Community News (V14-I50)

Bill Introduced In Senate To Increase Halal Food Purchase For Emergency Food Assistance Program

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., has introduced legislation (S. 3632) to amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 1983 to “provide for the increased purchase of Kosher and Halal food and to modify the labeling of the commodities list under the emergency food assistance program to enable Kosher and Halal food bank operators to identify which commodities to obtain from local food banks. The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

The bill aims to amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to provide for the increased purchase of Kosher and Halal food and to modify the labeling of the commodities list under the emergency food assistance program to enable Kosher and Halal food bank operators to identify which commodities to obtain from local food banks.

The bill will add the following to the Emergency Food Act: ‘(h) Kosher and Halal Food- As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall finalize and implement a plan– ‘(1) to increase the purchase of Kosher and Halal food from food manufacturers with a Kosher or Halal certification to carry out the program established under this Act if the Kosher and Halal food purchased is comparable in price to food that is not from food manufacturers with a Kosher or Halal certification; and ‘(2) to modify the labeling of the commodities list used to carry out the program in a manner that enables Kosher and Halal food bank operators to identify which commodities to obtain from local food banks.’.

Cemetery serves community needs

JOHNSOHNVILLE,NC–Muslims in Harnett County, North Carolina, have now their own cemetery. It was a long standing need of a growing community. They had been looking forward to it since 2001. After a long and arduous journey they finally have one. According to its backers they face a tough time finding the land. Many sellers would decline after finding out its purpose.

Yaqub Shamsiddeen, the administrator of a cemetery, said that lot of people made sacrifices. According to the Fayetteville Observer thousands of Muslims now live in the area. The two acre cemetery meets their long standing needs.

Muslims, Jews United for peace at UD

Muslims and Jews united at the University of Delaware to pray for peace in the Middle East. Political science professor Muqtedar Khan spoke at the rally and said everyone in attendance was acknowledging that there are injustices being committed in the Middle East, but they are unable to directly change them, the UD Review reported.

The rally was a way for the people to reclaim their humanity, he said.“If we show greater commitment to our cause, only then will it have a difference [in the Middle East],” Khan said.  Senior Emma Hansen said the event was touching because it brought two different communities together. It was really important for all of the organizations to partner in the event, she said.

“It shows we can all come together on one united front to resolve the conflict,” Hansen said.

Founder and co-president of Israel U, Ally Becker, said the event was important because there is a need for peace in the Middle East. People need to put aside their race and religion and come to a peaceful compromise to resolve the conflict over there, she said. “The only way to establish a better future is to work together,” Becker said. “It doesn’t matter which walk of life we came from. We all want the goal.”

St. Louis Muslims, Jews Observe Service day

The Islamic Foundation of Greater Saint Louis and the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis and its Milford and Lee Bohm Social Justice Center are sponsoring the second annual regional Jewish and Muslim Day of Service on Tuesday, Dec. 25.

More than 20 agencies have been identified in the St. Louis area as sites that will host needed volunteers.

Jewish and Muslim volunteers will be working side by side throughout the day at the various agencies. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center in Creve Coeur with a volunteer welcome breakfast. Participants will then leave to work in the community at the various sites.

To register, visit www.stljewishmuslimdayofservice.org. For more information, call (314) 442-3894.

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