In the second half of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom’s annual conference keynote, Dr. Dalia Fahmy and Peter Beinart tackle the complex and heavily weighted language used to describe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They explore how trigger words like "terrorism," "Zionism," and "from the river to the sea" are often misunderstood or unevenly applied, emphasizing the need to ask deeper questions rather than shutting down dialogue.

The conversation highlights the media's failure to center Palestinian voices and the necessity of embracing discomfort as a vital tool for learning and democratic renewal. Answering audience questions, Peter and Dalia confront historical blind spots, such as the lack of memorials for the Native American genocide, and then discuss why true safety for Jewish people cannot be built on a system of supremacy. Ultimately, both speakers share where they find hope in dark times: the courage of young people, the rise of new morally grounded institutions, and a generation that views the entire world as their collective "pond."

Key Takeaways

• Language must place all people on an equal footing; terms like "terrorism" should be applied consistently to both non-state actors and state violence.
• Instead of reacting defensively to polarizing words, the most productive path forward is to ask people to define what those terms mean to them personally.
• "Gotcha media" and debate-style discourse prevent active listening. True education and understanding require stepping into spaces of discomfort.
• Safety and supremacy are not synonymous. True security is found when neighboring populations have equal rights and a voice in their governance.
• Philosopher Peter Singer’s "drowning child" thought experiment serves as a powerful reminder that our moral obligation extends globally.
• Hope for the future lies in cross-cultural solidarity, student activism, and the building of new community institutions free from the moral compromises of the status quo.

About the Guests

Peter Beinart is a leading journalist, political commentator, and professor of journalism and political science at the Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY. He is the author of several books, including his latest, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza. A frequent contributor to the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the New Republic, Beinart is known for his thought-provoking analysis on American politics, foreign policy, and the intersection of Jewish identity and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dr. Dalia Fahmy is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Long Island University, where she teaches US foreign policy, international relations, and politics of the Middle East. She is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Policy and has served as a visiting scholar at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University. Dr. Fahmy is a prominent voice on political Islam and democracy, frequently appearing on major news networks to provide expert analysis on global conflicts.

Notable Quotes

“Every time you're uncomfortable is because it's an opportunity to learn... If we don't want discomfort, we've actually decapitated the ability to learn.” — Dr. Dalia Fahmy

“Being uncomfortable is not the same as being unsafe... Have those conversations side by side, recognizing that all students have the right to be safe on campus and all students should be expected to be challenged intellectually.” — Peter Beinart

Resources Mentioned

• Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
  https://sosspeace.org/
• Famine, Affluence, and Morality - Peter Singer
  (Essay PDF)https://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil308/Singer2.pdf

In this special keynote presentation from the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom’s annual conference at Rutgers University, co-host Tahija Vikalo sits down with journalist and commentator Peter Beinart and esteemed scholar Dr. Dalia Fahmy for a profound, wide-ranging conversation.

The episode begins with Peter and Dalia opening up about the personal journeys and pivotal life events that shaped their worldviews. Dr. Fahmy emphasizes the critical need for a feminist perspective in political science that accounts for the interpersonal and familial toll of war, while Peter shares his evolution from viewing Israel as an unquestioned safe haven to the destabilizing, yet liberating, experience of seeing the reality of the occupation through Palestinian eyes.

Key Takeaways

• A feminist perspective on conflict resolution would changes how war atrocities are counted, focusing on the destruction of family units, the lived experience of women, and the interpersonal toll.
• Unlearning internalized biases is a long but liberating process, requiring us to actively listen to the lived experiences of marginalized groups.
• The language used around conflict and ceasefires often masks ongoing structural violence; a temporary pause does not equal a long-term peace plan.
• Data from the Arab Barometer project indicates that prior to October 7th, a vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza (76%) wanted Hamas out of power and desired democratic representation.
• Meaningful political discourse requires addressing the actions and ideology of Hamas, while also recognizing Israel's historical role in weakening secular, nationalist Palestinian leadership.
• The struggle against anti-Muslim bigotry and anti-Jewish bigotry must be intertwined; both are rooted in a dangerous push for homogeneity, hierarchy, and ethno-nationalism.
• The Granada Declaration, drafted by 26 scholars, offers a 10-principle framework for combating Antisemitism and Islamophobia together.
• True interfaith solidarity means showing up for one another to celebrate and exist together, rather than only coming together in the aftermath of violence or massacres.

