Adult Mental Health First Aid Training,
To register fill out the form below and after you submit pay online. Space is limited to first 30 students! For more details please click here
For payment by credit card or Paypal account please use link below.
To register fill out the form below and after you submit pay online. Space is limited to first 30 students! For more details please click here
For payment by credit card or Paypal account please use link below.
On October 28th A vigil was held at Masjid-e-Ali to condemn killing of 11 innocent people at Life of Tree synagogue in Pittsburgh. Franklin reporter covered the event. Here is the write up for the event.
October 29, 2018
Masjid-e-Ali Mosque Hosts Vigil For Tree Of Life
Synagogue Shooting Victims
franklinreporter.com/masjid-e-ali-mosque-hosts-vigil-for-tree-of-life-synagogue-shooting-victims
Community members of all faiths packed the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane for a vigil in support of the Tree of Life Synagogue shootings.
Nearly 200 people gathered at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane Oct. 28 in a vigil
for the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shootings in Pennsylvania.
Organized by the Franklin Township Interfaith Council, the vigil featured comments from local politicians and faith leaders from throughout the township, state and Canada.
The vigil’s purpose was to “reaffirm our commitment to reject any form of hate, bigotry and
discrimination,” said Alex Kharazi, president of the Interfaith Council.
“We are here to let everyone know that an attack and hate toward any innocent American,
regardless of their faith or race, is an attack on all of us,” he said. “We are here to let our Jewish friends know, especially the families affected by the shooting yesterday, that we share
their pain.”
“We are scared,” Kharazi said. “Houses of worship used to be sanctuaries, a place of peace where one would go and pray and become closer to his or her creator. These days we have to put fences around houses of worship, we have to hire security guards and look at any stranger
with suspicious eyes.”
“Yet if any person wants to harm us, it appears he or she finds a way to do it,” he said.
“It is more important now than in any time in our recent history for us to come together to reject hate and bigotry in any form in public and in private,” he said. “We need to stand up for one another and fight for our shared values against hate and bigotry so that we can build a more peaceful, tolerant and united America for future generations.”
“We may be scared today, but together with love, respect and understanding we can make our nation a better place for our children,” he said.
“We’re all saddened by the tragedy in Pittsburgh,” Mayor Phil Kramer said. “Eleven people died for simply being Jews and gathering to pray.”
“It’s a breakdown in the fabric of civil society,” he said. “We live in an America where one can be the subject of violence because of their ethnicity, their religion, their gender identification or their civilly stated political views.”
“But we live in Franklin, and Franklin is an amazing place,” he said. “We are one of the most diverse communities in the entire country. We’re not just diverse, we do diversity well.”
Kramer praised the leaders in the mosque for working to bring together people of different faiths.
“I call on all of Franklin to follow their example,” he said. “If we fail, if we ignore the call, if we turn a blind eye, it can only get worse and Franklin may be next. But if we heed the call, if we follow the example of this mosque, if we stand up for good and right, and love and simple
decency, then Franklin can remain safe as an example of how to diversity well.”
A visibly angry Rabbi Eli Garfinkel of Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street said people such as
the man who killed 11 in the Pittsburgh temple are “ignorant losers, complete failures in life, dumber than a box of hair. Instead of looking to improve their lives, they look for someone to blame, and they always seem to find the Jews.”
“And when it’s not enough to blame the Jews, then they just get themselves a gun and start shooting,” he said.
“Each one of the innocent victims at Pitt Tree of Life Synagogue was a unique Jewish unique universe,” he said.
Garfinkel said mental health and gun control issues contribute to the violence, but there are other contributing factors.
“Those who want to murder, will find a way to murder,” he said. “Mental health and gun control
are the talking head points that you will hear over and over. But nobody is talking about the real issue. The real issue is ignorance.” “This ignorance generates lies, and so many people are telling such huge lies that we’re losing our social cohesion,” he said. “The lies spread and eat away at the bonds the connect one human to another. We have to attack this ignorance and replace it with truth.”
“If you’re not sure why you should care about what happened at the Tree of Life Synagogue, let
me explain it to you,” Garfinkel said. “The monsters who came after us, will eventually come after you or someone you care about. We Jews are the canary in the coal mine. Whatever tragedy befalls us will eventually end up at your front door.”
