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This is the 48th issue of Voices From the Past. My goal for each issue is to publish one of my stories as well as an update on my activities. Please feel free to forward this

e-newsletter to anyone you think might be interested.

A Ring of Peace

As a child, I learned The Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I thought that was the only Golden Rule.

However, when attending a meeting of the local interfaith Story Circle, I learned that many religions have a Golden Rule. The Muslim Golden Rule is: None of you truly believes until you wish for your brother what you wish for yourself.

Here’s a story of some Muslims who follow their Golden Rule.

In February 2015, an Arab extremist killed two Jews and wounded five others outside a synagogue on Copenhagen, Denmark. This attack caused a number of Jews in Oslo, 600 miles away, to grow fearful. 

Jews make up a tiny minority in Norway – there are only 1,000 Jews in a total population of 5 million. In contrast, there are about 150,000 Muslims in Norway.

A group of eight Muslims, between the ages of 17 and 37, used social media to organize a demonstration of support for the Jews in Oslo. Consequently, a few days later on a Friday night, 1,000 Muslims and other Norwegians formed a human chain – a ring of peace - around the only synagogue in Oslo. They wanted the Jews leaving the synagogue after the Sabbath service to see this ring of peace.

It was dark and freezing cold. People were bundled up in their winter coats and scarves, holding hands and chanting “No to anti-Semitism, no to Islamophobia. No to anti-Semitism, no to Islamophobia. No to anti-Semitism, no to Islamophobia.”

Zeeshan Abdullah, one of the Muslim organizers, said, “We 150,000 Muslims are a small minority in Norway – only 3% of the population. So we knew that the much smaller minority, the 1,000 Jews, must feel really vulnerable after that attach in Copenhagen. We came together outside their synagogue to show the Jews that they are not alone.

Islam means protecting our brothers and sisters, regardless of their religion.”

This statement kept repeating in my head:

“Islam means protecting our brothers and sisters, regardless of their religion.”

I finally realized that it was a different way of expressing the Muslim Golden Rule:

None of you truly believes until you wish for your brother what you wish for yourself.

However these Muslims did more than wish – they acted.

Epilogue: The next week, there was a Solidarity Ring for Muslims outside a mosque in Oslo. One of the speakers at this event was a priest.

News about me

Here is an upcoming LIVE performance this Sunday, November 12 :-)

In 1785, Robert Burns wrote: "The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew."

That was true then, and is still true now.

Come hear some of the best storytellers in our area share their favorite stories about plans that didn't work out as intended.

Our storytellers are:

Miss Julia, Kent Busman, Kate Dudding, Margaret French, Marni Gillard, Bonnie Mion, Claire Nolan and Nancy Marie Payne.

This is the 26th Tellabration! in the Capital Region. Please come celebrate with us. There will be refreshments and door prizes.

Each year in November, in many locations around the world, people gather together to share stories at programs called Tellabration.

Proceeds from our previous Tellabration programs have funded over 100 storytelling events at libraries, museums and other locations in the Capital District.

Thanks for reading this issue.

I’ll be sending you some more story highlights in a few months.

You can learn more about me and watch me tell more stories on my website: www.KateDudding.com