Muslim, Jewish, &
Christian Artists to Build Musical Bridges
Los
Angeles, CA: FaithJam, the inter-religious music and comedy
jam session which debuted to wide acclaim at the Islamic
Center last spring, is returning to Los Angeles. Craig Taubman,
the producer of last year’s highly successful “Let
My People Sing” has announced that the festival of
song, art, dance, and spirit will be back again with six
events from March 8- March11.
FaithJam’07, a multi-faith happening, once again will
open the Festival. Free to the public (advance reservations
required), it will take place on Thursday, March 8, at the
Japanese American Cultural Center, 244 S. San Pedro Street,
in Little Tokyo.
FaithJam’07 will be an important evening of musical
bridge-building, bringing together the Pakistani group Junoon
and Salman Ahmad , the Israeli group missFlag, and the Christ
Our Redeemer AME Church Gospel Choir.
“We are thrilled to have these amazing artists performing
together with a spirit of hope and collaboration,”
said Craig Taubman . “Now more than ever, we need
events that bring together people of all faiths, break barriers,
and confront the divisions between people. We expect FaithJam
to bridge those barriers and inspire people to act.”
All the artists participating in FaithJam’07 and the
different events of “Let My People Sing … Again”
are donating one song to a CD which will be given out at
the various events.
To date 26 local, regional, and national Christian, Jewish,
Muslim, and inter-religious congregations and organizations
have signed on to cosponsor FaithJam ’07, including:
Abraham's Vision, AJC Access, All Saints Church, Archdiocese
of Los Angeles (Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs),
Catholic Jewish Women's Conference, Christ Our Redeemer
AME Church, Emergent Village, The Episcopal Diocese of Los
Angeles, IKAR, Interreligious Council of Southern California,
Islamic Center of Southern California, Jewlicious, Kehillat
Israel, Levantine Cultural Center, Muslims for Progressive
Values, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Nashuva, Omar Ibn
Al Khattab Foundation - Omar Center for Culture, Education
and Community Outreach, Presbyterian Church (USA) Synod
of Southern California and Hawaii, Progressive Jewish Alliance,
Sinai Temple/ATID, Southern California Nevada Conference
United Church of Christ, Tribe of LA, Valley Interfaith
Council, Westwood Hills Congregational Church UCC, and the
Women's Interfaith Committee of Los Angeles [list in formation].
Salman Ahmad, lead singer of Junoon, is one of the leading
artists in the Muslim world with over 25 million cds sold.
The festival embodies his goal of peaceful coexistence.
“As a Muslim I believe that love for humanity means
having love for God,” said Ahmad “When people
of diversity come together as One, the Universe smiles...
My song Ghoom Tana is a metaphor for coexistence. It’s
a song I want to dedicate to the people of Darfur because
politicians and leaders who spread fear, hate and violence
can be defeated only if the people choose to live in harmony
with each other.”
FaithJam was born out of the desire to create opportunities
for people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds to
come together and celebrate their differences. It has become
a pillar of the Let My People Sing Festival. This year,
Let My People Sing …Again will pick up on last year’s
theme, with the addition of a strong call to action. The
festival will benefit the work of Jewish World Watch, a
coalition of 50 synagogues working together to combat genocide
and other egregious violations of human rights around the
world with Darfur as its first advocacy campaign. The festival
will launch an advocacy campaign that will tie all the events
together.
For more information about FaithJam or Let My People Sing
… Again, please go to http://faithjam07.com and www.letmypeoplesing.com
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