AYYAM-I-HA SERVICE PROJECTS

Things are very different this year but there are still many ways our community can help! We are supporting TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen) by making bag lunches. Each family can assemble lunches during the weekend of February 20 - 21. Lunches will be picked up on February 22 and delivered to the TASK. At this time, TASK cannot accept homemade foods. Therefore, the bags should include: single serving protein such as tuna, chicken, spaghetti or ravioli with easy open lids, packaged crackers, juice box, individual serving of fruit, spoon and napkin placed in a paper lunch bag. Feel free to add a sweet treat. You can buy all supplies and assemble or the Community Life Committee (CLC) will drop supplies off to you. Please let the CLC know by February 15 if you will participate, how many lunches you plan to make and if you need supplies by emailing: bahai.hamilton.nj@gmail.com An alternative to making a bag lunch is a hygiene kits, also very much needed. HYGIENE KITS: Full-size and travel-size toothpaste, bar soap, deodorant, shampoo, hand, or body lotion and one disposable razor in a zip-lock bag. Let the CLC know by Febraury 15 if you are making these.

RACE UNITY

The Series of Consultation on Race Unity Continues Thursday, February, 4, 7 - 8:30 pm. Don Camp and Bob Harris will continue the discussion about race in America and look at the joys and challenges of marriage across the racial divide that exists in the United States. To get the Zoom details: email: bahai.hamilton.nj@gmail.com

Trees & Shrubs Planting: D&R Greenway Open Spaces

On October 19, 2020, the Hamilton Twp. Bahá’í Community joined in the riparian project sponsored by D&R Greenway Land Trust to plant trees and shrubs at Kunkle Park next to Stony Brook in Pennington, NJ. A plastic sleeve was slipped over each plant to prevent deer damage.

RACE UNITY REFLECTION & ACTION

Monday, October 5, 7 - 8:30 pm. There will be a (virtual) discussion on the guidance offered by the Universal House of Justice in their July 22, 2020 message to the of the Bahá’ís of the United States and encourage ideas for action. The program ends with a Devotional. If you would like to join, email: bahai.hamilton.nj@gmail.com

Things are still happening-Virtually!

Upcoming Holy Day Celebrations will be hosted on Zoom with some special surprises from our hosts!

The Bab and Baha’u’llah have back to back birthdays in October! In Hamilton, these occasions will be held via Zoom. On Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 pm, the Birth of the Bab. And on Sunday, Oct.18 at 7 pm, the Birth of Baha’u’llah.

CALL TO ACTION!

Join the Baha'is in the US on July 28 by calling your senator or congressional representative and ask for their support of these two pending resolutions on behalf of the Baha'is of Iran: House Resolution 823 (or H.Res.823) in the House of Representatives and Senate Resolution 578 (or S.Res.578). Congressman Chris Smith (NJ- District 4) is an initial co-sponsor. However, neither of the NJ Senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, are co-sponsors yet. Search under the full name of each resolution to determine if your representatives are co-sponsors.

Some background information: Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Baha'is have been systematically persecuted as a matter of government policy. The constant threat of raids, arrests, and detention or imprisonment is among the main features of Iran’s persecution of Baha’is today. The Iranian authorities escalated their persecution of the Baha’is, targeting at least 77 individuals across the country in recent weeks despite the present health crisis afflicting the country.

Your effort to help secure the passage of these resolutions, making it clear to the Iranian regime that its current abuses, including the detention of innocent individuals during a pandemic, are condemned by both houses of the US Congress as a particularly egregious violation of religious freedom and proof enough of its contempt for its Bahá’í citizenry.

Thanks for your support!

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen

Ayyám-i-Há is a time of gift giving, parties and community service. For our service project, members of the Hamilton Twp. Bahá’í community joined other volunteers to assist in the evening meal service at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). In addition to feeding the hungry, TASK offers programs to encourage self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life of its patrons. They always welcome help. Visit their website to find out how: http://www.trentonsoupkitchen.org/

#NotACrime Mural

Have you seen the mural on the corner of Old Olden and Toronita Avenues?

After more than a year of planning, the creation of a large outdoor mural, designed to call attention to education discrimination by the government of Iran against thousands of young people of the Bahá'í religious minority, has been completed.

As part of the Education Is Not A Crime project, one of the world’s largest street art and human rights campaigns (www.notacrime.me), the mural’s creation and painting included efforts by high school students and art teachers from both Hamilton West and Steinert, as directed by artist Edward M. Williams of Maryland (thestudio33.com).

The Hamilton Twp. Bahá'í Community was inspired to pursue the mural project by the Education Is Not A Crime campaign initiated in 2015 by journalist Maziar Bahari, who was incarcerated by the Iranian government from June to October in 2009. This worldwide artistic effort began as a way of sharing the plight of young people in Iran who are barred from higher education because of their beliefs, and has since taken on an even broader perspective which includes Iran’s persecution of journalists.

Thanks to the generosity of business owner the Flemming family, and manager Kieran Flemming of Joseph Steinert & Co (countylinepowerequipment.com) at 26 Old Olden Ave, Hamilton, the mural was placed on the building’s prominent wall facing Toronita Avenue. The artwork took about two weeks to complete.

Artist Williams has been nationally published and was awarded “Best of Baltimore” by Baltimore Magazine for decorative artists. He’s created many community murals each year, including those for non-profit organizations which bring together residents contributing to the murals’ creation.

The Student Participation in this effort was approved by the Hamilton Township School District Board of Education which extended the opportunity to volunteer under the supervision of their teachers.