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JN writer Susan Tawil and her new friend
Muqitah of Detroit

Rbab Alsaidi of Dearborn

Common Bridge

Headwrap Expo brings diverse
people together.

Susan Tawil

participants. Smiling faces were every-
where, and there seemed to be genuine
interest and connection with each other.
hat's a nice Jewish girl like
Zarinah El-Amin Naeem, founder
me doing in a convention
and organizer of the event, is a native
center in Dearborn with
Detroiter, a Muslim and anthropologist.
hundreds of Muslims, Sikhs, native
"There is so much religious and
Africans and black Baptists? I was at
cultural illiteracy:' she said. "This igno-
the Headwrap Expo May 17 at the
rance can lead to hate and fear:'
Ford Community and Performing Arts
Her goal is to "create a global culture
Center, and the experience was interest- of love and she decided to use the
ing and surprisingly heartwarming.
headwrap as the "connector" to "build
As an Orthodox Jew,
love and understanding
I began covering my
between various ethnic
hair when I married.
and religious groups:'
Halachah (Jewish law)
I was happy the event
doesn't mandate how we
was blessedly apolitical.
cover our hair, just that
Once that element of
we do so; so through the
divisiveness is out of the
years, I've worn hats,
way, there is freedom to
berets, bandanas, tichels
appreciate our diversity
(the Jewish version of a
in an atmosphere of toler-
doo-rag) and, of course,
ance and mutual respect.
sheitels (wigs).
So I felt totally comfort-
A model in th e modest
I was recently won
able speaking to some
fashion show
over to headwrapping
members of the Nation of
and find it a more
Islam (followers of notori-
enjoyable, creative way to observe the
ous anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan), and
mitzvah. It takes a bit of chutzpah to
I admired their dignity and deep com-
wrap, though. Unlike wearing a wig
mitment to their faith.
and "blending in," a headwrap sends
I met Rbab Alsaidi, a lovely young
an obvious message that I'm religiously
Muslim woman from Dearborn. We
or ethnically different from the main-
spoke together about how it felt to
stream.
cover our hair in our secular society,
But I'm OK with that. It's an attitude
and I loved her attitude. She told me
thing, really, and when I wrap my hair I
she views her hijab as "a crown on my
feel regal, proud to observe our mitzvot. head ... a sign of strength, dignity and
honor:'
So when I heard about the Headwrap
Expo, I was intrigued. Wouldn't it be a
She said she wears it "loud and
kick to spend the day among an array
proud, as a sign of guidance and light
of women from other cultures who also
for those around me:'
wrap their hair?
I marveled at how easily women can
This was the third Headwrap Expo
connect as I shmoozed with Muqitah, a
in Detroit, and more than 500 people
sweet Muslim woman in her 60s, while
(mostly women) attended. The event
we watched a fashion show and listened
featured an ongoing marketplace of
to an interfaith panel on wrapping. We
vendors selling scarves and textiles, eth- were totally on the same wavelength,
nic clothing and accessories, cosmetics
despite our seeming differences. "It's
and jewelry. It was all rather exotic.
good to see how much we have in com-
On a central stage, panel discussions
mon:' she said.
alternated with headwrap demonstra-
Inderpal Singh, a turban-wearing
tions and "modest" fashion shows by
Sikh gentleman, (a monotheistic Indian
local designers.
religion) summed it up: "We are all cre-
What struck me most was the level
ated by one God; we need to love each
of friendliness and sisterhood among
other:'

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