During Shabbat for the Soul services, Friday, October 27, 6:30 pm
Najeeba Syeed will speak on:
The State of Muslim-Jewish Relations
Najeeba Syeed is the El-Hibri Endowed Chair and Executive Director of Augsburg University’s Interfaith Institute. An award-winning educator, she has taught extensively on interreligious education and published articles on faith and community-based conflict resolution, restorative justice, and interfaith just peacemaking. She has served as the co-chair of the American Academy of Religion’s Religion and Politics Section and was a member of the Academy’s Religion, Social Conflict, and Peace Section.
Syeed also brings significant executive experience in organizations focused on conflict resolution in community, higher education, and government settings, including the Western Justice Center Foundation and the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center. Her peacemaking work in the area of gang intervention, school-based conflict resolution and community peacebuilding has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. In 2021, she served as chief of staff to the first Asian American woman elected to the Los Angeles city council. She holds a law degree from the Indiana University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from Guilford College.
This week’s Shabbat for the Soul will also be honoring the St. Paul Jewish Federation.
Shabbat for the Soul:
October 27, Nov. 17, Dec. 8, January 12, Feb. 23, March 15, April 19, May 17
Live from Margolis Hall (also on Zoom and live-streaming)
We move from the formality of the sanctuary to our social hall to create a more intimate service. Our singing is accompanied by violin, guitar, keyboard, and percussion. The evocative music opens our hearts and awakens our spirits.
Shabbat is always for the soul, but there is a particularly soulful atmosphere at “Shabbat for the Soul” services. It is a more contemplative worship style with the congregation sitting in the round. We use a single page handout for the prayers. A slower pace enables us to focus on the meditative effect of the music, the potential for deeper awareness and prayer, and the feeling of community.
