Remembering Women's Day, BDF Women's Club organized Women's Day Party on March 16 at Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts. A large group of women from different communities came together and celebrated Women's Day.

Party started with brunch prepared by BDF volunteers. Raffle prizes were given at the beginning of the program. An informative presentation about the essential role of women in a productive society.

Woman of the Year Award was presented to Mrs Pat Pervane. Pat shared her experiences about being a working mother. At the end of the program, an old tradition from Turkey, "The Henna Night", which is a ceremonial night for a soon-to-be-married girl,was performed. Program was closed with songs from various cultures.

First of our cooking classes started with a delicious spinach borek recipe. Cooking class was led by members of Boston Dialogue Foundation Women's Club. The group met on a windy friday evening on March 14. The audience enjoyed the well-cooked borek at the end.

Here is a quick ingredients for the recipe, for those who missed:

• Three large size yufkas
• Half pack of baby spinach
• 2 small potatoes
• 1 onion
• 3 table spoons of yoghurt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup of milk

Stay tuned to Women's Club news for a delicious recipe of lentil kofte next week on March 28.

On March 2nd, 2008 BDF participated the Interfaith Conference held on Tufts University Campus. The conference organized by the Tufts Interfaith Initiative was titled "Religious Pluralism in a Time of Extremism: The Campus Responds".

http://www.tuftspathways.org/Conference.htm

The initiative brought together more than 400 people from different backgrounds, and set grounds for students, faculty, administrators and religious-leaders to share experiences and successes. Participants learned valuable lessons and skills through networking group meetings, workshops, and panels. BDF was represented with an exhibit booth at the conference that provided information to the attendees about the BDF activities.

Boston Dialogue Foundation sponsored a seminar at Harvard University organized by Harvard Dialogue Forum. The seminar was titled as "Human Rights in World Religions" in order to emphasize the role of Major World Religions in reaching the level of our modern understanding of Human Rights. The distinguished speakers were:

Swami Tyagananda , Harvard Hindu Fellowship
Rabbi Howard Berman , Boston Jewish Spirit
Rev Donald Larsen , Lutheran Campus Ministry
Prof Abdullah Antepli , Hartford Seminary

The speeches were followed by a Q&A session where the speakers were challenged by the intriguing questions of the audience. At the end of the program, the speakers were presented small gifts.

Program Details:

Title: Human Rights in World Religions
Date & Time: 02-12-2007 7.00pm-8.30pm
Location: CGIS S020

Boston Dialogue Foundation and Trinity Church joined forces for a very meaningful community service, providing meals to three shelters in Boston. Each year, Muslims celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid-ul-Adha), a religious festival celebrated worldwide as a commemoration of Abraham's (pbuh) willingness to sacrifice his son, as commanded by God. Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice their best domestic animals as a symbol Abraham's (pbuh) sacrifice. According to the Qur’an a large portion of the meat has to be given to poor and hungry people so they can all join in the Eid-ul-Adha feast.

BDF members have attended Boston Interfaith Dialogue's (BID) monthly regular meeting on February 10, Sunday in the Trinity Church. The theme of the gathering was: Politics and Faith - how each affects the other.

Mission of BID is to use honest discussion and informal conversation to encourage understanding and friendship between members of our different faiths. The intent is to develop a deeper understanding of each other with emphasis on secular and cultural aspects. BID meets monthly for a focused discussion at one of the three locations, and depends on maintaining a lasting commitment among group participants so that an atmosphere of trust can develop.

Ashura is a day of fasting that Muslims observe on Muharram 10, the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is derived from the Jewish Day of Atonement.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Ashura is a day of great historical significance. Because God granted His special offerings to 10 prophets on this day some of which include:

• God created heavens and worlds.
• God accepted the repentance of Adam after his exile from Paradise.
• God saved Noah and his companions.
• God spoke directly to Moses and gave him the Commandments.
• Jonah was saved from the stomach of the fish.
• The sea split apart to let the children of Israel pass and joined back to destroy Pharaoh’s army.
• Jesus was born and raised to the heavens.

THE TRADITION STILL CONTINUES

The making of Noah's Pudding or so called "ashura" is a common practice among Muslims and Christians in the Middle East.
In Turkey, people cook ashura every year. Christian communities throughout the Middle East prepare a similar sweet dish, called hedik, amah, or qamhiyyi.
People who cook ashura at home send a cup of it to each of their neighbors. Because, one has the responsibility to maintain good relations with their neighbors regardless of what their religion or beliefs may be.

BDF offers serving of Noah's pudding to various communities around Boston metroplex area as part of Ashura day celebrations and friendship that encompasses this day.

Boston Dialogue foundation organizes Turkish Food Festival on February 10.

Women’s Club of Boston Dialog Foundation joined Daughters of Abraham group in Cambridge and enjoyed serving of Noah’s pudding on January 16, 2008. Noah’s pudding, which is also known as ‘Ashura’, is a traditional Turkish dessert. The dessert is cooked and shared among the neighbors on Ashura day celebrating the landing of Noah’s ark after the great flood. A short presentation, including brief information about the significance of the day was shared. The group enjoyed Noah’s pudding and was surprised to hear about the ingredients of the dessert, since it consisted of a rich variety of nuts, fruits and vegetables.