"Islamic Awareness Day"
An All School
One or Two Day Series of Workshops
Organized in cooperation with Al-Haaj Ghazi Y. Khankan, Islamic Awareness Day can feature one speaker, Mr. Khankan, or expand to more than a dozen. Its goal is to introduce your students to Islam, its history and culture and to correct the distorted image of Al-Islaam in the West.
The day begins with an historical context and religious foundation. What is Islam, Past & Present and focuses on culture, its founder, global spread and the Five Pillars.
The day continues with a music demonstration which covers ritual and religious music, history, and explanations of instruments, such as the Arabic Music keyboard, the "oud," the violin, the zither, and flute, among others. Others subject matter can included Women in Islam, traditional and modern; Islamic art and artistis including miniatures. Another topic of interest is the Nation of Islam and Its Impact on Prisons and Inmates.
People, Culture and Geography of the Middle East is another aspect. Of great visual interest are mosques and Islamic architecture, as well as an introduction to the Arabic language. Enjoyed by all near the end of the day are demonstrations of Middle Eastern Folk Dancing and also Middle Eastern Cuisine. The workshops are scheduled so that most children can attend at least three workshops. It's a full exciting day for everyone!
Al-Haaj Ghazi Y. Khankan - Biographical Sketch
Al-Haaj Ghazi Y. Khankan is director of Interfaith Affairs and Communications at the Islamic Center of Long Island, Westbury, NY and is the executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations - New York office. He lectures across the United States and has produced radio and television programs dealing with Al-Islaam, the religion, civilization, and complete way of life. His main concern is to correct the distorted image of Al-Islaam in the West.
Ghazi Y. Khankan studied at the Lycee Francais, at Aleppo College in Syria, and at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. In the United States, he completed his education at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles in the fields of Business Administration and International Relations (1954-1960).
He was the director of the Organization of Arab Students in the U.S. and Canada (1960-1964). Al-Haaj Khankan is the past president of the National Council on Islamic Affairs, which in 1999 merged with the American Muslim Alliance. He is a member of the Islamic-Roman Catholic Dialogue, American Muslims and Jews in Dialogue, the Jewish-Christian-Islamic Commission of the National Conference of Community and Justice, The Long Island Multi-Faith Forum, the Long Beach Clergy Association, the Long Island Majlis Ash-Shura, Islamic Leadership Council of New York, and several other inter-faith groups.
As director of "The Voice of Al-Islaam Broadcasting" in New York for more than 25 years, Al-Haaj Khankan met with and interviewed many Muslim and Arab leaders during his travels throughout the Middle East and the U.S. He is a regular guest on Long Island Cablevision Channel 25's TeLIcare programs, "Father Tom and Religious Leaders" and "Circle of Faith."
He is a member of the N.Y. State Advisory Committee of the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. and in November 1996 was designated by Nassau County Executive, Mr. Thomas S. Gulotta, to serve as his Coordinator with the Muslim Community on Long Island. Beginning in 1998, Al-Haaj Khankan has been advisor on Islamic Affairs at the Long Island University, C. W. Post campus, Long Island, NY. He volunteers as a Muslim advisor at North Shore University Hospital, Glen Cove, NY and at the Nassau County Medical Center, East Meadow, NY.
He is a United States citizen and has lived in the U.S. since 1954.
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