What We Learned: The Place of Physical Religious Sanctuaries in Society

3092 16th Street,San Francisco CA 94103

18 August, 2021

Description

The pandemic forced religious spaces across the world to close. How did the leaders of these spaces adapt to reach their communities? Religious communities depend on physical gathering to practice their faith. The pandemic forces all to isolate and provided an unprecedented barrier to community. What impacts did that have on these communities and their leaders? How did these spaces adapt to social distancing? Were leaders able to effectively guide their communities? How did the inability to gather in person affect prayer? What did these communities learn about themselves during this time? What are services like now as we begin to reopen? Are there any lessons that can be applied in these spaces going forward? In the next installment of the "What We Learned" series, Manny's welcomes Abu Qadir al-Amin of the Islamic Center of San Francisco and Rabbi Beth Singer of Temple Emanuel to discuss leading their communities over the last 15 months. A representative of a Christian denomination will also be present TBD. The structure of this event will be about 45 minutes of discussion with followed by small break out groups where YOU can meet some new folks and discuss what you just heard. We hope to help solicit a more collaborative discussion and hear the diverse stories in our city. Manny's never turns away anyone for lack of funds. To receive a complementary ticket just email the word "grapefruit" and the title of this event to [email protected]. This event will be in person at Manny's but there will also be a Zoom link ticket for those who'd like to tune in digitally from the comfort of their home. About Imam Abu Qadir Al-Amin: Resident Imam for the San Francisco Muslim Community Center from 1981- Present. Imam Abu Qadir Al-Amin, received his first appointment as Resident Imam in 1981 by the esteemed leader of Muslim Americans; Imam W. Deen Mohammed. Imam Al-Amin has served as Muslim Chaplain at the Federal Prison FCI Dublin, CA. Additionally, he worked for the Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice as Program Director and Associate Director for 23 years. As Imam of the San Francisco Muslim Community Center, he served as Convener of Western Regional Imams’ from 1995 thru 2010. He has been involved in city and state wide issues and concerns as a community organizer. His travels on behalf of the Muslim community include visits to Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China, Mexico, Turkey, Kenya, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. About Rabbi Beth Singer: Rabbi Beth Singer is the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Senior Rabbi at Congregation Emanu-El. Ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, she also earned her undergraduate degree from Pomona College. Before coming to Emanu-El in August 2013, Rabbi Singer served as Temple Beth Am’s Co-Senior rabbi in Seattle for sixteen years. Prior to that she served at Temple de Hirsch Sinai in Seattle and before that at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York. Her rabbinate has focused on worship transformation, pastoral care and social justice work, especially in the realm of homelessness and at-risk youth. Rabbi Singer has modeled and promoted ahavat Yisrael in each congregation, including Israel education, Israel cultural celebration programming, and Big Tent welcome of diverse viewpoints on all things Jewish. At Congregation Emanu-El, Rabbi Singer has worked to develop the people’s social justice project called Tzedek Council to make it easier for maximal numbers of congregants to engage in making our world a better place for everyone. Rabbi Singer’s overall goal is for each individual congregant and family to find your own place to call home at Emanu-El.