This Week...
In this week's newsletter we are highlighting upcoming events and election resources. As we prepare for Election Day, the Chaplains wanted to share a religious perspective on voting as well as election based emotional support events and resources. The Chaplaincy would like to encourage you to use your voice and cast your vote this election year!
Everything You Need to Vote
Elections can be stressful. Knowing how to vote, what to vote for, and accepting the results can become challenging. The Chaplains are here to support you through election season. During the days leading up to and following Election Day there are special resources provided to support mental well being. See below for some religious perspective on voting, upcoming post-election events, and support sessions!
Chaplains Election Support Page
Monsour Counseling and Psychological Service Election Based Support Sessions
MCAPS is aware that many students may be feeling stress related to the upcoming national elections. They have scheduled the following sessions for students wishing to discuss their hopes, fears, and concerns, in an atmosphere of mutual support.
Contact Fiona.Vajk@claremont.edu and indicate the date and time you would like to join, and you will be provided with the link and password.
Support Sessions for Election-Related Stress:
Mon, Nov 2: 4-5 PM
Wed, Nov 4: 12-1 PM
Wed, Nov 4: 4-5 PM
Thur, Nov 5: 4-5 PM
Tue, Nov 10: 12-1 PM
See more MCAPS Resources Here
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Upcoming Events
Monday Nov. 2
Hanging with the
Chaplains
11:00AM-12:00PM PT
Monday Nov. 2
Hillel Jewish Learning Circle
5:00-6:00PM PT
Tuesday Nov. 3
Election Day!
Wednesday Nov. 4
Zen Meditation - Morning Meditation
8:00-9:15AM PT
Thursday Nov. 5
International MSA Hangout
4:00-5:00AM PT
Thursday Nov. 5
Hanging with the
Chaplains
3:00-4:00PM PT
Thursday Nov. 5
First, Love-Immigration & the Bible
6:00-7:00PM PT
Thursday Nov. 5
Virtual Halaqah
6:00-7:00PM PT
Friday Nov. 6
Chabad Pre-Shabbat Gathering
3:00 PM PT
Friday Nov. 6
Hillel Shabbat
5:30 PM–6:30 PM PT
Friday Nov. 6
Claremont Christian Fellowship - Friday Fellowship
6:00-7:00PM PT
Friday Nov. 6
5CIV Christian Fellowship Community Night
6:00-7:00PM PT
Saturday Nov. 7
Claremont Christian Fellowship - Workout with Matt
1:00-2:30PM PT
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Should Muslims Vote?
Virtual Jummah Lead by Chaplain Imam Adeel
Watch Here
Hanging with the Chaplains – Post-Election Support
Thursday November 5, 3-4PM PT
Zoom Link Here
Claremont Hillel
Post Election Shabbat
Friday November 6, 5:30PM PT
Register Here
Hanging with the Chaplains – Post-Election Support
Monday November 9, 11AM-12PM PT
Zoom Link Here
Talking with the Chaplains
Reverend Leon Wood & Father Joe Fenton
Check out this episode of Talking with the Chaplains where Father Joe interviews former Chaplain Reverend Leon Wood. The Chaplains discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, the importance of elections, and share ideas on how to promote social justice.
Watch Here
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Chaplains Election Support Page
During the days leading up to and following Election Day there are special resources provided to support mental well being. See below for some religious perspective on voting, upcoming post-election events, and support sessions!
Chaplains Election Support Page
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Sometimes you just need someone to talk to. The Chaplains are happy to meet and support you. Our services are safe spaces regardless of faith or level of faith knowledge, we do not recruit or pressure. Click the image above to schedule a meeting today!
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Drop in to the Chaplains virtual office hours! Every week on Mondays 11am-12pm and Thursdays 3-4pm. Chat with the chaplains and meet fellow students. These meetings are open to all students of The Claremont Colleges. We hope to see you there!
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Subscribe to the Newsletter &
Get Connected to Student Organizations
Want to receive more information on student groups, programs, and events that align with your interests?
