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Category: Religion

  • HEART of Davis Celebrates First Anniversary of Safe Heart Safe Parking Program

    Program marks one year of providing safety, stability, and pathways to housing for neighbors living in their vehicles

    (From press release) HEART of Davis is celebrating the first anniversary of its Safe Heart Safe Parking Program, the first and only program in Yolo County to provide a safe, legal place for people living in their vehicles to park overnight while accessing supportive services and working toward permanent housing.

    Launched on July 1, 2025, Safe Heart was created to address a critical gap in services for people experiencing vehicular homelessness. In the City of Davis, where sleeping in vehicles is prohibited under the City’s anti-camping ordinance, the program offers a lawful alternative that combines overnight parking with case management, community support, and connections to essential resources.

    “What began as a small pilot has become a proven model of compassionate, practical assistance,” said Shoshana Zatz, President of HEART of Davis. “Safe Heart demonstrates that when people are treated with dignity and offered stability, they are better able to take the next steps toward housing, employment, healthcare, and renewed independence.”

    During its first year, Safe Heart:

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  • What Justice Looks Like in Davis

    We find out at the April 28th City Council Meeting

    By Scott Steward

    July 1, 2024, UCD Student Encampment – Popular University of Liberation of Palestine
    One sign reads: “As You Go to Class Today, remember that there are no Universities Left in Gaza

    City Staff released its version of the Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian and Allies (MAPA) recommendations this past Friday. (provided below)

    Discrimination against Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian bodies, families, and cultures has been an unfortunate project that has accelerated since the First World War. This bias is also evident in the colloquial, systemic, unequal, and dehumanizing treatment of our Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian residents and students in Davis.

    City email boxes are filling with canned opposition emails leading up to the April 28th special City meeting to hear Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Allies (MAPA) antidiscrimination recommendations, recommendations made by our own City Human Relations Commission (HRC).  The HRC recommendations were made after months of surveys, hearing testimony, and careful consideration. 

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  • Why not a Passover Liberation for both Israel & Palestine

    By Alan Hirsch

    This year at my Jewish family’s Passover Seder we will be reciting the poem “Red Sea” by Aurora Levins Morales. This poem recalls the crossing over of the Red Sea as part of the Exodus story of deliverance and freedom.

    The poem echoes Martin Luther King Jr’s observation that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We must continue to grapple with and embrace the truth that the only path forward is one of mutual liberation.  

    Red Sea: April 2002

    This Passover, who reclines?
    Only the dead, their cupped hands filling slowly
    with the red wine of war.  We are not free.

    The blood on the doorposts does not protect anyone.
    They say that other country over there
    dim blue in the twilight
    farther than the orange stars exploding over our roofs
    is called peace.

    The bread of affliction snaps in our hands like bones,
    is dust in our mouths. This bitterness brings tears to our eyes.
    The figs and apples are sour.  We have many more
    than four questions.  We dip and dip,
    salt stinging our fingers.  
    Unbearable griefs braided into a rope so tight
    we can hardly breathe,
    Whether we bless or curse,
    this is captivity.
    We would cross the water if we knew how.
    Everyone blames everyone else for barring the way.

    Listen, they say there is honey swelling in golden combs, over there,
    dates as sweet and brown as lovers’ cheekbones,
    bread as fragrant as rest,
    but the turbulent water will not part for us.
    We’ve lost the trick of it.

    Back then, one man’s faith opened the way.
    He stepped in, we were released, our enemies drowned.

    This time we’re tied at the ankles.
    We cannot cross until we carry each other,
    all of us refugees, all of us prophets.
    No more taking turns on history’s wheel,
    trying to collect old debts no-one can pay.
    The sea will not open that way. 

    This time that country
    is what we promise each other,
    our rage pressed cheek to cheek
    until tears flood the space between,
    until there are no enemies left,
    because this time no one will be left to drown
    and all of us must be chosen. 
    This time it’s all of us or none. 

    “Red Sea” first appeared in Rimonim: Ritual Poetry of Jewish Liberation by Aurora Levins Morales, Copyright © November 2024. Published with permission of Ayin Press and Anderson Literary Management LLC

  • Celebration of Abraham Raises Over $2300 for Joshua House Hospice

    (From press release) On February 1, 2026, the more than 130 members of the interfaith community of Yolo County were welcomed by Khalid Saeed to the beautiful new Woodland Mosque & Islamic Center for the annual Celebration of Abraham. This year’s theme was Returning to Abraham: Reflections in Courage. Abraham is a major character is all three Abrahamic traditions: Jewish, Christian and Islamic.

