Messages from the Office of the University Chaplain

Dear Pipers, 

As the Religious and Spiritual Life Staff, we are writing to acknowledge the voices of those in protest in front of Old Main on behalf of the Palestinian people, as well as the feelings of community members who may hold different perspectives. 

We also wanted to let you know that the Wesley Center staff is a resource to all community members during this time.

• The Wesley Center (318 Anderson) is offering a place for all members of the Hamline community to take a break from conflict, to eat, to rest, to think, and/or to engage in discussion of other topics.

• It will be open and staffed from 9-3pm by one of us Monday-Friday this week. 

• As always, you can also reach us individually to discuss and process this topic or any other. Here is our contact information:

• Associate Chaplain, Rabbi Esther Adler is available at eadler01@hamline.edu

• Associate Director of the Wesley Center, Nur Mood can be reached nmood01@hamline.edu

• University Chaplain Kelly Figueroa-Ray can be reached at chaplain@hamline.edu or 651-368-6130 (call or text).

Again, all are welcome during our office hours in the Wesley Center, a space of nourishment and care for one another.

If you have any questions, please reach out to any one of us.

Sincerely,

Chaplain Kelly Figueroa-Ray, University Chaplain and Director of the Wesley Center

Nur Mood, Associate Director of the Wesley Center and co-Advisor to the Multi-Faith Alliance

Rabbi Esther Adler, Associate Chaplain of Jewish Student Life and co-Advisor to the Multi-Faith Alliance

Religious and Spiritual Life Staff

The Office of the University Chaplain

Hamline University 

Dear Hamline Community,

This week the violence in the Middle East has escalated to war. For all Hamline community members with family, friends, and connections to this region, you are in our prayers. 

Next Tuesday, October 17th during Convo hour (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.), Chaplain Kelly Figueroa-Ray, Rabbi Esther Adler, and the Muslim Student Association (MSA) Advisor, Nur Mood, will be present together in Anderson Center Forum. 

The purpose of this gathering is to be a time of listening, care, and demonstration of how we hold on to each other’s humanity in the midst of an impossibly difficult, complex, violent, and dehumanizing situation. We will invite all community members to stop by to write a note about how you feel and/or set up an appointment to speak with one of us.

While this terrible situation evolves, we ask that you please do your best to be responsible consumers of news, seeking out perspectives from more than one reliable source, and when you converse with others, do so with open minds and open hearts.

If you would like to set up a time to talk beforehand, please do not hesitate to reach out (our individual contact information is below). 

We offer this prayer of peace written by Jewish and Muslim authors for you to orient your own thoughts and prayers towards peace and justice for all people in this region.

Sincerely,

University Chaplain Kelly Figueroa-Ray, chaplain@hamline.edu

Rabbi Esther Adler, Associate Chaplain for Jewish Student Life, eadler01@hamline.edu

Advisor to the Muslim Student Association (MSA), Nur Mood, nmood01@hamline.edu 

The Office of the University Chaplain

Hamline University