F

or many years, members 
of Metropolitan Detroit’
s 
Jewish and Muslim com-
munities have been working 
together to create closer bonds. 
In 2013, two organizations, the 
Detroit regional office of the 
American Jewish Committee 
(AJC) and Michigan Muslim 
Community Council (MMCC), 
decided to examine the attitudes 
and experiences of members 
of both communities through 
a survey formulated and con-
ducted by the University of 
Michigan-Dearborn i-Labs.
The study reported similari-
ties between the two communi-
ties, with responders indicating 
their respective degrees of will-
ingness to interact.
To publicize the results, AJC 
and MMCC hosted a public 
program where each organi-
zation provided commentary 
on the survey. Among the pre-
senters then were Wayne State 
University professors Howard 
Lupovitch and Saeed Khan. 
 “They were so similar and 
their level of intelligence, 
respectful disagreement and 
ability to have really challeng-
ing conversations framed in 
history was astounding,
” said 
Kari Alterman, regional direc-
tor of AJC Detroit at that time. 
“Recognizing potential in the 
present and the future, their 
narratives were remarkable, 
leaving everyone inspired and 
informed.
” 

Following the inaugural 
event, the three-part lecture 
series, “
A Shared Future,
” was 
created. 
The annual program con-
tinues to explore topics of 
importance to the local Jewish 
and Muslim communities. 
Each year, the lectures take 
place at three different venues: 
a Muslim-affiliated location, 
a synagogue and Wayne State 
University. Attendance at 
each venue includes Jews and 
Muslims.
This year, the series is titled 
“
Are We Religiously Free in 
America?” On Wednesday, Feb. 
12, the Muslim Unity Center 
will host the first installment, 
which will explore the navi-
gation and implementation 
of Halachah and Sharia in the 
United States. On Wednesday, 
Feb. 19, at Congregation Beth 
Ahm in West Bloomfield, pro-
fessors Khan and Lupovitch will 
discuss attitudes and applica-
tions of separation of religion 
and state. Finally, Wayne State 
University will host Wednesday, 
Feb. 26, with a look at attitudes 
toward the First Amendment 
as they pertain to constructive 
debate and civil discourse.
All three programs begin at 
7 p.m. and are followed by a 
dessert reception. The lectures 
are free but register at
 sharedfuturereligiousfreedom.
eventbrite.com. 

A Shared Future

LAUREN GARFIELD-HERRIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Left: Howard Lupovitch. Right: Saeed Khan 
.

COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

 FEBRUARY 6 • 2020 | 15

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