Garfinkel said that Americans have to be more proactive to defend against hate and violence.“When you hear a lie, you have to protest, otherwise the lie will grow and spread,” he said. “It is time for America to wake up. All of you in the room today are the alarm clock, and we are all the Tree of Life.” Hatred comes out of ignorance, the Rev. Sharon Culley of the Somerset Presbyterian Church mon John F. Kennedy Boulevard told the crowd. “We stand with you side by side in solidarity, we hook arms and we pray together, that we stay
together,” she said. “As long as there’s breath in my body, you are my brothers and my sisters” she said. “If they
do to you, they do to me.” “I pray for us that this madness will cease to exist, that God will rise up a group of people to
show that we are all made by God,” Culley said.
Also speaking were Muslim Imams from Piscataway, Newark and Canada, and Parvez Hamedani, the mosque’s president.
The Franklin Reporter & Advocate live-streamed the vigil:
It was also live streamed which can be seen at
https://www.facebook.com/franklinreporter https://www.facebook.com/franklinreporter
October 29, 2018
Masjid-e-Ali Mosque Hosts Vigil For Tree Of Life
Synagogue Shooting Victims
franklinreporter.com/masjid-e-ali-mosque-hosts-vigil-for-tree-of-life-synagogue-shooting-victims
Community members of all faiths packed the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane for a vigil in support of the Tree of Life Synagogue shootings.
Nearly 200 people gathered at the Masjid-e-Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane Oct. 28 in a vigil
for the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shootings in Pennsylvania.
Organized by the Franklin Township Interfaith Council, the vigil featured comments from local politicians and faith leaders from throughout the township, state and Canada.
The vigil’s purpose was to “reaffirm our commitment to reject any form of hate, bigotry and
discrimination,” said Alex Kharazi, president of the Interfaith Council.
“We are here to let everyone know that an attack and hate toward any innocent American,
regardless of their faith or race, is an attack on all of us,” he said. “We are here to let our Jewish friends know, especially the families affected by the shooting yesterday, that we share
their pain.”
“We are scared,” Kharazi said. “Houses of worship used to be sanctuaries, a place of peace where one would go and pray and become closer to his or her creator. These days we have to put fences around houses of worship, we have to hire security guards and look at any stranger
with suspicious eyes.”
“Yet if any person wants to harm us, it appears he or she finds a way to do it,” he said.
“It is more important now than in any time in our recent history for us to come together to reject hate and bigotry in any form in public and in private,” he said. “We need to stand up for one another and fight for our shared values against hate and bigotry so that we can build a more peaceful, tolerant and united America for future generations.”
“We may be scared today, but together with love, respect and understanding we can make our nation a better place for our children,” he said.
“We’re all saddened by the tragedy in Pittsburgh,” Mayor Phil Kramer said. “Eleven people died for simply being Jews and gathering to pray.”
“It’s a breakdown in the fabric of civil society,” he said. “We live in an America where one can be the subject of violence because of their ethnicity, their religion, their gender identification or their civilly stated political views.”
“But we live in Franklin, and Franklin is an amazing place,” he said. “We are one of the most diverse communities in the entire country. We’re not just diverse, we do diversity well.”
Kramer praised the leaders in the mosque for working to bring together people of different faiths.
“I call on all of Franklin to follow their example,” he said. “If we fail, if we ignore the call, if we turn a blind eye, it can only get worse and Franklin may be next. But if we heed the call, if we follow the example of this mosque, if we stand up for good and right, and love and simple
decency, then Franklin can remain safe as an example of how to diversity well.”
A visibly angry Rabbi Eli Garfinkel of Temple Beth El on Hamilton Street said people such as
the man who killed 11 in the Pittsburgh temple are “ignorant losers, complete failures in life, dumber than a box of hair. Instead of looking to improve their lives, they look for someone to blame, and they always seem to find the Jews.”
“And when it’s not enough to blame the Jews, then they just get themselves a gun and start shooting,” he said.
“Each one of the innocent victims at Pitt Tree of Life Synagogue was a unique Jewish unique universe,” he said.
Garfinkel said mental health and gun control issues contribute to the violence, but there are other contributing factors.
“Those who want to murder, will find a way to murder,” he said. “Mental health and gun control
are the talking head points that you will hear over and over. But nobody is talking about the real issue. The real issue is ignorance.” “This ignorance generates lies, and so many people are telling such huge lies that we’re losing our social cohesion,” he said. “The lies spread and eat away at the bonds the connect one human to another. We have to attack this ignorance and replace it with truth.”
