By Marilyn Stern, Director of Special Projects 

Each month, we honor an individual (or group) who inspires the bridge-building efforts of the Miller Center. Each honoree uniquely embodies the values of inclusivity, justice, and compassion. Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman (Imam Tay), the founder of Spentem, is our Beacon of Hope for the month of February.

It was six years ago that Miller Center Founding Director Rabbi Or Rose introduced me to Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman. In doing so, Rabbi Rose described Imam Tay as his friend, interreligious partner, teacher, and “brother from another mother.” 

I quickly understood why the rabbi was so fond of the imam. Having now worked with Imam Tay on several different initiatives, I can attest to the powerful ways he “walks his talk,” acting with warmth, kindness, and empathy rooted in his Islamic faith.

Whether serving as a Muslim chaplain for the Massachusetts Department of Correction or at Harvard and Northeastern Universities; advocating for formerly incarcerated people in his “Exconversations" podcast; or teaching Hebrew College graduate students the history and tenets of Islam, Imam Tay practices fearless and compassionate interreligious fellowship. 

Below, Imam Tay describes his new endeavor: Spentem, a rapid response crowd activism app and storefront at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree. 

Learn more and support Spentem by downloading the app. 

By Rev. Tom Reid, Associate Director 

For the second consecutive year, I had the privilege of leading the BILI Launchpad fellows on a field trip to Washington, D.C. Due to the pandemic, this was our first physical trip to the nation's capital. We were delighted to take in many civic and religious riches in the greater D.C. area, including such landmarks as the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Two powerful experiences were our visits to our academic partners at Georgetown and Howard Universities. At Georgetown, two student fellows provided us with a campus tour, including time at the new Dharmic Meditation Center. This was followed by dinner at Makom, where Rabbi Daniel Schaefer (a Hebrew College ordinee) hosted us for dinner and Dr. Jacques Berlinerblau spoke about his work on secularism in the US and abroad. At Howard, Rev. Bernard L. Richardson, the dean of the chapel, and Dr. Nisa Muhammad, the assistant dean of religious life, for an inspiring panel on Black interfaith leadership in the DC area. 

In the midst of unpacking and settling into our new office space, the Miller Center team and friends paused to dedicate this sacred space by affixing a mezuzah and blessing our new home with song and words of prayer. In framing the brief ritual, Rabbi Or Rose shared the following: “As we hang the mezuzah on this doorpost, we pray that it serves as a reminder of God's presence in the midst of the busyness of our daily work. As we reach out, touch this holy object, and kiss our hands, we recommit ourselves to the core values of the Miller Center: dignity, dialogue, collaboration, and justice.” 

The dedication ceremony featured music, remarks, and blessings from Miller Center Associate Director Rev. Tom Reid, our colleague Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman, and our center's founder Dan Miller. He reflected on the ways in which the legacy of his beloved late wife Betty Ann (z”l), is carried out through our ongoing work. Appropriately, this wonderful gathering was followed by the closing celebration of the annual Dignity Project fellowship (high school students). 

Hasidic Narratives of Spiritual Growth, Loss, and Renewal on Zoom with Rabbi Or Rose 

Hebrew College is hosting a six-session series on Thursdays from 7 PM-9 PM starting on February 23. 

The course will examine a variety of stories composed by Eastern European Jewish mystical leaders and followers as they encounter the beauties, mysteries, and challenges of daily life. 

Cost: $228, generous financial aid is available. Please contact Hebrew College's Me'ah for any questions. This course is open to all adult learners.

Preparing Our Hearts for Passover & Easter — Annual Program

Friday, March 24, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. @ Temple Beth Zion, Brookline 

Join fellow students and colleagues from Hebrew College, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Boston University School of Theology, Harvard Divinity School, and the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium for Preparing our Hearts for Passover & Easter program. Explore the ways in which Jewish and Christian clergy, religious leaders, and fellow students, prepare personally and professionally for these holy times. For more information, please contact the Miller Center.  

New Issue by the Journal of Interreligious Studies 

Read the latest issue of the free and open-access Journal of Interreligious Studies. issue 38 includes essays on recent shifts in interreligious pedagogy, a Confucian contribution to Catholic just war thought, the genealogy of the phrase “an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind,” and much more. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 7 - 8:30pm @ Boston University Marsh Chapel 

Join Hebrew College’s Kol Arev on Valentine's Day at the International Choral and Arts Festival organized by the Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries and in partnership with the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium, of which Hebrew College is a member. As gun violence escalates in our communities, the theme of the evening, Reclaiming Communities of PEACE Through PRAISE, hopes to help “heal through song.” 

Participating choirs include but are not limited to Hebrew College’s Chamber Choir, Kol Arev; St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Choir (Hellenic College Holy Cross); Seminary Singers (Boston University School of Theology); Boston College Choir, Voices of Hope Choir (A New Way Recovery Center); and Orkestra Marhaba.