    The theme also reflected the site of the first Celebration of Abraham 2003 was at Holy Rosary Church in Woodland. Father John Boll (retired), who hosted the first Celebration in 2003, was this year’s first speaker and he presented the biblical story of Abraham beginning God’s call for him to leave his birthplace in Ur “into a land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1, HBFV)—the promised land. Rabbi Leah Julian, Director of Education and Youth at Congregation Bet Haverim then spoke. She said the ancient Rabbis saw Abraham as a man of great faith and courage and she cited stories of Abraham’s stand against prevailing idol worship, his courage to do the unpopular thing (smashing idols) and on some occasions, Abraham even stood up to the ultimate authority for what he believed was right. The Rabbi ended her speech with a heartfelt appeal for community unity through caring with courage. The third speaker was Imam Riaz Ahmed Quadri who leads the Woodland Mosque congregation. He noted that Prophet Ibrahim, as he is known in the Islamic faith, was one of 124,000 prophets that have been sent to mankind. In Islam, Ibrahim is called God’s friend and he was known for turning away from falsehood which took great courage at the time. He is a true example to follow where he turned to faith over fear.   After their prepared remarks, the Micheal Hirsh moderated the speakers responding to questions from the audience.

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  • A UC Davis professor calls for violence against Jews — and keeps her position

    Screenshot is from Professor Jemma DeCristo’s posting on X (formerly Twitter) in October 2023. It was deleted within a few days of its original posting.

    [This article was originally published by the SF Chronicle and then the Times of Israel. It is re-posted here with permission of the author].

    By Reuven Taff

    On Jan. 10, a synagogue in Jackson, Miss., was torched — a stark reminder that antisemitism is not just words in a hateful social media post but continues to be a threat with real-world consequences.

    But just as last month’s Hanukkah massacre at Australia’s Bondi Beach exposed with brutal clarity the consequences of unchecked antisemitic incitement, the events in Jackson should provide further evidence that there’s a connection between violent attacks and the rampant, incendiary online rhetoric directed at Jews. History has shown that ignoring such threats risks emboldening perpetrators, normalizing antisemitism and making Jewish communities less safe.

    This context makes UC Davis’s handling of American Studies professor Jemma DeCristo’s now-deleted Oct. 10, 2023, social media post on X all the more alarming.

    Just three days after Hamas’ deadly rampage that killed at least 1,219 people and the kidnapping of 251 hostages, DeCristo wrote that

    “one group of ppl we have easy access to in the US is all these zionist journalists who spread propaganda & misinformation … they have houses w addresses, kids in school … they can fear their bosses but they should fear us more.”

    Her words were accompanied by emojis of a knife, a hatchet and three drops of blood.

    That post left Jewish students, faculty and families scared, isolated and angry — yet the university’s response, after a nearly two-year investigation, amounted to little more than a slap on the wrist.

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  • Returning to Abraham: Reflections in Courage

    (From press release) The Celebration of Abraham was founded after 9-11 with the mission of creating a welcoming tent for all people in our community to nurture a sense of compassion, respect, and appreciation and to foster learning and understanding among the three Abrahamic traditions. In 2003 the Celebration of Abraham assembled for the first time. We met in Woodland, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. This year the Celebration is excited to announce that we will again meet in Woodland, on Sunday, February 1, 3-5 PM, at the new beautiful Woodland Mosque and Islamic Center at 613 East Street in Woodland with the theme “Returning to Abraham: Reflections in Courage.” As we face these challenging times, we felt a need to return to the strengths our religious traditions can provide.

    Our speakers will be Rabbi Leah Julian, Director of Education and Youth, Congregation Bet Haverim; Father John Boll, Diocese of Sacramento, (retired); and Imam Riaz Ahmed Qadri of the Woodland Mosque and Muslim Center. As they present the stories of Abraham’s faith and courage, we will provide everyone with cards so that they can write down the questions talks raise for them. After the presentations, our speakers will address the questions that participants have raised. We will then spend time in table discussions on how we might individually address the challenges, uncertainties and fears we are facing.

    As in previous years, we will share in a ritual hand washing and sharing gluten free bread. Each year, the Celebration collects a free will offering for a non-profit that provides needed service to our community. This year we are collecting for Joshua’s House, a hospice home for the unhoused in Sacramento. The program will close with
    Randy Ferris leading us in an Acapella version of “Children of Abraham.”

    To help us plan, we hope you will preregister at https://celebrationofabraham.net. Please dress modestly (arms and legs covered) as we will be at the mosque, a sacred space.

