Interfaith Women’s Leadership Group (IWL), January 30, 2024

​Thank you for signing up to be a part of our upcoming Interfaith Adventure starting February 6 and occurring every other Tuesday for 6 weeks from 7 – 8:30 pm on Zoom.  Here are the actual dates:  February 6, 20, March 5, 19, April 2, 16.  We appreciate the commitment you are making so that we can have some interesting exploration and dialogue.  Although we are using the book, ‘The Faith Club’ as a guide for our  conversations and discussions, we have identified four local Faith Based Facilitators to help us in our journey.  They have read the book, have interesting perspectives and thoughts about their own experiences, and are affiliated with local houses of worship.

Michelleslie Maltese is a cradle Episcopalian and is one of the Deacons at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Lebanon, NJ.  After graduating from Drew University Theological Seminary with a Masters of Arts in Theology and Ministry, she was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in the Episcopal church.  Michelleslie also holds a graduate certificate in Interfaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding which has sparked the work with the Interfaith Women’s Leadership project.  She is currently working on her Doctorate of Ministry at Drew University Theological Seminary.  Michelleslie lives in Ringoes, NJ and when she is not busy studying, enjoys chaplain ministry, and cooking and entertaining friends.

Florence (Flo) Friedman Hurwitz, a long time native of New Jersey, retired in 2012, from serving as the Cantor of the Temple Sinai in Summit, New Jersey.  In addition to her cantorial training, she is a graduate of the clergy cohort of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality as well as their Jewish Meditation Teachers’ Training Program.  Flo volunteers as a hospital chaplain, member of her community’s CERT (community emergency response team), meditation teacher, Torah reader, and co-convener of the Pennington CPSP chapter.  She is affiliated with the Flemington Jewish Community Center (FJCC).  She takes piano lessons, loves to garden, read, and spend time with her extended family and friends.  She and her husband, Loren Hurwitz, currently reside in the picturesque town of Lambertville on the Delaware River! 

Shireen Kahn, was born in Chicago, raised in various places and ended up settling in Hunterdon County, where she has been for the last 18 years, currently living in Flemington. She is married with three boys that keep her extremely busy… especially in the kitchen! She currently teaches English at Kean University, Islamic Studies at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, and at Qur’an to high school boys at the Islamic Center of Hunterdon County (ICHC) mosque.  She loves to cook for others, hang out with her boys, take long walks and help people around her to achieve their dreams.

​Jo-Ann Hoffman, currently is involved at St. Raphael’s/Holy Angel Roman Catholic Parish in Hamilton Township, NJ.  She is a retired Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University and  worked at the Rutgers Uni. Cooperative Extension Service in  Mercer County. Currently a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain volunteering at Robert Wood Johnson/Barnabas Hospital (Mercer County) in addition to being a Eucharistic Minister there.  She is a member of a Chapter of Chaplains a support group and a member of CONTACT of Mercer County where  she participates in a support phone line for community members and provides back-up for counselors on the 988 Suicide Prevention Crisis Line. In addition, providing Zoom training for new volunteers. During the warmer months, she enjoys gardening, growing herbs, vegetables and flowers...in the colder months nurtures her houseplants to keep her house ‘green.’ 

In preparation for our first session: 
Using a computer is best as you have best visibility of the group which is important.  If you don’t have a computer, you can use an iPad as an option.  Do not use your phone for these meetings as it is hard to see the group and often Zoom works differently.  
Test out the Zoom link and make sure that your name appears rather than a telephone no. (You can go to the edit profile to change your name)
When we are on the Zoom call, please make sure that your camera is on. 
You may want to keep a journal for yourself as you explore your learning and thoughts.
Reading Assignment for February 6: 
Pages 1-36, Chapters 1-3 and
Pages 362-375 in English; or pages 376 – 385 in Hebrew or pages 386 – 396 in Arabic.

​The Zoom link for the call is: 
 
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88528937693?pwd=R0OtLpXIiS37GaXZ6VDZnA4JYSbF4T.1
 
Please test out the link and make sure that you name is on your zoom so that we can identify each other by first name, rather than phone no.  I will be on the call 15 minutes early to help anyone who is having difficulty connecting. 

I will be moderating the discussions and setting up the bi-weekly assignments and questions. We will be using the chat feature on the Zoom call for questions/comments since we have a fairly large group.  We’ll start at 7:00 pm and end promptly at 8:30 pm.