Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
{{Short description|Not-for-profit organization in New York}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
|image = Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.png
|size =
|abbreviation = FFEU
|formation = 1989
|type = not-for-profit organization
|headquarters = New York, NY, United States
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = Marc Schneier
|key_people =
| revenue_year = 2015
| expenses_year = 2015
|website = [http://www.ffeu.org www.ffeu.org]
}}
The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) is a not-for-profit organization based in New York that focuses on improving Muslim–Jewish relations and Black–Jewish relations. FFEU was founded in 1989 by Rabbi Marc Schneier and theatrical producer and director Joseph Papp. The goals of the organization are in part motivated by the historical cooperation between African Americans and Jewish Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. Russell Simmons joined the Board of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding in 2002 as chairman of the board.{{cite news|last=Ramirez|first=Anthony|title=Backstage With Six Rabbis, Six Imams and No 'Kumbaya'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/nyregion/13bias.html?_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 13, 2008 |accessdate=11 September 2013}} In 2007, the Foundation began its program in Muslim–Jewish Relations and has since hosted the First National Summit of Imams and Rabbis,{{cite news|title=Rabbis & imams see eye to eye|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/rabbis-imams-eye-eye-article-1.258012|date=November 27, 2007 |accessdate=11 September 2013|location=New York|work=Daily News}} two European conferences of Muslim and Jewish Leaders,{{cite news|title=Gathering of European Muslim and Jewish Leaders|url=http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/events/10|date=December 6, 2010 |accessdate=11 September 2013}} three Missions of Muslim and Jewish Leaders to Washington D.C.,{{cite news|last=Duin|first=Julia|title=Rabbis, imams visit U.S. for dialogue|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/20/rabbis-imams-visiting-us-for-interfaith-dialogue/?page=all|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=July 20, 2009 |accessdate=11 September 2013}}{{cite news |last=Guttman |first=Nathan|title=South Africa's Muslims and Jews, Once United Against Apartheid, Are Now Split |url=http://forward.com/articles/178159/south-africas-muslims-and-jews-once-united-against/|newspaper=The Forward|date=June 8, 2013 |accessdate=11 September 2013}} and has held the annual program "The Weekend of Twinning" each November since 2008.{{cite web|last=Ruby|first=Walter|url=http://ffeu.org/twinning|title=The Weekend of Twinning|url-status=dead|accessdate=11 September 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914045315/http://ffeu.org/twinning|archivedate=14 September 2013}}
Muslim–Jewish Relations
In 2007, Schneier and Simmons started project to create a global movement of reconciliation between Muslims and Jews.{{cite news|last=Conlon|first=Michael|title=U.S. Jews and Muslims seek paths to harmony|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-muslims-jews-idUSN1431156020071224|work=Reuters|date=December 24, 2007 |accessdate=11 September 2013}} FFEU has engaged Muslim–Jewish Relations on both the grassroots and leadership levels. On November 7, 2007, FFEU hosted the first-ever National Summit of Rabbis and Imams in New York with the participation of imams and rabbis from 11 cities across America.{{cite web |date=November 14, 2007 |last=Chandler|first=Doug |title=How Far Can Their Dialogue Go? |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/how_far_can_their_dialogue_go |publisher=The Jewish Week |accessdate=11 September 2013}} The following year the FFEU launched the 1st Annual Weekend of Twinning, during which 50 mosques and 50 synagogues held one-on-one programs in cities across North America focusing on they similarities in the faith traditions; including common rituals, customs, and beliefs. Each year since 2008, FFEU has hosted a Weekend of Twinning. In 2012, the 5th Weekend of Twinning held programs in 25 countries. During the 5th Weekend of Twinning, a Chanukah Luncheon was hosted by Schneier and Imam Shamsi Ali, featuring the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger and leading American Imams.{{cite news|last=Otterman|first=Sharon|title=At Interfaith Luncheon, an Appeal for a Miracle|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/at-interfaith-luncheon-an-appeal-for-a-miracle/|work=The New York Times |date=December 12, 2012 |accessdate=11 September 2013}} FFEU partners with the Islamic Society of North America on many of its projects.{{cite web|last=ISNA|title=ISNA Celebrates the 5th Annual Muslim–Jewish Weekend of Twinning|url=http://www.isna.net/isna-celebrates-the-5th-annual-muslim-jewish-weekend-of-twinning.html|publisher=ISNA|accessdate=11 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913215811/http://www.isna.net/isna-celebrates-the-5th-annual-muslim-jewish-weekend-of-twinning.html|archive-date=13 September 2013|url-status=dead}}
