Dr. Reuven Firestone,authority on Islam and Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam, to Lead a Panel Discussion "Understanding Islam in Light of the Issues of Our Times"

Dr. Reuven Firestone, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's (HUC-JIR) noted scholar on Islam and Medieval Judaism, has created a panel of leading Islamic experts to explore with him the background and origins of today's pressing issues. This rare meeting of three internationally known scholars and authors will be presented in conjunction with the North American Federation of Temple Brotherhoods (NFTB) Pacific Southwest Region. Dr. Firestone is Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam and Director of both the Jerome H. Louchheim School of Judaic Studies and the Edgar R. Magnin School of Graduate Studies at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles. He will be joined by Dr. Khaled Abu El Fadl, Ph.D., UCLA Professor of Law and expert in Islamic Law, in exploring "Jewish and Islamic Attitudes on War and Peace". Dr. Firestone will also lead a discussion of "Jewish and Islamic Terrorism" with Dr. Richard Hrair Dekmejian, Ph.D., USC Professor of Political Science and noted TV network authority on comparative political violence.

The program will be presented on Sunday, April 28, 2002, at the Los Angeles Campus of HUC-JIR at 3077 University Avenue, Los Angeles, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Continental breakfast and deli lunch will be provided. Tickets are $45 for NFTB Members and HUC-JIR overseers, associates, students, faculty, staff and their family members and $50 for others. To RSVP, please contact Teffani Johnson at (800) 899-0925 extension 4242. Please make checks payable to NFTB Pacific Southwest Region.