“If you’re not sure why you should care about what happened at the Tree of Life Synagogue, let
me explain it to you,” Garfinkel said. “The monsters who came after us, will eventually come after you or someone you care about. We Jews are the canary in the coal mine. Whatever tragedy befalls us will eventually end up at your front door.”
Garfinkel said that Americans have to be more proactive to defend against hate and violence.“When you hear a lie, you have to protest, otherwise the lie will grow and spread,” he said. “It is time for America to wake up. All of you in the room today are the alarm clock, and we are all the Tree of Life.” Hatred comes out of ignorance, the Rev. Sharon Culley of the Somerset Presbyterian Church mon John F. Kennedy Boulevard told the crowd. “We stand with you side by side in solidarity, we hook arms and we pray together, that we stay
together,” she said. “As long as there’s breath in my body, you are my brothers and my sisters” she said. “If they
do to you, they do to me.” “I pray for us that this madness will cease to exist, that God will rise up a group of people to
show that we are all made by God,” Culley said.
Also speaking were Muslim Imams from Piscataway, Newark and Canada, and Parvez Hamedani, the mosque’s president.
The Franklin Reporter & Advocate live-streamed the vigil:
It was also live streamed which can be seen at
https://www.facebook.com/franklinreporter https://www.facebook.com/franklinreporter
Statements read during the Unity Vigil on Aug. 20.
by: Dr. Alex Kharazi president of Interfaith Council
Good evening and peace be with you.
For those of you who do not know me, my name is Alex Kharazi. I am the president of Franklin Township Interfaith Council and co-founder of NJ Interfaith Coalition. I am also Director and vice president of Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane.
The other day I was watching my 1 year old granddaughter playing with other children. There were children of different skin colors and parents of various faiths, national origin and race. She was having a great time. It reminded me of what Nelson Mandela once said: "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion.”
Friends, you see, All of us are created and viewed equal by God. As we grow older the evil of prejudice, specially race prejudice somehow gets into our skins and if we do not confront it we will move away from being a humble and a good human being. It makes us to believe we are better than others. It makes us to engage in acts of discrimination, or to become indifferent to the suffering of others. At its extreme makes us to commit act of terrorism and killing innocent people. Of course, racism is not new in American history— there HAS been Racism against Native Americans, African Americans, Jews, Japanese, Irish, Catholics, Mormons and Most recently against Muslims.
Tonight, we are gathered here to hear some words of wisdom and learn practical steps from our respected clergies and leaders so we can stay united against racism, hate and bigotry. We are here to counter the recent gatherings of hate with this gathering of love and understanding. We are here to stand up for one another and fight for our shared values against hate and bigotry so we can build a more peaceful, tolerant, and united America for future generations. We are here to stand together in solidarity and demand from our government officials to uphold the truth, work for justice and make America one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
by: Dr. Alex Kharazi president of Interfaith Council
Good evening and peace be with you.
For those of you who do not know me, my name is Alex Kharazi. I am the president of Franklin Township Interfaith Council and co-founder of NJ Interfaith Coalition. I am also Director and vice president of Ali mosque on Cedar Grove Lane.
The other day I was watching my 1 year old granddaughter playing with other children. There were children of different skin colors and parents of various faiths, national origin and race. She was having a great time. It reminded me of what Nelson Mandela once said: "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion.”
Friends, you see, All of us are created and viewed equal by God. As we grow older the evil of prejudice, specially race prejudice somehow gets into our skins and if we do not confront it we will move away from being a humble and a good human being. It makes us to believe we are better than others. It makes us to engage in acts of discrimination, or to become indifferent to the suffering of others. At its extreme makes us to commit act of terrorism and killing innocent people. Of course, racism is not new in American history— there HAS been Racism against Native Americans, African Americans, Jews, Japanese, Irish, Catholics, Mormons and Most recently against Muslims.
Tonight, we are gathered here to hear some words of wisdom and learn practical steps from our respected clergies and leaders so we can stay united against racism, hate and bigotry. We are here to counter the recent gatherings of hate with this gathering of love and understanding. We are here to stand up for one another and fight for our shared values against hate and bigotry so we can build a more peaceful, tolerant, and united America for future generations. We are here to stand together in solidarity and demand from our government officials to uphold the truth, work for justice and make America one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Statement read by Pastor George Mantanari of Middlebush Reformed Church
Dear Friends: Thank you for gathering together this evening in support of unity and solidarity, and against hatred, bigotry and violence. I am sincerely sorry that I am unable to be with you, for I truly value the friendships and partnerships of our interfaith community. Countering gatherings of hate, prejudice and bigotry with larger gatherings of love and unity is one of many important responses. Thank you for contributing to this effort.