In July 2009, FFEU hosted the Mission of European Imams and Rabbis to the U.S.,{{cite news|last=Solomont|first=E.B.|title=European imams, rabbis visit 'The House that Ruth Built'|url=http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/European-imams-rabbis-visit-The-House-that-Ruth-Built |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|date=July 25, 2009 |accessdate=11 September 2013}} during which nearly 30 European imams, rabbis and Muslim and Jewish leaders visited New York and Washington to learn about FFEU-initiated programs in the U.S. Many of the members of the delegation held Muslim–Jewish encounters in their countries during the 2nd Annual Weekend of Twinning in November 2009. FFEU served as a co-sponsor of two major conferences in Europe; the First Gathering of European Muslim and Jewish Leaders in Brussels in December, 2010 and the Second Gathering of European Muslim and Jewish Leaders in Paris in September 2012. FFEU replicated the success of the European Mission by holding a Mission of Latin American Muslim and Jewish Leaders to Washington in March 2012 and a Mission of Muslim and Jewish Leaders from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand will take place in June 2013.{{Update inline|date=December 2020|reason=}}
Black–Jewish Relations
FFEU was created in 1989 to improve relations between African Americans and Jewish Americans. The organization tries to remind Blacks and Jews of their historic partnership during the Civil Rights Movement and to encourage both groups to form new partnerships. Each year, they encourage African Americans and Jewish Americans to celebrate Martin Luther King Day together. In 2006, rapper Jay-Z appeared with Simmons in a public service announcement to condemn anti-semitism and all other forms of racism.{{cite web |author=Jay-Z |title=We Are One |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNFXHoaf4Vs |publisher=The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding |date=November 12, 2006 |accessdate=11 September 2013}} Over the years, Simmons has helped FFEU gain the support of LL Cool J, Sean Combs, Jamie Foxx and he and Schneier have gained the support of Jewish and Black leaders like Reverend Al Sharpton, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King III, Steven Spielberg, Ronald Lauder, S. Daniel Abraham, among others.{{cite news|last=Newhouse|first=Alana|title=Stars Shine on Black–Jewish Relation Dialogue, But Is That All?|url=http://forward.com/articles/9140/stars-shine-on-black–Jewish-dialogue-but-is-that/#ixzz2UJl5PBJH |newspaper=The Jewish Daily Forward|date=January 17, 2003 |accessdate=11 September 2013}}{{cite news|title=Rev. Steps Back to Ease Black-jewish Relations|url=http://globalgrind.com/news/rev-al-sharpton-crown-heights-riots-riot-yankel-rosenbaum-norman-gavin-cato-marc-schneier-photos#ixzz2UJmCXFRO|newspaper=Global Grind|date=August 18, 2011 |accessdate=11 September 2013}}
Schneier wrote a text in Black–Jewish Relations "Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jewish Community" which was published in 1999 and featured a preface written by Martin Luther King III.{{cite web|last=Schneier|first=Rabbi Marc|title=Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jewish Community|url=http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-58023-273-9|work=1999|publisher=Jewish Lights |accessdate=11 September 2013}} The book has been used as a resource in many of FFEU's Black–Jewish programming.
Leadership
The foundation's leaders include Rabbi Marc Schneier (President), Russell Simmons, chairman, and Ken Sunshine (Secretary), Ali Naqvi, (trustee and chairman, Young Leadership), David Renzer (Trustee), Bob Cyruli, (Counsel) and Michael Heningburg (Treasurer).{{cite web |url=http://ffeu.org/team |title=FFEU Board of Trustees |accessdate=11 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219030258/http://ffeu.org/team |archive-date=19 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}
References
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Category:Foundations based in the United States
Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City
Category:Islamic and Jewish interfaith dialogue
Category:African American–Jewish relations
Category:Jewish organizations established in 1989
Category:Islamic organizations established in 1989