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Upcoming Events & Services
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Hillel Jewish Learning Circle
Mondays 5:00-6:00PM PT
Join Monday evenings for our Jewish Learning Circle. Rabbi Danny will lead the learning. Bring an open mind and your suggestions for future topics.
This weeks topic: We will have a discussion about various traditional Jewish practices and how they may have meaning for us today.
More Info Here |
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First, Love - Immigration and the Bible
Thursday November 5, 6-7PM PT
What does God have to say about Immigration? How does God intend for us to treat immigrants? Join first, love on Thursday, November 5, 6:00-7:00pm PST as we take a critical and compassionate perspective of immigration drawing from Old Testament and New Testament scriptures. There’s no more appropriate time ever than now to continue engaging in conversation about the escalating events at the border, and the frustrating lack of response by the government. We welcome all people from all faith backgrounds to join us.
More Info Here
Zoom Link Here |
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Virtual Halaqah
Thursdays 6:00PM PT
Drop into our weekly Zoom Halaqah. Hang out, play games, watch movies, and discuss Islamic topics.
International MSA Hangout
First Thursday of the Month 4:00AM PT
Drop into our weekly Zoom Halaqah. Hang out, play games, watch movies, and discuss Islamic topics.
Email for Links
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Virtual Jummah
Fridays
Tune in Fridays for Imam Adeel’s weekly Jummah Reflection. The reflections touch on wellness, health, and spirituality. This is an Islamic based reflection, but can resonate with all viewers. The reflection videos are posted Fridays. Past reflections are available to view anytime on the Chaplains Facebook page.
Watch Jummah Reflections Here
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Chabad First Friday of the Month Pre-Shabbat Gathering!
Friday November 6th 3:00PM PT
On the first Friday of every month, we will have a pre-Shabbat gathering at 3PM PT. This is a time to relax, chat with friends, and take a moment of reflection during a stressful time. We hope to see you there!
Register to Receive Zoom link Here
Contact Rabbi Yossi Here |
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Hillel Post Election Shabbat
Friday November 2, 5:30-6:30PM PT
Shabbat can help provide us with familiarity and comfort during chaotic times. Join us for prayers and reflections to help ground yourself during these turbulent times.
Our shabbats are student lead and include service and hang out time. Hope you’ll join us Friday at 5:30pm PT. Feel free to drop by at the beginning or near the end around 6:30 if you just want to say hello for a bit. If you have Shabbat candles, kiddush wine, and challah feel free to bring them to the zoom with you. No worries if you don’t have them.
Register Here
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CCF Friday Fellowship
Fridays 6:00PM PT
Claremont Christian Fellowship invites everyone to our Friday Fellowship meeting on Friday at 6pm PDT on Facebook Live.
Small Group
CCF is also hosting small groups throughout the week for building community and studying the Bible. We have groups for CMC, HMC/Pitzer, Pomona first years/sophomores, Pomona juniors/seniors, and Scripps.
Sign up Here
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5CIV Christian Fellowship Community Night Fellowship
Fridays 6:00-7:30PM PT
Join us for a weekly, fellowship-wide time of worship, teaching, testimonies, studying scripture, & more to develop disciples for Christ and strengthen the 5C Christian community. Every Friday 6pm-7:30pm PT virtually this semester.
More Info Here
5CIV Christian Fellowship - Small Groups
Join us at one of our small group bible studies to connect and build new friendships as we study who Jesus is and how we can experience flourishing communities. Groups meet Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays evenings. Contact us to be placed in a small group.
Email 5CIV for Small Group |
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Work Out with Matt
Saturdays 1:00-2:30PM PT
Join Matt O’Connor (Pomona ’15, Pomona-Pitzer football coach) for a weekly Zoom workout. You will be encouraged, experience community, and get sweaty!
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Hillel Hanukkah Care Packages
Sign-up by November 20th!
Sign-up here to receive a Hanukkah care package from Hillel! Get the supplies you need and get ready to celebrate. Sign-up by November 20th to ensure delivery by Hanukkah.