    Draft of table question

    The speakers from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions have presented stories of how Abraham courageously met challenges in the face of fear, uncertainty and sacrifice. Consider when you have faced a situation that required courage or trust? What helped you through it?

  • Celebration of Abraham: Save the Date

    (from press release) SAVE THE DATE

    Celebration of Abraham, 3 PM
    February 1, 2026

    Woodland Mosque and Islamic Center
    613 East Street
    Woodland, CA 95776

    More info to come!

    Celebration of Abraham is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that aims to increase understanding and respect among all faiths in Yolo County based on the principles of religious pluralism.

  • Vigilance Neighbors, In this Season Rest

    By Scott Steward

    Overcome and grateful for the rest, my activist colleagues, near and far, may you feel the blessing of solstice on these longest nights.

    Many rest, taking the season to focus more on charity.  The people’s work, to organize and break through the repression, is set to a simmer.  Settle down – take the following “caring for the world” paragraphs one at a time, holding a warm mug. Rest and restore.  Inspiration will call you to act soon enough.

    Our Actions Abroad

    Blankets and dollars for Gaza.  Here is one of the most effective places to send aid to the children and families in occupied Palestine

    Children in Gaza ride in the open bed of a truck with water and all their possessions.

    Help Gaza survive this winter by donating to @projecthopepalestine. Part of the Taxpayers Against Genocide family of humanitarian efforts that go hand in hand with ending the illegal funding of genocide in Israel/Palestine.

    Our Actions Here at Home

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  • Do you still believe good will prevail?

    Trump, Mental Health & our Farmers Market

    By Alan “Lorax” Hirsch

    Dear Nora:

    You mentioned your need to curtail your exposure to politics and reading news as it often becomes too much.

    I offer you an opportunity to recharge. Come down to the Saturday Davis Farmers Market between 8 and 1 and table with me as I pass out free “Love Your Neighbor” lawn signs.

    As strangers walk by my booth I call out “Free lawn signs!” And “Make your neighborhood a friendlier place!”  Like a carnival barker. Rudely, Intruding into their conversations, texting, or thoughts of their shopping lists.

     In response I get not ignored, but smiles, hundreds of smiles. And people responding, “glad you’re here!” And “Thanks— I’ve got a sign.” “I wish I had a lawn- I live in an apartment” or “You inspire me.” Half the people respond somehow. And I get hugs from total strangers every Saturday.

    About once a Saturday, someone, usually from Davis who has seen me before, will spontaneously offer a donation so someone else can have a sign, often as they live in an apartment or have a landlord that forbids signs. (Hey city council- this is social equity: why does Davis allow HOA or landlords to forbid signs, even in windows. It makes places impersonal, an abridgement of speech for renters.)

    Today: an older homeless man pushing shopping cart came by. The cart was filled with empty soda cans and liquor bottles he was collecting presumably to recycle for cash. He stopped across from me in the market, slowly read my signs, and then came over to give me $1.17 in change as a donation.

    I frequently have heartfelt conversations with strangers who reflect they struggling to maintain their equanimity in face of The Darkness. People from out-of-town express regret that the 18×24 lawn signs won’t fit in a suitcase. Thought my signs don’t flag they are political everyone “get it” that these values a refutation of Trumpism.

    Today a visiting UCD alumna now living in “deep red” Iowa suggested I was needed there to table. Someone from rural Nevada told me about her neighbors…first demurring on a “Love Your neighbor” sign afraid it would upset them …then came back and took one.

    These Saturday mornings’ experiences are like no other I have had in my entire life giving out my Love lawn signs.  “Love is one thing you get more of when you give it away.”

    But I remember; it’s not about me.

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  • Have a Rebellious Rebellious Christmas. la la la la

    (Sung to the tune of Rosie O’Donnell’s album holiday hit “Have a Rosie Christmas (Donna Summer’s lyrics). 

    By Scott Steward

    Perhaps Rosie O’Donnell, the abrasive and enduring talented comedian/artist, who also has a famous feud with Trump (dating back to 2004), will accept the recalcitrant Marjorie Taylor Greene, should Trump make becoming an expat in Ireland all the more attractive for Greene, too.  Mmmmm – except that Greene has been very mean about LGPTQ (and other people) until very recently. 

    O’Donnell and Greene are far apart, but share a talent for the spotlight, a caring for kids and families, and their persona non grata status with Trump.  You decide if this tumultuous declaration of Greene’s reconciliation is a path toward common ground, and while you’re mulling it over, here are some other rebellious pre-holiday actions to consider.

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