Category Archives: Interfaith Matters

Hag Ha Aviv: The Festival of Spring Draws Near

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Kim Alston
by

Spring is officially here as evidenced by the appearance of the first flowers breaking through the ground and buds on trees. Passover, celebrated from the evening of April 12 until April 20, is one of the three Jewish festivals (Shavuot … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Holidays, Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Programs & Events, Reflections, Social Justice, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Six Ways Faculty and Staff Can Support Students During Ramadan: A Letter from Students

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Anna Ostow
by

Dear Smith College Faculty and Staff, Greetings from Al Iman, Smith College’s Muslim Student Association. We are excited to announce that the Holy Month of Ramadan is approaching us in the Spring 2024 semester. The official start date depends on … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Interfaith Matters, Programs & Events, Student Articles, Student Orgs | Leave a comment

Reflections on Peace

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Anna Ostow
by

Peace Now: Not the Absence of Tension but the Presence of Justice; Not the Presence of War but the Absence of Weapons By Reverend Matilda Cantwell, CRSL Director and College Chaplain When I was seventeen, I had a purple T-shirt; … Continue reading →

Posted in Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Reflections, Social Justice, Spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Introducing the Reflect, Resist, Rejuvenate Lounge

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Anna Ostow
by

REFLECT RESIST REJUVENATE LOUNGE We are proud to announce the official “opening” or coming on-line of our Reflect, Resist, Rejuvenate lounge. This room was re-purposed just prior to the pandemic from a reading room to a reading room plus, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Social Justice, Spirituality, Student Orgs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

People of the Mask

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Rhonda Shapiro-Rieser
by

My son is now a project manager for a large hospital system.  Two weeks ago, he took on the task of getting remote communications and monitoring programs into ICUs  so nurses could monitor Covid-19 patients without having to always enter … Continue reading →

Posted in Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Reflections, Social Justice, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fear and Freedom: Hand in Hand

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Matilda Cantwell
by

“The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom.”  ― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Reflections, Social Justice, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Times of Captivity, a Time of Liberation

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Matilda Cantwell
by

For the next two issues, our newsletter will focus on the theme of liberation. Passover, the holiday which began last night, April 8, commemorates the successful exodus of the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt. The COVID-19 crisis kept … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Reflections, Social Justice, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Darkness and Light

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Rhonda Shapiro-Rieser
by

There are verses in psalm 139 that I have used (to mix my spiritual metaphors) like a Zen Koan. “If I were to say that darkness will shadow me, then night would be light on my account…Night shines as day.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Interfaith Matters, Response Statements, Social Justice, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Best Day Ever! Building Interfaith Community One Party at a Time!

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Kim Alston
by

This article represents reflections from Maeve Orlowski-Scherer ‘21, a student intern and leader in the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. By 5:30 p.m., everything was ready. The chairs had been pushed back to the sides of the Helen Hills … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Programs & Events, Response Statements, Social Justice, Student Articles, Student Orgs, Student Posts, Student Reflections, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Our Year on Climate Change: Expanding the Golden Rule

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Kim Alston
by

CRSL is part of Smith’s college-wide initiative on climate change. Director of Religious & Spiritual Life and College Chaplain Matilda Cantwell discusses the impact of climate change and its connection to the work of the CRSL. My friend and colleague … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Interfaith Matters, Newsletter Articles, Programs & Events, Social Justice | Leave a comment