The JMCBI began after September 11, 2001, when JCUA members helped to defend mosques and Muslim community centers against vandalism and hate crimes. JCUA and the Muslim Civil Rights Center were leaders in the coalition that persuaded the Chicago City Council to pass a resolution against the Patriot Act in late 2003. Today, the JMCBI works with two intertwined approaches:
* Cultural Encounters: ev
ents and projects bringing together Jewish and Muslim performers and community members, through music, spoken word, poetry workshops, oral histories, spiritual insights, and more.
* Advocacy and Community Organizing: We campaign against discriminatory legislation, hate crimes, divisiveness, and the forced invisibility of minority communities. We work to promote civil rights, just immigration policy, freedom of worship, and diverse participation in democratic life. Since its inception, the JMCBI has been involved in numerous cultural and educational events and scored major victories in its coalition based campaigns for civil liberties. Some of the events include:
-Cafe Finjan - celebrate Muslim and Jewish culture through music, spoken word, oral histories, spiritual insights, and more!
-Jewish-Muslim text study- a place where ideas, thoughts and stories are shared about a certain topic. Fun for all ages!
-"Iftar in the Synagogue": Iftar in the Synagogue is an annual event which brings together Jews and Muslims to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. We invite vibrant Jewish and Muslim individuals to join the group and bring creative ideas and a progressive attitude to our discussions and action!
