News Releases

Seeds of Peace & USM Council Collaborate on Program

July 27, 2004

A special workshop on Jewish and Islamic law will be presented as part of this summer's program at the Seeds of Peace Camp, thanks to an agreement between the camp and USM's Academic Council for Post-Holocaust Christian, Jewish and Islamic Studies.

The workshop, "Understanding Jewish and Islamic Law: Two Ways to God," will feature two Academic Council faculty members, Najim Animashaun and Stephen Steinbock. Animashaun, who holds a master's degree from USM's Muskie School of Public Service, is a Portland attorney and a member of the Islamic Society of Portland. He teaches courses in political science at USM. Steinbock is a nationally recognized author and Jewish educator. His most recent book is entitled "These Words upon Our Hearts: A Lexicon of Judaism and World Religions."

The workshop will be presented as part of the Seeds of Peace Camp's adult delegation leaders' program. Adult leaders, including Palestinians and Israelis, as well as leaders from Greek and Turkish Cyprus, will participate.

Animashaun and Steinbock will discuss Islamic law (Shari'a) and Jewish law (Halacha) within the context of Islamic and Jewish history, and will explore how these systems -- which regulate every aspect of Muslim and Jewish identity -- can be perceived as systems for following the right path through life, or as strongholds of Islamic and Jewish fundamentalism.

Dr. Barbara Zasloff, a vice-president of Seeds of Peace, and the coordinator of the adult delegation leaders' program, arranged the event with USM Professor Abraham J. Peck, director of the Academic Council. Peck commented that "this is an important development for the Academic Council. It allows us to contribute to the work of the premiere institution devoted to coexistence and conflict resolution in most of the world's 'hot spots.' Sadly, religious conflict is among the major reasons for these human tragedies. The religious communities need to understand each other with respect and a willingness to learn."

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