Fundamentalism from Jewish and Muslim perspectives

Fundamentalism from Jewish and Muslim perspectives with Rabbi Mara Young and Imam Gazmend Aga.

Speakers:

Rabbi Mara Young is the rabbi at Woodlands Community Temple in Greenburgh, NY. She was ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion where she also earned a Masters of Hebrew Literature and a Certificate in Education: Specializing in Adolescents and Emerging Adults. She grew up in Westfield, NJ and attended Tufts University in Boston. Rabbi Mara is the co-founder and former spiritual leader of a young minyan in Astoria, NY called the Wandering Jews of Astoria.In the area of social action and justice work, Rabbi Mara is passionate about partnering with other religious groups, participating in panels, rallies, and celebrations with local Muslim and Christian organizations. Rabbi Mara was selected as a Balfour Brickner Clergy Fellow with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and is actively involved in the Reform Movement’s regional political advocacy group, RAC-NY.

Imam Gazmend Aga is an Imam of the Albanian American Community in Waterbury, CT, and a University Chaplain at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. Known as Imam Gazi, he served as a Correctional Chaplain for two years. He was Vice-Chairman of the Muslim Community of Albania, a lecturer at Beder University, a school director, and an interfaith activist in Albania. He is part of The Three Amigos (a priest, an imam, and a rabbi), an interfaith initiative in the Waterbury area, Connecticut.

Active in interreligious discussion throughout the region, he lives in Waterbury, CT with his wife and 2 children.