Rev. Francis Grimke, a Presbyterian minister and a co-founder of the NAACP, once wrote that, “Race prejudice can’t be talked down; it must be lived down.” I understand him to mean that prejudice can’t merely be talked down. For speaking against prejudice is essential; and messages of love to counter the messages of hate we’ve seen this week must continue to be spoken. This week we’ve seen the effect of unclear and inconsistent messages from national leaders – President and Congressional members alike. So, yes, words are important.
But we must do more. We must act in ways that keep breaking down walls of division, and building up community. We must extend kindness and respect to our neighbors, and seek to serve them in the best way we can. We must honor the dignity of each individual, both in what we say to them, and in what we say about them. We must seek to dictate less, and understand more. If we stop trying to change the other person, then just maybe we can start appreciating the other person that much more.
Your being here tonight is an important step in those directions. I commend you for it, and ask God’s blessing of divine guidance to help us all keep growing in love and unity.
God’s peace be with you all,
Pastor George Montanari,
Middlebush Reformed Church
Dear Friends: Thank you for gathering together this evening in support of unity and solidarity, and against hatred, bigotry and violence. I am sincerely sorry that I am unable to be with you, for I truly value the friendships and partnerships of our interfaith community. Countering gatherings of hate, prejudice and bigotry with larger gatherings of love and unity is one of many important responses. Thank you for contributing to this effort.
Rev. Francis Grimke, a Presbyterian minister and a co-founder of the NAACP, once wrote that, “Race prejudice can’t be talked down; it must be lived down.” I understand him to mean that prejudice can’t merely be talked down. For speaking against prejudice is essential; and messages of love to counter the messages of hate we’ve seen this week must continue to be spoken. This week we’ve seen the effect of unclear and inconsistent messages from national leaders – President and Congressional members alike. So, yes, words are important.
But we must do more. We must act in ways that keep breaking down walls of division, and building up community. We must extend kindness and respect to our neighbors, and seek to serve them in the best way we can. We must honor the dignity of each individual, both in what we say to them, and in what we say about them. We must seek to dictate less, and understand more. If we stop trying to change the other person, then just maybe we can start appreciating the other person that much more.
Your being here tonight is an important step in those directions. I commend you for it, and ask God’s blessing of divine guidance to help us all keep growing in love and unity.
God’s peace be with you all,
Pastor George Montanari,
Middlebush Reformed Church
Dr. Wije Kottahachchi Remarks at Interfaith Vigil-Buddhist Vihara
Members of the Clergy, Elected Political Officials, Community Leaders, and Guests:
My name is Dr. Wije Kottahachchi. I am here along with
Venerable Siriratana,head monk,representing the Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara in Franklin, New Jersey.
This vigil was organized by the Franklin interfaith council to condemn the horrible violence last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, which was committed by an extremist, white supremist hate group
The Buddhist faith is built on love and kindness for all people. I am here to condemn racism, hate, bigotry, and violence in any form. This great country was built and developed by people of many faiths, nationalities, and ethnicities. There is no place in America for any group of people who does not respect that core tenet of our great nation.
I hereby reaffirm our solidarity with all the groups that have come together today in Franklin and appeal to the leaders of our nation and civil society to ensure that racism, hate, bigotry, and violence are condemned with one loud, unified voice.
Thank you.
Members of the Clergy, Elected Political Officials, Community Leaders, and Guests:
My name is Dr. Wije Kottahachchi. I am here along with
Venerable Siriratana,head monk,representing the Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara in Franklin, New Jersey.
This vigil was organized by the Franklin interfaith council to condemn the horrible violence last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, which was committed by an extremist, white supremist hate group
The Buddhist faith is built on love and kindness for all people. I am here to condemn racism, hate, bigotry, and violence in any form. This great country was built and developed by people of many faiths, nationalities, and ethnicities. There is no place in America for any group of people who does not respect that core tenet of our great nation.
I hereby reaffirm our solidarity with all the groups that have come together today in Franklin and appeal to the leaders of our nation and civil society to ensure that racism, hate, bigotry, and violence are condemned with one loud, unified voice.
Thank you.
