Fighting Hatred

Abrahamic House

Raised in Yemen, Mohammed Al Samawi was taught from an early age to be suspicious of other faiths. An unlikely encounter with a Christian teacher challenged his beliefs and led him toward interfaith activism. In an epic story that has been shared in a compelling book, Mohammed escaped his war-torn country and came to the United States where he founded Abrahamic House, a multi-faith space where individuals from diverse religious backgrounds come together to live, learn, share, pray, celebrate, connect, and serve. Located in Washington, DC, Abrahamic House hosts emerging interfaith leaders from different faith traditions for a 1-2 year residential fellowship program. Through this program, they challenge assumptions, prejudices, and inequities, while inspiring and mobilizing others to foster understanding and build bridges across communities.

Inheritance Theater Project

There are many ways to help bring people together, to share their stories, to learn from their differences and to create communities of harmony. In cities around the country (and beyond), Inheritance Theater Project creates plays based on the community’s history, its residents and its inherited wisdom, in an effort to bridge divides and create a cohesive society. Co-founded by Jon Adam Ross, Inheritance Theater Project utilizes playmaking/theater to join together intersectional, inter-generational, and interfaith communities–things sorely needed in our divided world.

Rekindle

Charmaine Rice, a Black woman trained in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices, and Matt Fieldman, a White Jewish social entrepreneur and nonprofit professional, created Rekindle to bridge the ever-widening gap growing between two communities that at one time worked side-by-side to effect social justice and equity. Rekindle engages young leaders from both communities in frank and intense conversations and shared social action efforts to build greater understanding and mutual respect. First started in Cleveland, Rekindle has expanded to other communities throughout the country.

Our matching grant which was partially met by donations from participants themselves, is directed to general operations.

Civic Spirit

As the political climate in America took a sharp turn in 2016, Rabbi Robert Hirt, Virginia Bayar and Dr. Tamara Tweel brought a group of concerned citizens together to try to address this alarming development. The result – Civic Spirit – an organization dedicated to teaching civic responsibility and precepts in faith-based schools across the country. Civic Spirit is now led by Rabbi Charlie Savenor who has long worked in education and leadership development programs.

Our grant was directed to the expansion of the student leadership program.

Tag Meir

Gadi Gvaryahu began Tag Meir in 2011 to address racism in Israel and to help solidify a more democratic and humanitarian society informed by Jewish values. Members of the organization come from all sectors of the Israel Jewish and Arab communities as well as from other established social justice organizations. All share a deep desire for a more just and compassionate society.

Fighting Online Antisemitism

Over the past 5-6 years antisemitism and cyberhate have gained even greater ground around the world. Tomer Aldubi, founder, later joined by attorney, Nir Kaplan, began Fighting Online Antisemitism (FOA) only two years ago. FOA has more than 200 trained volunteers across the globe who monitor seven leading social media platforms, reporting hateful content to those platforms and raising awareness of the phenomena of cyberhate among the general public (through educational workshops and webinars).

Our grant is used to help expand the volunteer corps, as well as for administrative expenses.