I said to myself and I was super excited. In many ways, America after all, is viewed as the greatest nation on the earth.
Our tour was to begin in Washington D.C, the federal district, separate from the States that serves as the capital and move on to Salt Lake City, the Mormon capital; over to Albuquerque

The African team- left to right: Sheila-Kenya, Francois-Burkina Faso; Baymie-Liberia;Seth-Ghana;Abasse-Cote D’Ivoire;Mohammed Omer-Ethiopia;Elly Terra-Mali;Sani Manzo-Niger (front)

New Mexico and finally end at Jacksonville Florida.
I digress, what then is separation between church and state, at least in the American context? Just what does it mean? Simply put it means that the United States of America is a secular state and has no preferred Religion. Founding fathers George Madison and Thomas Jefferson were the initial proponents of a ‘wall of separation between church and state’. The spirit of separation of church and State however goes hand in hand with the value of freedom of belief and the right of conscience that is fundamental to American society. The edict therefore seeks a government that is neutral but not hostile to Religion.
Every form of Religion is allowed equal opportunity and freedom to engage in worship and other social activities from an equal platform. To ensure that this very important aspect of the American constitution and society is adhered to; the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice was established in 1957 to handle matters of discrimination on whatever basis that is; gender, race, handicap, national origin and religion. In this department, there is a special counsel for Religious discrimination. The department ensures that
– Permits for building churches, mosques, synagogues and temples are issued indiscriminately upon application, by the county councils.
– There is no bias in public institutions towards any Religion rendering public institutions and spaces, a neutral zone. Today, prayer in public schools is therefore restricted to the students according to whatever faith they profess without teacher supervision. Public spaces like parks are also neutral spaces where Religious activity is prohibited; for example conducting faith meetings. These are conducted in hired private stadia or other arena.
– School curriculum consists of Religious education where the pupils and students are taught the factual fundamental truths espoused by the various world religions. There is therefore no exclusive teaching of C.R.E or I.R.E lessons in public schools unlike in our country Kenya.
– Religious NGO’s who receive government funds must hire employees from any faith even when different from the founding members’ faith and administer relief without evangelising their particular faith or carrying out faith activities with those receiving relief.
– Attacks on Religious institutions and other hate crimes are investigated and prosecuted. The courts have the final say in these disputes. For example, young Muslim girls are allowed to wear hijab freely in public schools and prohibiting those who wish to do so will result in a legal recourse. However, not the burqa or ninja type of hijab for identification purposes.

However, the separation between church and state is a double edged sword and has resulted in gains and losses for both the religious majority and the secular minority over the years. To the Christian majority, the restriction of prayer to students only, without the involvement of an adult in public schools is one such example as well as the increasing gay and lesbian as well as abortion rights. Rulings on cases that set precedence on areas of conflict shed light on interpretation of this principle.
However, some argue that separation between church and state still is the best way to go as it essentially protects the rights of religious institutions from state interference as they carry on with their religious duties, evangelism and advocacy. After all the concept of separation of Church and State arose as a measure of blocking interference by the Church of England in American denominations and governance whereby the Church of England increasingly sought to influence and control direction of state as well as church affairs in the United States of America.