Sign-up Here |
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The Obligation to Vote
“An authentic faith always involves a deep desire to change this world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.” Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium
Most us think of voting as a privilege or right, and it is both of these. Even more significant is to say voting is an obligation. In a democratic society, voting is the way people express their views to their elected leaders. We do not live in a dictatorship or limited monarchy where our leaders decide what is best for us or how they wish to manage us.
The obligation to vote requires that we become aware of the issues and study proposals for legislation. We are expressing our leadership when we vote with knowledge and conviction. This means that we prepare to vote by intellectually committing ourselves to getting to know and understand the issues and personalities involved.
We are approaching one of the most important and significant presidential elections in the history of our country. We have only been this divided two or three times, most significantly in 1800 and in the 1850s prior to the Civil War. We must take our right to vote as a civic duty, an obligation to make a decision that it best for our country not simply our own personal gain. Study the issues and personalities, realize that your future depends to a great extent on how you vote both on the issues and personalities that you select as our leaders.
– Chaplain Father Joe Fenton
What the Torah Teaches on Voting
צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף – Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and inherit the land that the Adonai your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 16:20). These words from the Torah teach us that justice is the foundation for society to receive blessings and to thrive. In the United States of America, one of the ways we can have the most impact on pursuing justice is by voting in local, state, and federal elections. This Election Day we must all play our part in seeking justice by voting for candidates, measures, and propositions that we believe will further the cause of justice. Through our participation in the democratic process, we can bring about greater justice in the world and open up more possibilities for all in our society to receive blessings.
– Chaplain Rabbi Danny Shapiro
Political Engagement in Islam
When the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) passed away, his companions came to the collective decision to assign Abu Bakr as the new leader of the Muslims. When the third leader was being appointed, Omar (2nd leader) assigned a small group to decide who would be the next caliph, and they used a majority vote to appoint the leader.
When the Prophet Joseph was in Egypt in the Pharaoh’s domain, he is quoted in the Qur’an as saying “[Joseph] said, "Appoint me over the storehouses of the land, Indeed, I will be a knowing guardian,” he nominated himself to be the minister of finance (Qur’an 12:55) which is an evidence not to only to run for office but to nominate oneself even in a non-Muslim majority country. Also, in the prophetic hadith, we have the example of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) bailing out prisoners, which enables us to donate to political causes to benefit the community at large.
There is a maxim in Islamic jurisprudence that “harm must be eliminated” and a principle in Islam to “go with the lesser of two evils”. It’s incumbent on us as people of good moral consciousness to search within our hearts, minds, and souls to utilize our voice by voting, contributing, and participating in elections. We must engage the candidates, parties, and issues that will be most in line with helping the greatest number of people and decreasing the harm associated with them. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said “Whoever among you sees evil, let them change it with his hand. If they are unable to do so, then with their tongue. If they are unable to do so, then with their heart, and that is the weakest level of faith”. I will close with the words of God in the Qur’an 3:104 “Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: those who do this are the successful ones”.
- Chaplain Imam Adeel Zeb
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Religious/Spiritual Student Organizations
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Black Campus Ministries (BCM)
BCM exists to provide students of African descent at the Claremont Colleges a community in which they can develop valuable, spiritual relationships with fellow Christ seekers, followers and inquirers through humble, open, and transparent discussion about the Bible, Christian principles (as taught in the bible) and individual journeys to and through faith.
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Global Medical Missions Alliance
The purpose of GMMA is to mobilize Christian students who are interested in medical medical missions and to connect these students with missional minded healthcare professionals to carry out the Great Commission.
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Religious/ Spiritual Student Organizations
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5C Mindfulness
5CIV
Black Campus Ministries
Claremont Christian Fellowship
Claremont Colleges Buddhism
Claremont Challah
The Claremont Ekklesia
Catholic Student Organization
Chabad
Christian House of Prayer
Critique
First, love
Global Medical Missions Alliance
Hearhere
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Hillel
Hindu Society
Latter-Day Saints Student Association
Muslim Student Association
Nishmat
Scripps Challah for a Cause
Scripps Kehillah
Secular Student Alliance
SGI Buddhists
Sikh Student Association
Trinitea & Coffee
Zen Meditation
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