This episode we interview two guests working for food justice. Ruhel Islam and Claire Baglien work together on the Gandhi Mahal Interfaith Garden. We discuss the ability of food to bring people together, the challenges of urban gardening, the idea of a caste system in food and the practice of regenerative agriculture. Some links mentioned in the podcast MN Interfaith Power and Light Gandhi Mahal Restaurant Interfaith Garden project < bit.ly/2lkDGRg > Regenerative Agriculture < bit.ly/2lkNwCF > Our Guests’ inspirational text Wherever You Go, There You Are < bit.ly/2lkLL8g > Support Patreon: Please support this podcast by visiting and donating. Feedback You can share feedback on this episode on Twitter @by_the_rivers or #BTRpodcast,  or via email [email protected]. We welcome audio and written comments. Other By The Rivers Podcast episodes are available on: By The Rivers website iTunes Spreaker

This episode we bring you a recording of Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein’s brief presentation at the Nusrat Mosque in MN during Eid Al-Adha, a major Islamic festival celebrating the biblical story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as a demonstration to loyalty to God.

For this episode, we bring you the recording of an important event: Congress Under the Gun: Federal Legislation and the Fight Against Gun Violence. By The Rivers hosted this round table discussion on August 17, 2016. It was coordinated by Protect Minnesota, a local organization which works to prevent gun violence as part of the national effort known as DisarmHate.

Rev John Bellaimey, Upper school chaplain and head of religion department, and at the Breck Schools in Minneapolis, joins us in a podcast recorded a few months ago.

We discuss the work of Interfaith Action and their programs which bring communities together to end poverty in East Metro of St. Paul. They focus on comprehensive solutions which are culturally appropriate and focused on structural change to and building the infrastructure of opportunity. We discuss the evolution of what used to the St. Paul Area Council of Churches, the importance and challenges of this work in faith communities, and some opportunities at this difficult time.

The Interfaith Amigos (Imam Jamal Rahman, Pastor Don Mackenzie and Rabbi Ted Falcon) presented at Common Good Books in St. Paul on June 6. By The Rivers had the honor of recording their presentation and the question and answer session that followed. They spoke about their journey, shared their learning and read from their latest book. Some links mentioned in the podcast: Interfaith Amigos Books Support Patreon: Please support this podcast by visiting and donating. Feedback You can share feedback on this episode on Twitter @by_the_rivers or #BTRpodcast,  or via email [email protected]. We welcome audio and written comments. Other By The Rivers Podcast episodes are available on: By The Rivers website iTunes Spreaker

Anse Tamara Gray & Sarah Abe join us from Daybreak Press Global Bookshop & Gathering Space, on the University of MN campus. We discuss the power of books to inspire political activism, talk about one particular book in particular, the Qur’an, and look at the upcoming celebration of Ramadan. We also notice the ability of different faith traditions to come together around social issues, Some links mentioned in the podcast: Bookshop and Meeting space: daybreak.rabata.org Email [email protected] Twitter @DaybreakPress Our Guest's inspirational text: Book Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Book Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination Feedback You can share feedback on this episode on Twitter @by_the_rivers or #BTRpodcast,  or via email [email protected]. We welcome audio and written comments. Other By The Rivers Podcast episodes are available on: By The Rivers website iTunes Spreaker

John and Hans join us to discuss the current state of interfaith relations and the work of The Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning.

Anse Tamara Gray & Sarah Abe join us from Daybreak Press Global Bookshop & Gathering Space, on the University of MN campus. We discuss the power of books to inspire political activism, talk about one particular book in particular, the Qur’an, and look at the upcoming celebration of Ramadan. We also notice the ability of different faith traditions to come together around social issues, Some links mentioned in the podcast: Bookshop and Meeting space: daybreak.rabata.org Email [email protected] Twitter @DaybreakPress Our Guest's inspirational text: Book Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Book Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination Feedback You can share feedback on this episode on Twitter @by_the_rivers or #BTRpodcast,  or via email [email protected]. We welcome audio and written comments. Other By The Rivers Podcast episodes are available on: By The Rivers website iTunes Spreaker

Carin Mrotz joins us for as we look at the power and pitfalls of conversations in politics. We explore the current political climate from the as an example of the challenges inherit in speaking about important issues when we disagree. We look at the double edged sword of social media, and touch on local MN politics, and find inspiration in way the Jewish holiday of Passover can inspire individuals and movements. Some links mentioned in the podcast: Carin on Twitter <@mrotzie> Carin’s podcast, Wrong About Everything Our Guest's inspirational text:  From Exodus and Revolution by Michael Walzer http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/134279.Exodus_and_Revolution Feedback You can share feedback on this episode on Twitter @by_the_rivers or #BTRpodcast,  or via email [email protected]. We welcome audio and written comments. Other By The Rivers Podcast episodes are available on: By The Rivers website iTunes Spreaker