Statement by Imam Rizwan Rizvi of Masjie-e-ALi
Dear Friends,
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Good evening. I apologize not being able to join you tonight as I am out of town. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I am proud to be associated with a community that answers hate and bigotry with love and understanding.
Verily, God orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and He forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
Surah An-Nahl 16:90
Dear Friends,
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Good evening. I apologize not being able to join you tonight as I am out of town. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I am proud to be associated with a community that answers hate and bigotry with love and understanding.
Verily, God orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and He forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
Surah An-Nahl 16:90
- The rally and subsequent violence and terror attack we witnessed over the weekend was deeply rooted in racism and executed by White Supremacists. Although we are seeing a rise in events promoting racism and hate crimes, racism and bigotry are not new phenomena. There is a long history of it in America and we have recently been seeing a revival of White Supremacy groups.
- We fully support the first amendment, freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully assemble, however, that does not extend to those who incite or take part in violence. The acts carried out over the weekend were ill-intentioned to fuel bigotry and incite violence.
- An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Striving for justice for all people regardless of creed, color or race is a prophetic teaching and commandment of God.
- May God guide us all to strengthen our unity and understanding each other.
- Respectfully, Imam Rizwan Rizvi
Statement by Rabbi Garfinkel
Good evening. Many of you are familiar with what the Bible says in 1st Kings chapter 3. Two prostitutes come to King Solomon, and both have recently given birth. One of the babies dies, and the two women argue about who is the mother of the surviving child. Solomon orders his servants to bring his sword. He says, “Cut the living child in two and split it between the two women.” One woman says, “No, give her the living baby, just don’t kill it.” The other says, “It shall neither be yours nor mine, cut it in two!” Solomon decides that the child belongs to the mother who wanted to keep the child alive no matter what, wisely reasoning that the baby’s real mother would never allow it to be killed under any circumstances. The point of that passage is that sometimes there are not two sides to every story. Sometimes, being neutral and splitting the difference between the two sides is the wrong thing to do. This is a lesson that our President missed. In an ill-advised effort to avoid offending supporters, he misjudged what happened in Charlottesville. He said there were fine people on both sides. No, Mr. President, there were not fine people on both sides. On the side of the people protesting the hate, there were many fine people, most of them citizens of Charlottesville who wanted their voices heard. There may have been thugs on their side, too, but that is irrelevant. Likewise, in the Bible, both women were prostitutes, but that didn’t matter. The two sides are not equally at fault. The white supremacists, like the woman who wanted the baby to be split in two, displayed a thick, pure, evil of the most disturbing kind, an evil that led to the death of protestor Heather Heyer. The white supremacists had not a single fine person in their midst. Nobody who carries a tiki torch from Home Depot and yells, “Jews will not replace us” can be a fine person. Nobody who carries a semi-automatic rifle and yells, “There’s the synagogue!” can be a fine person. Mind you, this is not just a Jewish issue. The torch and pitchfork crowd chose to single out Jews, but it is obvious that they hate everyone here tonight: Catholics, Muslims, blacks, gays, everyone who differs from their ideal, and yet they have the gall to say they love God. We’re all paying attention to tomorrow’s eclipse, but we must remember that a different kind of darkness has already arrived. America is lost in that darkness, and the problem is not Confederate statues. Those statues are just symbols of the real problem, which is supremacism, the idea that one group is better than another. Supremacism is the source of pretty much all the suffering in the world. The supremacists in Charlottesville think they are better than everyone else. The North Korean government believes that Koreans are superior to others. ISIS believes their sick and twisted way of life is better than ours. Supremacism is a myth. No race is better than any other race. No ethnic or religious group is better than any other ethnic or religious group. We all have the same basic DNA, we’re all human beings. The fiction of supremacism should be in the same category with Bigfoot, unicorns, and vampires. Even though we are a diverse country, we are supposed to be united on certain issues of basic morality. One such issue is the fact that Nazis are bad. End of sentence, full stop. Equivocation and wishy-washiness puts stress on the seams that hold our country together. Tonight, our nation bleeds. We Americans all have to come together to heal the deep wound. We call what we’re doing tonight a vigil because we must always be vigilant. God bless you all.
