The high holidays are behind us, together with their emotional and spiritual peaks. Whether these peaks occurred in a synagogue, outside in a Sukkah, or on a street filled with dancing Torahs, they have all left their mark. How they will shape our year remains to be seen.

Attendants of the Chicago Interfaith Gathering Symposium hope to explore and build toward solutions to this question at this year’s gathering at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Augustana Chapel, Nov. 10-11.

In the spirit of unity, people of many cultures gathered Oct. 5 to experience an evening of Muslim tradition. Officials and residents from Burr Ridge, Darien, Willowbrook and Oak Brook met at Ashton Place in Willowbrook for a meal and program hosted by the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center of America.

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director, Yaser Tabbara, spoke today at the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center’s (MECCA) third annual interfaith Iftar (breaking of the fast) marking the first day of Ramadan.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced that the Muslim community in Chicago’s Southwestern Suburbs is marking the start of Ramadan by opening its doors to neighbors, interfaith leaders, law enforcement and elected officials.

The growing commitment of religious leaders to capitalize on their traditions and holidays as a form of outreach to other faith groups is a wonderful example of the good that comes out of religion (“3 major faiths mark overlapping October holidays,” Sept. 30).

On Friday, September 9, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will host an interfaith candlelight vigil at the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., to mark the fourth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

University of Chicago’s decision to renovate the basement of Rockefeller Chapel so that all of its faith groups have a place to worship should be applauded nationwide (“U. of C. seeks to give home to all of its faiths,” Aug. 26).

On July 28, 2005, CAIR-Chicago Governmental Relations Director Fadi Farhan took part in the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) meeting of faith-based leaders called, “Strengthening Relations Between Police and Chicago’s Diverse Communities”. The meeting is a regular forum in which scores of prominent representatives and leaders of Chicago’s faith-based community come together to discuss problems that each community sees on its streets and the manner in which the CPD can help to solve those problems.

When people walk by a coffee shop near a university, they are not usually surprised to see an open mike session.