|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UIW Home / Islamic and Interfaith Conference | |
|
|
|
|
|
THE GLORIOUS CIVILIZATION OF ISLAMIC SPAIN
|
 |
| "Merciful" by
Salwa Arnous Elaydi |
Saturday, November 9, 2000, 12 noon to 10 p.m.
International Conference Center, At the corner of Hildebrand on the east
side of 281 University of the Incarnate Word
12:30 to 5:30 p.m. " History, Literature, Education, Art of Islamic
Spain"
Presented by Audrey Shabbas, a nationally recognized pre-eminent instructor
on the Arab world. For more information about the Middle East Policy Council
which is generously sponsoring Audrey Shabbas and for links to more information
on the Arab world, see http://www.mepc.org/
5:30 p.m. Iftar: the Traditional Breaking of the Fast on the Days of
the
Holy Month of Ramadam
Maghrib: Evening Prayer
Buffet Dinner hosted by the San Antonio Muslim Women's Association
8 to 10 p.m. Interactive Qur'an Reading led by Hajj Ali Moshirsadri
Sponsored by the San Antonio Muslim Women's Association. Free and open to the public. For information call Narjis Pierre at 736-7119 or e-mail narjas@aol.com
Co-sponsored by the Liturgical Outreach Program of the University of
the Incarnate Word led by Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Th.D., Professor of
Religious Studies. For information on her forthcoming book on ancient
Jewish, Christian, and Muslim women and on study tours to the Middle East,
see http://www.uiw.edu/holylandtour/index.htm
Hajj Ali Moshirsadri from Iran presents extensively helping the San Antonio Community understand Islam. He has been a leader in the Tri-faith Dialogue of Jews, Muslims, and Christians.
MUSIC OF ISLAM shared by Covita Moroney of SAVAE, the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble http://moroneys.home.netcom.com/index.html
To learn more of Jewish life during the Golden Age of Spain, see Sephardim
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/Sephardim.html
"Teaching About the Arab World and Islam" workshops are part of a national program developed by the Middle East Policy Council. Since 1985, over 200 workshops have been held in 42 states and about 11,000 educators have attended the workshops. Workshops examine in detail cultural geography, history, family and women in addition to recommending books and materials that are especially helpful when teaching about the modern period. During the workshop, participants often discuss A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra Palace, a cross-curriculum activity in which students take on the roles of notable figures in medieval life gathered for a banquet in 15th century Spain. An Alhambra Banquet is a fascinating event for an entire community which portrays the music, decorative arts, costumes, poetry, intellectual conversation and food of the period. In 1995 The Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC staged an Alhambra Banquet in which Chelsea Clinton participated and President and Mrs. Clinton attended. Audrey Shabbas, the workshop presenter, demonstrates techniques and provides information that enable educators to communicate more effectively with their students about the Arab world, Islam and the larger Middle East. Resource materials are available. The California State Board of Education has endorsed workshop materials, and the main workshop text is the required text for a required Delaware course of study "The First Renaissance in Europe: Islamic Spain."
Teachers of all subjects and grade levels are welcome. However, secondary-school teachers in the social studies are the primary focus of the workshop materials. The principal reference is the 540-page Arab World Studies Notebook, edited by Ms. Shabbas. The Council makes this valuable resource available to workshop participants for only $15.
MANY PERSON WHO ARE NOT TEACHERS, BUT ARE JUST INTERESTED IN THE ARAB
WORLD AND ISLAM HAVE FOUND THE WORKSHOPS FASCINATING AND HELPFUL
To learn more about the workshop see http://www.mepc.org/workshops/about.html
Audrey Shabbas is nationally recognized as one of the pre-eminent instructors
on the Arab world and the Middle East and is listed in "Who's Who
of American Teachers." She has over twenty-two years experience in
teaching, curriculum development and teacher training about the Middle
East
and Islam. Her curriculum works include: The Arab World Studies Notebook
(printed by the Middle East Policy Council); The Arab World Notebook:
For the Secondary School Level; The Arabs: Activities for the Elementary
and Middle School; and A Medieval Banquet in the Alhambra Palace, the
curriculum chosen by Sidwell Friends School for their study of Islam,
and a culminating event in which the president and Mrs. Clinton and daughter
Chelsea participated.
A long time member of The National Council for the Social Studies, she
has served as a presidential appointee to its Equity and Social Justice
Committee, and as chair of the International Human RightsEducation Special
Interest Group. She is a regular presenter for Social Studies educator
conferences-- state, regional and national--as well as for the Association
for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Association for
Multicultural Education, and the National Association for Bilingual Education,
among others.
In 1985, Ms. Shabbas was asked by the United Nations to organize in
New York a workshop on the question "How To Work With Educational
Institutions: Schools and Libraries." She was asked by the United
Nations to return in order to develop a training program in "How
To Organize Successful Teacher Workshops" for the International NGO
Symposium in Geneva, and participated
in United Nations forums on issues of Israeli/Palestinian peace. During
many of these meetings at the United Nations, Ms. Shabbas chaired drafting
committees, chaired floor fights over final declarations, acted as Rapporteur
for final draft declarations, and has brought opposing factions
together for resolution of conflict Ò mediating between opposing
positions in order to bring them into common consensus.
Her work has been honored by the University of Pennsylvania, which presented
her with their Janet Lee Stevens Award (1992) for contributions to Arab
American understanding. She is listed in Who's Who in American Education,
The World's Who's Who of Women and the Dictionary of International Biography.
She is the founder and director of the non-profit organization, AWAIR:
Arab World And Islamic Resources, Berkeley, California. To learn more
about Audrey Shabbas, see
http://www.mepc.org/workshops/shabbas.html