Good evening. Many of you are familiar with what the Bible says in 1st Kings chapter 3. Two prostitutes come to King Solomon, and both have recently given birth. One of the babies dies, and the two women argue about who is the mother of the surviving child. Solomon orders his servants to bring his sword. He says, “Cut the living child in two and split it between the two women.” One woman says, “No, give her the living baby, just don’t kill it.” The other says, “It shall neither be yours nor mine, cut it in two!” Solomon decides that the child belongs to the mother who wanted to keep the child alive no matter what, wisely reasoning that the baby’s real mother would never allow it to be killed under any circumstances. The point of that passage is that sometimes there are not two sides to every story. Sometimes, being neutral and splitting the difference between the two sides is the wrong thing to do. This is a lesson that our President missed. In an ill-advised effort to avoid offending supporters, he misjudged what happened in Charlottesville. He said there were fine people on both sides. No, Mr. President, there were not fine people on both sides. On the side of the people protesting the hate, there were many fine people, most of them citizens of Charlottesville who wanted their voices heard. There may have been thugs on their side, too, but that is irrelevant. Likewise, in the Bible, both women were prostitutes, but that didn’t matter. The two sides are not equally at fault. The white supremacists, like the woman who wanted the baby to be split in two, displayed a thick, pure, evil of the most disturbing kind, an evil that led to the death of protestor Heather Heyer. The white supremacists had not a single fine person in their midst. Nobody who carries a tiki torch from Home Depot and yells, “Jews will not replace us” can be a fine person. Nobody who carries a semi-automatic rifle and yells, “There’s the synagogue!” can be a fine person. Mind you, this is not just a Jewish issue. The torch and pitchfork crowd chose to single out Jews, but it is obvious that they hate everyone here tonight: Catholics, Muslims, blacks, gays, everyone who differs from their ideal, and yet they have the gall to say they love God. We’re all paying attention to tomorrow’s eclipse, but we must remember that a different kind of darkness has already arrived. America is lost in that darkness, and the problem is not Confederate statues. Those statues are just symbols of the real problem, which is supremacism, the idea that one group is better than another. Supremacism is the source of pretty much all the suffering in the world. The supremacists in Charlottesville think they are better than everyone else. The North Korean government believes that Koreans are superior to others. ISIS believes their sick and twisted way of life is better than ours. Supremacism is a myth. No race is better than any other race. No ethnic or religious group is better than any other ethnic or religious group. We all have the same basic DNA, we’re all human beings. The fiction of supremacism should be in the same category with Bigfoot, unicorns, and vampires. Even though we are a diverse country, we are supposed to be united on certain issues of basic morality. One such issue is the fact that Nazis are bad. End of sentence, full stop. Equivocation and wishy-washiness puts stress on the seams that hold our country together. Tonight, our nation bleeds. We Americans all have to come together to heal the deep wound. We call what we’re doing tonight a vigil because we must always be vigilant. God bless you all.
Community Vigil
Franklin Township Interfaith Council is sponsoring a vigil to be held on Sunday, August 20th from 8-9 PM at St. Mathias Catholic Church, located at 168 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Somerset, NJ 08873.
We are deeply saddened and concerned by the emboldened hatred and violence that are taking place across our nation. The latest show of hatred and violence was this past Saturday, with a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in 19 people injured and the death of Heather Heyer.
We are going through challenging times and it is more important than ever before that we come together as Americans to reaffirm our commitment to unity and solidarity.
Please plan to join community members and leaders in this important gathering. Please share with your friends and family members and encourage them to join us.
Article in Franklin Reporter and Advocate
Hundreds Gather At St. Matthias For Vigil Against Hate franklinreporter.com /hundreds-gather-st-mathias-vigil-hate/
Nearly 700 people assembled at St. Matthias Church Aug. 20 for a community vigil against hate, organized by the Franklin Township Interfaith Council. Those gathered in the John F. Kennedy Boulevard church heard from the township’s religious and political leaders, then participated in a candlelight vigil. The speakers included Alex Kharazi, president of the Interfaith Council; Rabbi Eli Garfinkel of Temple Beth El and the council’s vice president; Fr. Douglas Haefner from St. Matthias; Mayor Phil Kramer; Wije Kottachachchi, from the Buddhist Vihara Meditation Center; Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine; Board of Education president Ed Potosnak; Township Councilwoman Shanel Robinson (D-At Large); the Rev. Sharon Culley from Somerset Presbyterian Church, and state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17). Statements were read from Imam Rizwan Rizvi, from the Masjid-e-Ali mosque and Pastor George Montanari from the Middlebush Reformed Church, and prayers were read by Shirin Poustchi and Board of Education member Ardaman Singh. During teh candlelight vigil, Ali Chaudry, president of the New Jersey Interfaith Coalition led the group in the reading of the pledge to “Stand Up For the Other,” which he authored.
