Apr. 14, 2017

Assalamu Alaikum

Dear Family & Friends of ICSC, 

*SPRING BREAK - NO JYG OR SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS WEEKEND*

Join us for another exciting  Family Night, beginning tonight at 6 p.m. at New Horizon School in Pasadena. Bring the whole family, and enjoy a great dinner ( chicken/beef shawarma and falafel pitas ) , a fun Youth Program, and a timely  Adult Program on  "Social Media in the Home " with marriage & family therapist  Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine. This is a great event for the whole family! 

Tonight , we will also be visiting Leo Baeck Temple at 6:15 p.m. for another week of Shabbat solidarity visits . Please RSVP if you plan to attend. This is a special week of religious services , as our Jewish brothers and sisters are celebrating their Passover holiday and our Christian friends are preparing for Easter Sunday. 

While  Sunday School and  JYG are on spring break this weekend, our MYG will meet and the Sunday Program will continue as scheduled. At 11:30 a.m., our youth group will participate in a special panel discussion titled, "Let's Be Honest" where they 'll have an opportunity for candid conversation  about taboo  topics. We are excited to welcome Heather Laird, Asma Men, Omar Offendum and Nathan Richardson . And while the youth are diving deep upstairs, Sh. Asim Buyuksoy will present the second week of his series, "Knowing Your Lord: The Attributes of Allah." Closing out at noon, Dr. Saleh Kholaki will lead us through the story of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Night Journey, al-Isra wa'l-Mi'raj, as it approaches.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

In peace,
Islamic Center of Southern California

P.S. STAY INFORMED.  Please forward this newsletter to your friends so they can join our mailing list.



In this Issue

Pre-Ramadan Fundraising Dinner pre-ram
The Islamic Center Board of Directors, committees and staff are happy to announce our 2017 Pre-Ramadan Fundraising Dinner, "Ramadan the Month of Resistance." This year's event will take place on Saturday, May 20 at the  Hilton Hotel in Pasadena (168 S. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101). 

We are excited to welcome our Featured Speaker, Umar Hakim (Founder & Principal at INKERIJ, and Director at ILM Foundation) and our Honored Guest, Mohamed Bzeek (as widely reported recently, the only person in L.A. County foster parenting terminally ill children).

Buy your tickets today! Early registration ends on May 13. Tickets may be purchased online, over the phone or at the Islamic Center's front desk during normal business hours. Babysitting will be available.

Ticket Prices: 
Early Registration - $100
Late Registration - $125
Students Early Registration - $75
Students Late Registration - $100



Friday Khutbas khutba
APR 14
Dr. Gasser Hathout
APR 21
Dr. Ahmed Soboh
Listen to Last Week's Friday Khutba (April 7)

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl -  "Finding the Center"
Coming up at ICSC COMINGUP
This Weekend

FRIDAY (4/14)
1 p.m. -  Jumma'a Khutba & Prayer
Dr. Gasser Hathout
6 p.m. -  Family Night @ NH Pasadena
Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine
Food, Socializing, Youth Program, & Adult Program on "Social Media in the Home"
6:15 p.m. -  Eight Weeks of Shabbat
Marium Mohiuddin
@ Leo Baeck Temple 
Please RSVP  here

SATURDAY (4/15)
10:30 a.m. -  ICSC Food Pantry
Volunteers arrive @ 9:45 a.m.
7 p.m. -  Singles Social Club
*REGISTRATION REQUIRED*
Register  here until 2 p.m. on 4/14

SUNDAY (4/16)
*NO JYG OR SUNDAY SCHOOL DUE TO SPRING BREAK - WILL RESUME 4/24*
10 a.m. -  Highlights of the Qur'an
Asim Buyuksoy
Topic: "Knowing Your Lord" (Part 2/5)
11 a.m. - Muslim Youth Group (MYG)
Edina Lekovic
Topic: " Let's Be Honest: Candid Conversations About Taboo Topics"
11 a.m. -  Parents Circle
Tarek Shawky
Topic: "Positive Parenting for the Muslim Home"
Noon - Sunday Lecture
Dr. Saleh Kholaki
Topic: "The Night Journey" (al-Isra wa'l-Mi'raj)

Next Week

THURSDAY (4/20)
6:30 p.m. - Message of the Qur'an
Asim Buyuksoy

FRIDAY (4/21)
1 p.m. -  Jumma'a Khutba & Prayer
Dr. Ahmed Soboh
6 p.m. - MYG Youth Potluck
Nia Malika Dixon
RSVP here
TBA -  Eight Weeks of Shabbat
Marium Mohiuddin
@ B'nai David - Judea Congregation 
Please RSVP  here

SATURDAY (4/22)
10:30 a.m. -  ICSC Food Pantry
Volunteers arrive @ 9:45 a.m.

SUNDAY (4/23)
10 a.m. - Highlights of the Qur'an
Asim Buyuksoy
Topic: "Knowing Your Lord" (Part 3/5)
11 a.m. -  Muslim Youth Group (MYG)
Nia Malika Dixon
Topic: Debates and formal speeches for MYG Board Elections
11 a.m. - Parents Circle
Edina Lekovic & Tarek Shawky
Topic: "Positive Parenting for the Muslim Home"
Noon - Sunday Lecture
Ramy Salah
Topic: "End of Life Care in Islam"

Community Corner CommCor
"Refugee Humanitarian Day"
Over the course of last week, Islamic Center members filled a U-Haul truck with gently used donations for Syrian refugees. This was a collection leading up to an interfaith service day called, "Refugee Humanitarian Day," co-sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, i.CARE, One Global Family and the Islamic Center. Approximately 350 people, including about 70 Muslims, came out to volunteer for a day of activities to support Syrian refugees. 

The day began with an hour-long interfaith program in the chapel, where Dr. Saleh Kholaki spoke on behalf of the Islamic Center. As people arrived, they hauled large trash bags full of gently used clothing, blankets, toys, and school supplies into the gymnasium where a large makeshift sorting station had been set-up. Volunteers sorted through donations - checking for quality and folding items nicely in preparation for loading into the truck. By the end of the day, two 15' trucks were filled to maximum capacity with donations that will be packed into a shipping container and sent overseas to refugees in need.

"With everything that is going on right now, interfaith work is more important than ever," said Ambereen, a volunteer from the Islamic Center. " And I enjoy that we can get to know one another while we work to help Syrian refugees."

While one side of the gym was sorting donations, the other half was filled with tables of fabric, pins, and sewing machines. Volunteers created hundreds of reusable sanitary pads to be distributed through an organization called "Days for Girls." Access to clean feminine hygiene products can greatly impact a young woman's quality of life, especially her likelihood of completing basic education. After a long day, volunteers lined up for a potluck buffet before congregating in the courtyard. Youth group members lined the perimeter with tables full of baked goods, raising funds for a mission trip later in the year and children waited their turn for a chance to break open the piƱata full of treats.

While reflecting on the diverse gathering unfolding in the courtyard, a Mormon attendee shared, "I now realize how much we have in common. I never thought I might relate more to a Muslim than the guy next door."

For more information on upcoming interfaith opportunities, please contact Kristen Stangas.

Prayer Times prayers
We are open for prayers five times a day, every day. The iqama (announcement for prayer) is ten minutes after the Call to Prayer (athan). You can find prayer times on our  website .


"Those who spend in charity will be richly rewarded .
(Qur'an 57:10)


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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Kristen Stangas, Communication Coordinator

ICSC | 213.382.9200 |  icsc@icsconline.org |  www.icsconline.org