Please join us for an engaging panel discussion about effecting change through inter-religious collaboration with esteemed members from Haifa’s Ahmadiyya Muslim, Greek-Melkite Catholic, and Jewish Reform communities alongside the Head of the Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies, and moderated by University of Haifa faculty.
ASUH is also thrilled to announce a $100,000 challenge opportunity generously sponsored by the Wayfarer Foundation. Every donation for the Haifa Lab for Religious Studies will be matched dollar for dollar.
As you register for this event, please consider helping us reach this fundraising goal with a donation toward the Haifa Lab for Religious Studies of any amount you choose.
Registration is required.
RABBI NA’AMA DAFNI-KELLEN serves congregation “Or Hadash” in partnership with Rabbi Gabby Dagan. With a previous background in community organizing and non-profit management, she is passionate about building congregations that are meaningful in today’s world. She sees helping Jews to reclaim their Jewish identity and act accordingly in the world as her life’s calling.
DR. MOUNA MAROUN is a professor in University of Haifa’s Sagol Department of Neurobiology, with research focusing on how the brain regulates emotions under normal and pathological conditions. She is also the Head of the Public Board for University of Haifa’s Laboratory for Religious Studies. Prof. Maroun is a member of the planning and budgeting committee of the higher council of education (VATAT) and steering committee chair for accessing higher education in Israel’s Arab population.
ARCHBISHOP YOUSEF MATTA is the Archbishop of Greek-Melkite Catholic of Byzantine rite of Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and the Galilee. He conducted his graduate studies in Eastern Canon Law at the Pontifical Oriental Institute (PIO) in Rome, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore.
MU’AD ODEH is the General Secretary of the Ahmadiayya Muslim Community. He is involved in interfaith conferences and gatherings to promote more understanding and cooperation between religious groups locally and worldwide. Mr. Odeh is also the Israeli President of the Center for Conflict Resolution International. He graduated from the University of Winnipeg, majoring in Conflict Resolution Studies & Psychology.
PRESIDENT RON ROBIN is a renowned historian and accomplished academic administrator. He earned his PhD in American History from the University of California at Berkley, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. He served as Associate Dean of NYU’s Steinhardt School before being appointed Senior Vice Provost of NYU, responsible for establishing NYU’s international campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. President Robin became University of Haifa’s president in 2016 with a strategic vision focusing on equality, health, technology and sustainability.
STEVE SAROWITZ is the founder and Chairman of Paylocity, a leading U.S. provider of payroll and HR solutions. He is also an international philanthropist with an interest in promoting universal education and advocating for the elimination of racism, sexism, nationalism and religious prejudice. Sarowitz is also a member of the Baha’i Community.
DR. URIEL SIMONSOHN is a faculty member at University of Haifa’s Department for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and is the founder and current leader of the Haifa Laboratory for Religious Studies. He received his PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University in 2008. He recently led a research group concerned with Cultural Brokerage in Pre-Modern Islam. He was also a member of the Center for the Study of Conversion & Inter-Religious Encounters at Ben Gurion University.