Hear Jewish views of Islam at Astoria weekend

By Paul Haist

article created on:

Congregation Neveh Shalom and the Institute for Judaic Studies are cosponsors of a weekend-long event set for this February in Astoria that will examine several aspects of Islam.
"Weekend in Quest: Islam From a Jewish Perspective" will feature four lectures by Dr. Steven Wasserstrom, since 1987 the Moe and Izetta Tonkon Professor of Judaic Studies and Humanities at Reed College in Portland.
Institute for Judaic Studies founder Rabbi Joshua Stampfer said, "It's so important for Jews to understand Islam because fundamentalist Islam is the greatest threat to Israel."
Wasserstrom first will present an "Introduction to Islam" followed by separate lectures on "Jewish Life Under Islam," "Jewish Achievements Under Islam" and "Judaism and Islam as Religions—Compared and Contrasted."
Stampfer noted that Wasserstrom's major field of interest in the broad field of Judaic Studies is the Jewish world in the Islamic period, what he called the "golden age of Judaism," from about the ninth through 14th centuries of the Common Era.

Wasserstrom said the weekend of lectures is "introductional or orientational," suitable for those who want to come away from the experience with a sound grasp of the history and issues surrounding Islam and Judaism and their interaction.
The Astoria event follows by 18 years an earlier conference on Islam which involved Wasserstrom and other experts brought to Portland for the occasion.
That event led to the limited publication in 1991 of edited transcripts of the various lectures under the title "Islam and Judaism—1,400 Years of Shared Values."
Wasserstrom said his presentations wouldn't be formally scripted.
"I will draw on 20 years of teaching and scholarship. I have taught this stuff many times, around the world and in the community. I've published in all these areas, especially (about) Jews under Islam, and I've worked in Jewish-Muslim dialogue groups," he said.
Stampfer thought the Astoria weekend would offer vital information and perspectives.
"The study of Islam today has become extremely important in our society," said Stampfer, who noted Islam simply was not part of American consciousness until very recent years. He
recalled the prominence over many decades in the last century of the International
Council of Christians and Jews, noting that "Islam wasn't even mentioned." (Today the ICCJ includes a
strong Islamic component).
The Astoria weekend of learning will include Shabbat services. In addition to Rabbi Stampfer, who is rabbi emeritus of Neveh Shalom, Neveh Shalom Assistant Rabbi Bradley Greenstein will attend.
Two weekend packages are offered, one with accommodations, the other without.
Cost for the weekend, including river-view accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express, all programming and lectures plus five meals is $200. The fee is per person based on double occupancy.
Cost for the weekend without accommodations is $100. This includes all programming and lectures and three meals, not including breakfasts.
The event will begin Friday evening, Feb. 9, and continue until noon Sunday.
Institute for Judaic Studies President Barb Schwartz said initial response to the program has been enthusiastic. "People need to register now," she said. "This will be a relatively small, intimate group."
For more information, to obtain a brochure or to register call Schwartz at 503-221-0619 or Sheri Cordova at 503-639-0853, or Mary Goldhammer at 503-293-0521.
Cordova and Goldhammer are Congregation Neveh Shalom's co-chairs for the Weekend in Quest.