Religion

Passover arrives at a tense time on Columbia's campus amid pro-Palestine protests

4:34pm April 22, 2024

NPR's Juana Summers talks with Rabbi Yuda Drizin, director of Chabad at Columbia University, about the wave of protests on campus over Israel's war in Gaza.

Although matzo sold in supermarkets is typically square, the round matzo is believed to be the earliest form of this unleavened bread that is eaten during the Passover holiday as a symbol of both suffering and freedom.

Matzo — Passover's bread of affliction and freedom — is a timely tradition

1:34pm April 21, 2024

Bread — and the lack thereof — plays a role in many corners of the world facing a crisis, from Israel and Gaza to Ukraine to Afghanistan to Sudan.

Christians hold a candlelight procession in Jerusalem outside the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of Gethsemane, on March 28. This year, Easter, Purim and Ramadan overlapped for the first time in three decades.

Photos: Jerusalem's sacred crossroads endures in a time of war

11:27am April 21, 2024

by Ayman Oghanna

The convergence of three Christian, Muslim and Jewish holidays this spring led to fears of violence. But the city central to these major religions has remained largely peaceful.

At Sinai Temple in west Los Angeles, blue ribbon marks off more than 130 seats that stand as reminders of the hostages who remain in Gaza following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel

Gaza hostages raise painful reminders as Jews prepare for Passover

5:00am April 21, 2024

by Jason DeRose

Among the themes of Passover is freedom from captivity. For many Jews this year, the holiday brings up the pain of knowledge that hostages are still captive after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Hindu nationalist music could be destructive ahead of Indian elections, critics warn

6:31pm April 18, 2024

by Diaa Hadid

H-Pop refers to the music and poetry of Hindu nationalism in India. And critics are warning of what they say is H-Pop's destructive power ahead of Indian elections expected this spring.

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Columbia president tells lawmakers at antisemitism hearing there is a 'moral crisis'

5:12am April 18, 2024

by Elissa Nadworny

The president of Columbia University told a congressional panel that the school is doing all it can to confront antisemitism on campus in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks to the media during a visit to the Francis Crick Institute in London to announce a new London Growth Plan to boost economic growth on April 3.

Why London's Muslim mayor needs the same security as the king

7:33am April 17, 2024

by Fatima Al-Kassab

London Mayor Sadiq Khan talks to NPR about being a Muslim politician in Britain — and his fears around a second possible Donald Trump presidency.

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Religion

Decades old land-sharing deal on a holy site between Hindus and Muslims unravels

5:06am April 17, 2024

by Diaa Hadid

Over five decades ago, Hindus and Muslims in northern India compromised to share land between a mosque and a temple. Now that agreement has unraveled ahead of election season.

A church offers asylum seekers a loan

6:58pm April 16, 2024

by Gwynne Hogan

A church rents apartments for asylum seekers, who pay the church back after an initial buffer period.

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Organizers say that more than 1,000 people were in attendance at a rally for abortion rights in Orlando, Fla. on Saturday, April 13.

Florida voters will decide on abortion rights this fall. Here's what some are saying

4:40pm April 15, 2024

by Danielle Prieur

The campaign to amend Florida's constitution to protect abortion rights kicked off in Orlando, attracting voters on both sides of the issue. The ballot question needs 60% approval to pass.

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