For full article and pictures/video please visit:
http://franklinreporter.com/hundreds-gather-st-mathias-vigil-hate/
Article in Tapinto presss
SOMERSET, NJ - Hundreds of people attended a community vigil hosted by the Franklin Township Interfaith Council at St. Mathias Church Sunday night, to show support for Charlottesville, and to stand in solidarity with one another.
Franklin Township is home to more than 60 different spiritual houses of worship, and more than 60 different languages are spoken by its public school children at home, it is a very diverse town, to say the least.
Last week Dr. Alex Kharazi, president of the Franklin Township Interfaith Council sent out a statement to members of the community saying, "We are deeply saddened and concerned by emboldened hatred and violence that is taking place across our nation with the latest (example) being Saturday with a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in 19 people injured and the death of Heather Heyer." Kharazi's statement went onto ask the community to encourage their friends and family to come out to hear from educational, spiritual, and government leaders about how "hate is not to be tolerated."
"Supremacism is a myth, no race is better than any other race, Rabbi Eli Garfinkel, vice president of the FT Interfaith Council said. "No ethnic or religious group is better than any other ethnic or religious group, we all have the same basic DNA, we are all human beings. The fiction of supremacism should be in the same category with Big Foot, unicorns, and vampires. Even though we are a diverse country we are supposed to be united on certain issues of basic morality. One such issue is that white supremacism and nazism is evil, end of sentence full stop."
During the vigil, local, county, and state officials spoke out and condemned hate and stressed the importance of unity.
“Now is the time to look evil in the face and say, you shall go no further, Mayor Phil Kramer (D) said. “Now is the time to look to your left and to your right and say, I will stand with you until we have won. Now is the time to remember America has always been great. And I know we will win, because hate has no chance when faced by courageous people who keep love and freedom in their hearts.”
"There is nothing wrong with being proud of your race and your heritage, but when it is steeped in bigotry racism and violence that inflicts pain on others it is intolerable and unacceptable," Councilwoman At-Large Shanel Robinson (D) said.
"I am a politician, often I must compromise," Somerset County Freeholder, Brian D. Levine (R) said. "Give a little to get a worthy project or law passed, that I deem beneficial. But there are some things you can never compromise or give up on. For us in Franklin and Somerset County there is no compromise, there is no surrender, there is no option, other than integrity, and pursuing righteous goals. It may not always be easy because unfortunately evil has momentum but integrity is stronger."
Somerset Presbyterian Reverend Sharon Culley evoked a timely quote from Martin Niemöller, stressing the importance of how we should all look out for one another, and speak out when we see injustice.
According to Kharazi, Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D) drove from Philadelphia where his daughter is being treated for cancer so he could make the vigil and remind attendees how important it is to fight hate with love.
"When evil raises its ugly head, we will suffocate it with our love, we will kill it with our kindness, we will not aim our attacks at them, we will aim our prayers at them, they need to be cured, not my family," Danielsen said.
The vigil ended with a candlelight vigil using cell phones and led lights, and everyone taking the pledge to Stand Up for the Other.
"There are more than 60 languages spoken at home in Franklin Township Public Schools, and their families bring rich cultures into our classrooms and enhance and enlighten our community," Board of Education President, Ed Potosnak said. "We embrace our diversity and stand united against hate and bigotry in any form."
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/franklin-township/articles/franklin-township-interfaith-council-holds-commu
Franklin Township Interfaith Council is sponsoring a vigil to be held on Sunday, August 20th from 8-9 PM at St. Mathias Catholic Church, located at 168 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Somerset, NJ 08873.
We are deeply saddened and concerned by the emboldened hatred and violence that are taking place across our nation. The latest show of hatred and violence was this past Saturday, with a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in 19 people injured and the death of Heather Heyer.
We are going through challenging times and it is more important than ever before that we come together as Americans to reaffirm our commitment to unity and solidarity.
Please plan to join community members and leaders in this important gathering. Please share with your friends and family members and encourage them to join us.