About the Guests

Peter Beinart

Peter Beinart is a leading journalist, political commentator, and professor of journalism and political science at the Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY. He is the author of several books, including his latest, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza. A frequent contributor to the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the New Republic, Beinart is known for his thought-provoking analysis on American politics, foreign policy, and the intersection of Jewish identity and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dr. Dalia Fahmy

Dr. Dalia Fahmy is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Long Island University, where she teaches US foreign policy, international relations, and politics of the Middle East. She is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Policy and has served as a visiting scholar at the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University. Dr. Fahmy is a prominent voice on political Islam and democracy, frequently appearing on major news networks to provide expert analysis on global conflicts.

Notable Quotes

“I never entered the room as the Muslim professor... but what women bring to these spaces and how we study them is that we challenge the data and count differently. We challenge the narrative and look at the interpersonal and take it seriously.” — Dr. Dalia Fahmy

Organizations / Initiatives

• Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
  https://sosspeace.org/
• Arab Barometer Project
  https://www.arabbarometer.org/

In this episode of Provoking Peace, we are joined by Dr. Celene Ibrahim, scholar of Islamic intellectual history and gender studies, and Vanessa Avery, interfaith leader and Executive Director of Sharing Sacred Spaces, for a rich and wide-ranging conversation on interfaith dialogue, deep listening, sacred space, and rebuilding community in polarized times.

Celene and Vanessa share their personal journeys into interreligious work. Shaped by multifaith upbringings, academic study, and lived experience navigating religious identity across Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other traditions. Both reflect on how interfaith engagement is not just an intellectual pursuit, but a deeply embodied, relational practice rooted in listening, vulnerability, and dignity.

The conversation explores practical tools for interfaith dialogue, including structured story-sharing, deep listening exercises, and awareness of the emotional and bodily responses that arise in difficult conversations.

Key Takeaways

• Interfaith dialogue is most effective when grounded in deep listening, empathy, and structured storytelling.
• Sacred spaces and architecture provide powerful entry points for understanding religious meaning and shared humanity.
• Media representations play a significant role in shaping stereotypes about religious communities—and can be challenged through awareness and advocacy.
• “Brave spaces” require trust, dignity, and shared norms for navigating productive disagreement.
• Young people are often eager to engage across difference but may feel skeptical about systemic change without lived examples of hope.
• Religious and secular worldviews alike are shaped by moral frameworks, values, and assumptions that benefit from honest dialogue.
• Faith-based communities play a crucial role in rebuilding social fabric through care, service, and belonging.
• Interfaith work is as much about self-reflection as it is about understanding others.

About the Guests

Dr. Celene Ibrahim
Dr. Celene Ibrahim is a multidisciplinary scholar specializing in Islamic intellectual history, gender studies, comparative religion, and ethics. She is the author of Women and Gender in the Qur’an and a trusted media voice on Islam and interreligious relations, with appearances on NPR, PBS, and Netflix. She is a faculty member at Groton School, where she teaches Religious Studies and Philosophy and serves as Muslim Chaplain.

Vanessa Avery
Vanessa Avery is a longtime interfaith leader, religious studies scholar, and advocate for religious diversity and inclusion. She is the Executive Director of Sharing Sacred Spaces, an organization dedicated to building interfaith community through visits to sacred spaces, dialogue training, and relationship-building. Vanessa lectures on interfaith engagement and has authored numerous articles on world religions, nonviolence, and peacebuilding.

Notable Quotes

“Listening deeply is a spiritual practice. When we recreate someone’s story, we recreate their world.”

Resources Mentioned

Books

• Women and Gender in the Qur’an — Dr. Celene Ibrahim
  https://www.routledge.com/Women-and-Gender-in-the-Quran/Ibrahim/p/book/9780367507768

Organizations / Initiatives

• Sharing Sacred Spaces
  https://www.sharingsacredspaces.org
• Groton School – Religious Studies & Philosophy
  https://www.groton.org/academics/religious-studies-philosophy
• Spiritual Playdate
  https://www.spi