Category: Religion

April proclaimed Arab American Heritage month by Cook County Board

March 24, 2019March 24, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

April proclaimed Arab American Heritage month by Cook County Board Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison introduces a proclamation honoring April as Arab American Heritage Month at the board meeting March 20, 2019, in coordination with the passage of a State of Illinois Law designating April as Arab American Heritage month. The Cook County Board on…

Features, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Religion

Max and Benny’s Offers Passover Seder food service

March 18, 2019March 18, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Max and Benny’s Offers Passover Seder food service Passover is a very special time of year, and we look forward to the opportunity of spending it with you! All week we will be offering a variety of wonderful Passover specials. As usual we will host dinner the first two nights for your family’s Seder, and…

Business, News, Religion

Pawar gets endorsement of new Muslims group for Chicago Treasurer

February 13, 2019June 12, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pawar gets endorsement of new Muslims group for Chicago Treasurer New Muslim Political Organization makes its first endorsements in Chicago City-Wide Elections: Ameya Pawar for City Treasurer and Anna Valencia for City Clerk. The Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition also released its list of Muslims running for office in Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs Today, on the first…

Chicago, elections, Government, News, Politics, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Moraine Valley students perform in original theatrical production

February 13, 2019February 13, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Moraine Valley students perform in original theatrical production Moraine Valley Community College will present “American Griot,” an original play exploring Muslim influence on the American music genre known as the blues. The Academic Theater production will run Feb. 21 to March 3, in the John and Angeline Oremus Theater, inside the Fine and Performing Arts…

Education, Entertainment, Features, General Topics, News, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

April named Arab Heritage Month by new Illinois Law

January 10, 2019October 4, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

April named Arab Heritage Month by new Illinois Law Illinois Legislature passes law to designate April as Arab American Heritage Month. The bill was introduced by Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, and co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Landek and Representative Mike Zalewski. The bill restores respect for Illinois’ Arab American community which was disrespected…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Entertainment, Festival, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Opinion, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Have we lost our family focus this holiday season?

December 21, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Have we lost our family focus this holiday season? Christmas isn’t about family any more. It’s about commerce, money and spending. And that’s too bad. It’s a holiday season that should be enjoyed by families with a focus on families, not on spending money By Ray Hanania Next week will be Christmas and I bet…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Festival, Opinion, rayhanania, Religion

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil

December 18, 2018March 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil Protestors have been disrupting meetings of the Palos Township board for nearly 18 months as a part of a political strategy devised by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to undermine her anti-tax critics led by County Commissioner Sean Morrison. They are targeting Sharon Brannigan out of…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Miriam Zayed passing mourned by Chicagolands Arab, Muslim community

October 28, 2018October 29, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Miriam Zayed passing mourned by Chicagolands Arab, Muslim community Local activist fought for the rights of Arabs and Muslims in the Chicagoland area and also for the rights of all in mainstream American politics. Miriam Zayed was among one of the first two Arab Americans in Chicagoland to run for public elective office in the…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Editors Pick, Features, National, News, Obituary, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland, women

Cicero hosts day of prayer to fight street gangs

July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cicero hosts Day of Prayer to fight street gangs This is the 7th year of what has become an annual summer tradition for this “Day of Prayer in Cicero” which has helped bring the community together and succeed in overcoming the violence of street gangs. Local church leaders and community members joined with the Town…

Editors Pick, Events, Government, News, Police, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

A “teaching moment” on Roseanne Barr, the media and political hypocrisy

May 30, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

A “teaching moment” on Roseanne Barr, the media and political hypocrisy Roseanne Barr said something stupidly racist about Valerie Jarrett and Jarrett responded saying we should take it as a “teaching moment.” But what kind of “teaching moment” can we have in an America that is deeply divided, caught in the middle between extremist politics…

Blogger, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Media Bias, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Television

One week into Lent, sweet reminder

February 21, 2018September 25, 2018 Steve Metsch No Comments

One week into Lent, sweet reminder Paczki Day was very popular in Chicago and the suburbs By Steve Metsch Visiting a bakery at 6 a.m. is not something Carlos Medina ordinarily does. But Feb. 13 was no ordinary day. “It’s Fat Tuesday. It’s to celebrate the start of Lent,” Medina said as he stood in…

Features, News, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Remembering Billy Graham and Christian Arabs

February 21, 2018December 25, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Remembering Billy Graham and Christian Arabs The Rev. William “Billy” Franklin Graham Jr. died this week at the age of 99. During his life, Graham once held the Palestinian Christians of Bethlehem in the highest esteem. And when my mother passed through one of his evangelical conventions one day, Graham held her hand high up…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Editors Pick, Opinion, Racism, rayhanania, Religion

Who are the Arabs of the Southwest Suburbs?

December 9, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Who are the Arabs of the Southwest Suburbs? The recent personal attacks against a trustee in Palos Township has sparked a discussion about who are the Arabs of Chicagoland. I have spent most of my life studying and writing about the American Arab community, authoring dissertations and studies on them at Northern Illinois and the…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Features, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland

Religion: Simbang Gabi 2017 25th Year Silver Anniversary

November 19, 2017November 19, 2017 Steve Neuhaus No Comments

Local Catholic Parishes to Host Advent Masses By Steve Neuhaus @stephenneuhaus / twitter Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Catholic tradition of celebrating a novena (series of nine) of Advent evening Masses. It is meant to help Filipino-American and other Catholics in the area to intensify their spiritual preparation for the grace-filled celebration of Christmas. Masses…

Events, News, Religion