Dr. Lo Sprague is joined by Aziza Hasan and Andrea Hodos, Executive Director and Associate Director of NewGround A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change.

Aziza Hasan and Andrea Hodos – On October 7, 2024

October 7, 2024 marked a full year since the stark escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine spewing out heart-breaking suffering to everyone involved. Our Jewish and Muslim communities have been felled with grief, rage and horror that have frayed friendships and fractured relationships. Righteous anger has erupted from the helplessness and desperation to stop the violence against innocent family members, colleagues, friends, care-givers, truth-tellers and peace-keepers who pay with their lives and limbs.  

In the midst of such agony is NewGround: A Muslin-Jewish Partnership for Change, an organization that strives to honor and uphold the sanctity and value of both traditions, and of each human life.

At their helm is Executive Director Aziza Hasan, a Palestinian Muslim, and Associate Director Andrea Hodos, a devout Jew. 

While the news media across the country have turned to them for insight into the heart-wrenching and unremitting violence, we ask them how it is that throughout this past terrible year, even when they, too, have lost loved ones, that they have managed to hold onto their centeredness and compassion.

Their responses have much to teach us. Please watch the video.

In her captivating presentation for the Take Heart Now series, Rev. Angie Buchanan invites us to explore the sacred rhythms of nature and their profound reflections in our souls, urging us to honor the transition into the quieter, introspective months of fall and winter while simultaneously recognizing the vibrant awakenings of spring and summer in the Southern Hemisphere; through her insights, we are encouraged to deepen our spiritual practice, fostering an awareness that the cycles of nature mirror our own emotional landscapes and that in nurturing this connection, we cultivate a heart-centered compassion that not only supports our personal journeys but also weaves a tapestry of shared understanding within our diverse communities.

Errol Gerson shares a life-changing story of Gratitude that goes on to change generations, making this an enduring gift. 

With Take Heart Now we cultivate a heart-centered compassion that not only supports our personal journeys but also weaves a tapestry of shared understanding within our diverse communities

Bikbaye Inejnema is a transformational facilitator, sociologist, philosopher, cultural activist, healer, spoken word artist, writer, producer, director, recording artist and teacher of Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) knowledge.

The Guibord Center’s online series, Take Heart Now, offers a platform for uplifting and immersive presentations. Each week, we invite a new speaker to share their insights, narratives, and practices that nurture our connection to spirituality and compassion, enriching our collective journey toward understanding and empathy.