Pepperdine University hosted three female spiritual leaders of the Islamic Christian and Jewish faiths at a discussion of the challenges and strengths of women leaders in religious communities in Kresge Reading Room of Payson Library on Thursday March 31. The University Diversity Council the Office of Intercultural Affairs and the Glazer Institute sponsored the event. Professor of Jewish Studies Rebeca Golbert moderated the conversation.

Among the panelists was Rabbi HaLevy of the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue the first female president of the Los Angeles Board of Rabbis in May 2011. HaLevy remarked that although the role of women in religion has certainly grown over time she experiences prevailing challenges in gaining equal reliability to other male rabbis in her synagogue.

“There always was a group of people who would always stand apart and deny everything I say during my service HaLevy said. However one day they actually had to admit that everything I said was good so they stopped rejecting it. Female leaders always have to face some challenges.”

Reverend Joyce Stickney a panelist from the St. Aidan Episcopal Church shared her story as a spiritual leader in an interfaith context and how knowledge of people faiths is important in understanding her own religion.

“I have spent 12 years in countries moving to many different countries being exposed to all kind of different religions. The more I learned about them the better I understood my own faith Stickney said.

Maytha Alhassen, a doctoral student in American Studies and Ethnicity at USC, contributed her graduate research on racialization of Muslims in America and the interplay of race and ethnicity in the Muslim American experience. Alhassen claimed it has always been a challenge for Muslim women to face many aspects of Islamic faith, including interpretations of the Quran. She stressed the significance of the fact that the first person converted to Islam was female — Mohammad’s wife, Khadijah.

The difference with Islam is that women can’t lead men in prayer Alhassen said. And even though there are people who oppose it the issue is still pretty controversial.”