Article in Franklin Reporter and Advocate
Hundreds Gather At St. Matthias For Vigil Against Hate franklinreporter.com /hundreds-gather-st-mathias-vigil-hate/
Nearly 700 people assembled at St. Matthias Church Aug. 20 for a community vigil against hate, organized by the Franklin Township Interfaith Council. Those gathered in the John F. Kennedy Boulevard church heard from the township’s religious and political leaders, then participated in a candlelight vigil. The speakers included Alex Kharazi, president of the Interfaith Council; Rabbi Eli Garfinkel of Temple Beth El and the council’s vice president; Fr. Douglas Haefner from St. Matthias; Mayor Phil Kramer; Wije Kottachachchi, from the Buddhist Vihara Meditation Center; Somerset County Freeholder Brian Levine; Board of Education president Ed Potosnak; Township Councilwoman Shanel Robinson (D-At Large); the Rev. Sharon Culley from Somerset Presbyterian Church, and state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17). Statements were read from Imam Rizwan Rizvi, from the Masjid-e-Ali mosque and Pastor George Montanari from the Middlebush Reformed Church, and prayers were read by Shirin Poustchi and Board of Education member Ardaman Singh. During teh candlelight vigil, Ali Chaudry, president of the New Jersey Interfaith Coalition led the group in the reading of the pledge to “Stand Up For the Other,” which he authored.
For full article and pictures/video please visit:
http://franklinreporter.com/hundreds-gather-st-mathias-vigil-hate/
Article in Tapinto presss
SOMERSET, NJ - Hundreds of people attended a community vigil hosted by the Franklin Township Interfaith Council at St. Mathias Church Sunday night, to show support for Charlottesville, and to stand in solidarity with one another.
Franklin Township is home to more than 60 different spiritual houses of worship, and more than 60 different languages are spoken by its public school children at home, it is a very diverse town, to say the least.
Last week Dr. Alex Kharazi, president of the Franklin Township Interfaith Council sent out a statement to members of the community saying, "We are deeply saddened and concerned by emboldened hatred and violence that is taking place across our nation with the latest (example) being Saturday with a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that resulted in 19 people injured and the death of Heather Heyer." Kharazi's statement went onto ask the community to encourage their friends and family to come out to hear from educational, spiritual, and government leaders about how "hate is not to be tolerated."
"Supremacism is a myth, no race is better than any other race, Rabbi Eli Garfinkel, vice president of the FT Interfaith Council said. "No ethnic or religious group is better than any other ethnic or religious group, we all have the same basic DNA, we are all human beings. The fiction of supremacism should be in the same category with Big Foot, unicorns, and vampires. Even though we are a diverse country we are supposed to be united on certain issues of basic morality. One such issue is that white supremacism and nazism is evil, end of sentence full stop."
During the vigil, local, county, and state officials spoke out and condemned hate and stressed the importance of unity.
“Now is the time to look evil in the face and say, you shall go no further, Mayor Phil Kramer (D) said. “Now is the time to look to your left and to your right and say, I will stand with you until we have won. Now is the time to remember America has always been great. And I know we will win, because hate has no chance when faced by courageous people who keep love and freedom in their hearts.”
"There is nothing wrong with being proud of your race and your heritage, but when it is steeped in bigotry racism and violence that inflicts pain on others it is intolerable and unacceptable," Councilwoman At-Large Shanel Robinson (D) said.
"I am a politician, often I must compromise," Somerset County Freeholder, Brian D. Levine (R) said. "Give a little to get a worthy project or law passed, that I deem beneficial. But there are some things you can never compromise or give up on. For us in Franklin and Somerset County there is no compromise, there is no surrender, there is no option, other than integrity, and pursuing righteous goals. It may not always be easy because unfortunately evil has momentum but integrity is stronger."
Somerset Presbyterian Reverend Sharon Culley evoked a timely quote from Martin Niemöller, stressing the importance of how we should all look out for one another, and speak out when we see injustice.
According to Kharazi, Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D) drove from Philadelphia where his daughter is being treated for cancer so he could make the vigil and remind attendees how important it is to fight hate with love.
"When evil raises its ugly head, we will suffocate it with our love, we will kill it with our kindness, we will not aim our attacks at them, we will aim our prayers at them, they need to be cured, not my family," Danielsen said.
The vigil ended with a candlelight vigil using cell phones and led lights, and everyone taking the pledge to Stand Up for the Other.
"There are more than 60 languages spoken at home in Franklin Township Public Schools, and their families bring rich cultures into our classrooms and enhance and enlighten our community," Board of Education President, Ed Potosnak said. "We embrace our diversity and stand united against hate and bigotry in any form."
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/franklin-township/articles/franklin-township-interfaith-council-holds-commu