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As the students entered the auditorium, the immediate visual of having a Muslim woman standing side by side with an orthodox Rabbi, was the first step in the educational experience. In a most creative approach, Rabbi Blum and Dr. Sherazi guided the students into recognizing that we all form stereotypes and bring unconscious biases into how we approach and interact with individuals in our day-to-day lives. These prejudices — which we may not even be aware of — inevitably shape our impressions, our words and our actions, potentially creating divisiveness and discrimination.
Rabbi Blum and Dr. Sherazi share the powerful message that even with diverse backgrounds, there is more that connects us than divides us. And between themselves, while they can disagree on certain things, they appreciate the importance and significance of maintaining their friendship based on many shared values and mutual respect.
In both sessions, the students were engaged and seemingly yearning to learn the important lessons being presented. Dr. Sherazi’s and Rabbi Blum’s approach made them feel comfortable and safe to openly share their thoughts and feelings. Their comments and questions were honest, insightful and wise, and left me feeling hopeful.
During the sessions I kept turning to look at the group of students. I thought that even if the messaging impacted only a handful of students in the audience, the potential impact and ripple effect would be tremendous.
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