Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Together we Live the Love by embracing our sisters and brothers in our community.

Adult Forum: “Better Together Moorestown”

Susan Mammarella, Moorestown Councilwoman

Better Together Advisory Committee:  Richard Hinchman, Chair, and Ali Sabir, youth member 

A recap of March 10 events sponsored by SMLC’s DEI/Anti-racism team

We needed to set up extra chairs in the library between worship services on March 10 as we        listened to three guests talk about the Better Together Advisory Committee. In a packed house our visitors described how Moorestown’s newest, permanent committee came to be and gave examples of the work they’ve been doing.

Councilwoman Sue Mammarella and Committee Chair Richard Hinchman explained that this is a citizen-driven effort, supported by local government, which has proven to be the most effective  model. What started as a grassroots reaction to the strife of 2020 has inspired overwhelming       interest from volunteers, including 33 applicants for only eleven seats on the committee. (Mrs. Mammarella pointed out that the Township Council regularly struggles to fill the minimum quantity of   positions in municipal committees and boards.)

Better Together has led the recent effort to rename the Armydis Sordon Park located at the corner of Beech St. and Mill St.  This park is dedicated to Armydis Sordon, Private, U.S. Army, 541st Engineer Regiment whose home was located where this park now stands and who died while serving in World War 1.  Better Together also initiated the annual Pride Flag raising at Town Hall. Recently they were behind a Council proclamation recognizing this year’s Ramadan holiday.  In each case they relayed stories about how individuals from these marginalized communities were moved to tears and expressed how they had never felt “welcome” or “seen” or “a part of” this town prior to these actions.

Upstander Workshop

We were blessed to have a diverse group of participants whose religious traditions included Islam, Judaism and Christianity, and whose ages spanned four generations. Led by MooreUnity’s co-founders, Karen Reiner and  Meredith Butts, we practiced role-playing numerous scenarios in which a “victim” was targeted via harassment, bullying, or intimidation. Although we all knew it was pretend, it felt very real for the actors involved. Both victims and victimizers expressed that they were surprised how visceral it felt while playing their roles. The discussions that followed each exercise were raw, heart-felt and eye-opening.  A common sentiment that was expressed:  “We need more opportunities like this for people that share different backgrounds and beliefs to safely discuss difficult subjects.”

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Each month the DEI team seeks to lift up and share information about the neighbors we live and  work with to get to know them a bit. April is Arab Heritage Month and as so many of our Arab   Muslim neighbors are now observing Ramadan which is Islam’s Holiest Month I wanted to learn more about Ramadan. Much of my information is from www.History.com.  

Here are a few facts about Ramadan:  It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims across the globe fast during the hours of daylight every single day. It is the holist month of the year for most of the world’s two billion or so Muslims.

  1. It was important before Islam. According to Islamic tradition, Ramadan was the month when God revealed the scriptures to Abraham, the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David and the Gospel to Jesus.
  2. Ramadan includes the “The Night of Power” When God first spoke to the Prophet            Muhammad. 
  3. Ramadan starts and ends on different dates every year because the Islamic calendar  follows the literal cycle of the moon, and each month only begins when the new moon is sighted.
  4. Fasting is intended to elevate the spirit. Food and drink are metaphors for worldly needs and desires and thus abstinence from them is meant to elevate the spirit.
  5. In addition to fasting, Ramadan includes other special practices which include eating a special pre-dawn meal called suhoor before starting the daily fast and another post sunset meal call Iftar to end the fast. During Ramadan Muslims also take part in extra worship late into the night. Towards the end of Ramadan, many Muslims make a special charitable donation called the Zakat al-fitr which goes to the less fortunate so they may enjoy the festival Eid al-fitr at the end of Ramadan.
  6. There are differences in the way Ramadan is observed. A key difference is the start and end of Ramadan as it follows the actual cycle of the moon, which is different across the globe. 
  7.  The end of Ramadan is called Eid al-Fitr and is a time of joyous celebration and parties and lots of food. Many get new clothes and celebrate family and friends. This year in New Jersey children will not have school on Eid which begins the evening of April 9 into April 10th. 

So much to learn…..enjoy

Submitted by Peggy Marks