Aside from its daily worship, regular Friday congregational prayers and its innovative Qur’an seminars every Tuesday evening that welcome everyone, the Open Mosque is pleased to invite you and your family to three extraordinary public gatherings that will take place in December and January.
– Chanukah (Hanukkah) Celebrations. Saturday, December 16 at 7pm
For the first time in South Africa’s history, the Jewish community will formally celebrate the important annual festival of Chanukah (Hanukkah) that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in a designated Muslim House of Worship.
The Jewish congregation of Temple Israel Synagogues in Wynberg and Green Point have accepted the Open Mosque’s invitation to conduct the traditional Chanukah (Hanukah) celebrations and prayers, and to enjoy customary Jewish kosher food and experience authentic Islamic hospitality.
An illuminating programme of music, prayer, talks and candle lighting will be led by Rabbi Greg. Muslims, as well as those of other faiths (and none), are most welcome to attend this groundbreaking initiative that is designed to boost cross-cultural co-operation, as well as trans-religious solidarity. Seating is limited, so kindly book your place as soon as possible.
– Christmas dinner invitation. Saturday, December 23
The Open Mosque extends a cordial invitation to Christians to join us in a landmark pre-Christmas function. A central goal of the Open Mosque is to promote fruitful inter-religious dialogue and community harmony.
With this objective in mind, we warmly invite our Christian brothers, sisters, friends, colleagues and neighbours to a special Christmas dinner celebration.
This innovative occasion marking the birth of Jesus and the recitation of hymns in melodic Arabic begins at 7pm and ends at 10.30pm.
Aside from a delicious banquet of festive food and non-alcoholic beverages, there will be an illuminating programme of music, poetry, prayers, film and talks extolling the underlying interconnectivity between the two great Abrahamic sister religions of Christianity and Islam.
Our bold invitation in welcoming Christians to celebrate Christmas with us is a small, yet significant step in generating peaceful coexistence and communal fellowship between the followers of Jesus and Muhammad in South Africa.
Seating is limited, so please book early.
– Film screening, dinner and discussion
Saturday, January 6 at 7pm
Join us for the South African premiere of an intrepid and provocative new British film that tackles present-day anti-Muslim bigotry and burgeoning Islamophobia fearlessly.
This trailblazing film, produced by Conor Ibrahiem, an aspiring and brave young Muslim director from Bradford in the north of England, is a truly riveting and eye-opening account of mounting xenophobia and discrimination against the British Muslim community.
The screening of Freesia will be combined with a delicious (complimentary) home-cooked supper that will be followed by a frank discussion and live Skype conversation with the film-maker of the key points raised in this pioneering production.
Freesia was released just three months ago in the UK, and it’s having its debut screening at the Open Mosque.
This is reflective of our unyielding commitment to free speech and robust debate. Don’t miss out on viewing one of the most pertinent films of the year that deals courageously with inter-community relations and rising social tensions in the UK in the wake of escalating Muslim violence and terrorist outrages.
Kindly reserve your place expeditiously to avoid any disappointment.
We look forward to welcoming you, your family and friends to all three exceptional functions.