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.

(CHICAGO, 11/11/05) - The following is the latest update on the controversy generated by Congressman Mark Kirk’s recent public comments sanctioning discrimination against Young Arab males from “terrorist-producing countries.”

ABD’nin Chicago kentinde yapilan ‘dinlerarasi diyalog’ konulu sempozyumunun ikinci ve son günü yine birbirinden ilgi çekici paneller ve etkinliklerle geçti.

The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) announced today that a coalition of 25 diverse Chicagoland-based organizations have joined forces to issue a joint statement in response to recent controversial comments made by US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL,10th District) in which he said: “I'm OK with discrimination against young Arab males from terrorist-producing states.”

A Muslim civil rights group demanded an apology Wednesday from U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) for remarks he made condoning discrimination against some Arabs.

WHAT - The Chicago Interfaith Gathering – Diverse Faiths, Shared Values

Yaser Tabbara, Executive Director and Ahmed Rehab, Communications Director, attended Mayor Daley's reception of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Arab Affairs. The reception was in celebration of Arab Heritage Month and took place at the Chicago Cultural Center, GAR Hall: 77 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois from 5:50-7:00 p.m.

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been urging Arab and Muslim Americans to register with them in order to distinguish travelers from people whose names, or close variations thereof, appear on US no-fly or selected lists compiled by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. This is done under the guise of building positive relationships with the Arab and Muslim communities.

He was only saying what a lot of people think. And Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) was asserting only common sense in saying young Arab men from terrorist-producing countries should face "a certain amount of intense scrutiny" when applying to enter America. Kirk was quick to acknowledge that the view he expressed over the weekend is "politically uncomfortable."

He was only saying what a lot of people think. And Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) was asserting only common sense in saying young Arab men from terrorist-producing countries should face "a certain amount of intense scrutiny" when applying to enter America. Kirk was quick to acknowledge that the view he expressed over the weekend is "politically uncomfortable."

A photo exhibit of Muslim women that was displayed at Harper College in suburban Palatine is causing quite a controversy. Some Muslim students complain that the pictures portray them as prisoners of their own religion.

Arab-American and immigrant rights groups riled by U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk's recent comments sanctioning discrimination against Arabs are asking for a retraction and an apology.

(CHICAGO, 11/08/05) - CAIR-Chicago is seeking to meet with US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) to demand a retraction and an apology for recent remarks in which he publicly called for discrimination against young Arab males.

I read your news piece titled “Jewish activist jailed for role in bomb plot killed in prison”, published on page 12 on your Sunday edition November 6. I was surprised and troubled for the selection of the term “activist” to describe a criminal who, according to your same article piece, has admitted to conspire to “bomb King Fahd Mosque in Culvar City, California and a field office of Republican Rep. Darrell Issa.

Yaser Tabbara, Executive Director and Ahmed Rehab, Communications Director, attended a reception on the Unveiling of New Arabic Brochures and Web Services.

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.

Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park made what he admitted were "politically uncomfortable" remarks Saturday when asked about the difficulties of the visa process for immigrants entering the United States.

Yaser Tabbara, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago met with the Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois (ACLU-IL) and an Faiyaz Hussain, attorney from Winston & Strawn to discuss legal strategy for a complaint involving a Muslim woman who was asked to remove her headscarf (hijab) at a local testing center. The parties discussed the options under which a law suit can be filed and whether the complaint can be filed as a class action.

Christina Abraham, CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Coordinator, met with representatives of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) Director Hatem Abudayyeh, Suzanne Adely, and Menna Khalil to finalize political, outreach, and media strategies for the Citizenship Delay Project. The Citizenship Delay Project is set to launch within the next few weeks.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director, Yaser Tabbara and Director of Communications, Ahmed Rehab attended a special celebration held by CAPS at US Cellular Field-Stadium, Thursday evening.