(Open to MSU Students, Faculty and Staff)

Oct 19|Nov 9| Nov 30| Dec 5, 5pm-7pm

B-342 Wells Hall

This past spring, the Serling Institute, the Muslim Studies Program and the MSU Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (IDI) teamed up to run a virtual 4-part series on “Conversations on Antisemitism and Islamophobia” for the MSU community. Facilitators of all four sessions included: from the Serling Institute, Professor Yael Aronoff, Professor Kirsten Fermaglich, Assistant Professor Amy Simon, assistant to the Director Ariana Mentzel, and student Ellie Baden; from Muslim Studies, Program Director and Professor Mohammad Khalil, Associate Professor Morgan Shipley (also a Serling Institute Faculty Affiliate); from IDI, Dr. Vanessa Holmes. They all were awarded the 2023 Award for Outstanding Community Partnership for contributions to MSU Dialogues from the MSU Office for Institutional Diversity.  MSU alumnus Nadir Hamid, past ASMSU’s DEI officer and President of the Muslim Student Association and Associate Professor of Political Science Nazita Lajevardi also helped lead and individual session.

In the newly adapted “Conversations on Antisemitism and Islamophobia,” all our participating faculty, staff, and students participated in each of the four sessions, and presented material and helped facilitate discussion in each of the sessions. Faculty experts discussed the history and current manifestations of antisemitism and Islamophobia which occur globally, nationally and on college campuses. In addition to discussions of MSU incidents, participants had the opportunity to share their observations and ideas, while learning to contribute to an inclusive MSU campus community.

Approximately 30 faculty, staff, and students throughout the university participated in all four sessions and gave very positive feedback. One participant reported that “today was an emotional journey through my own past and that of my heritage. I really appreciated the discussion and the materials that were presented;” another concluded “I gained background, history, context, references and opportunities to share difficult experiences and uncomfortable topics. I felt that it was a safe and supportive group and allowed for a lot of nonjudgmental growth.”

The success of this inaugural program has led to a renewal of the Conversations series, taking place in person in both the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters, and is only open to MSU faculty, staff, and students (not to community members). We welcome students, faculty, and staff to register for the upcoming Fall sessions!

Goals include: attaining a greater understanding of the historical contexts of antisemitism and Islamophobia globally and nationally; helping people to recognize antisemitism and Islamophobia when they see them; discussing antisemitic or Islamophobic rhetoric or actions that have happened on the MSU campus, and what can be learned; discussing resources that are available on campus and brainstorming ways that we can increase a sense of inclusion for both affected communities.

Student participation may be used as an Honors option; please check with faculty. Faculty and staff attendance may be considered for annual reviews and promotions. Participants are encouraged to attend all four in-person sessions. Complimentary pizza or Middle Eastern food from Woody’s will be provided at each session Click here to register for CONVERSATIONS ON ANTISEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA Oct 19|| Nov 9| Nov 30| Dec 5 5 p.m- 7 p.m ET B-342 Wells Hall or scan this QR code (please use your MSU account for Google):

The Serling Institute faculty and staff are proud of our great collaboration with the Muslim Studies program under the directorship of Professor Mohammad Khalil. In addition to collaboration on these “Conversations on Antisemitism and Islamophobia” we collaborate on training over 300 residential advisors every year to recognize and combat antisemitism and Islamophobia, and provide workshops to units across campus. We co-sponsor programming and we collaborated closely on working on MSU’s new religious observance policy and its implementation. In addition, Laura Yares (core Serling Institute faculty and Religious Studies), Chris Frilingos (Religious Studies and affiliate of the Serling Institute), Mohammad Khalil, and Morgan Shipley (Religious Studies, Muslim Studies, and the Serling Institute) all wrote descriptions of religious holidays and recommended greetings, which are now available on the MSU religious holiday calendar.

Dr. Yael Aronoff is the Director of the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel, is the Serling Chair of Israel Studies, and is Professor of International Relations in James Madison College at MSU.

Dr. Mohammad Hassan Khalil is the Director of the Muslim Studies Program and Professor in the Department of Religious Studies.

Dr. Kirsten Fermaglich is Professor of History and Jewish Studies at Michigan State

Dr. Morgan Shipley is the Inaugural Foglio Endowed Chair of Spirituality and Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Michigan State University.

Dr. Amy Simon is the William and Audrey Farber Family Chair in Holocaust Studies and European Jewish History, core faculty member of the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel and teaches in James Madison College and the Department of History.

University.