On Monday, Oct. 4th, CAIR-Chicago Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson met with an international envoy from Israel and Palestine to share ideas on how to improve Jewish-Muslim relations through art.

Earlier this week, CAIR-Chicago, as part of the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI), co-hosted the first Café Finjan of 2009. The event featured an art galleria that included artwork, short films, and music.

Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims, which begins on September 1, is on the horizon and Cafe Finjan, with its message of brotherhood, has arrived well in time. These days when one hears more of the animosity or supposed animosity between Muslims and Jews, programs such as this are a breath of fresh air. It promises to be a night of comedy, music, song, poetry, drumming, storytelling and art.

At a time when one hears more of the animosity or supposed animosity between Muslims and Jews, programs such as Cafe Finjan arrive as a breath of fresh air. Post 9/11, the Muslim community has made an incredible effort to participate in inter-faith dialogue and inter-faith events such as this - after all it's ignorance that breeds fear