Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Jannah Jewels Have Come to the IRC

"An Ancient Map. A Golden Clock. Restoring Peace on Earth."

Four modern girls explore famous times and locations around the world in an effort to retrieve artifacts, outsmart an evil mastermind and restore peace to the world.

Meet the girls of Jannah Jewels:

Hidayah is an excelent archer with intense sight and spiritual insight. Leader of the Jannah Jewels, Hidayah caries the Ancient compass and map to guide them along their journey.

Iman, a lover of knowledge and avid horseback rider with the ability to communicate with animals, carries the Book of Knowledge. She loves animals and is always looking to learn something new.

Sara is the environmentalist. At home in the water, Sara has the ability to breath under water for long periods. Sara loves the earth and wants to "keep it healthy and green."

Jaide is a speedster at heart. The artist of the group and keeper of the Time Travel Watch, Jaide is never without her sketchpad, skateboard or a healthy snack.

The Jannah Jewels series is sure to find its way into your hearts as the girls travel the world, from Timbuktu to Ancient China, Baghdad, and Spain, learn about important events in Islamic history, work together to solve problems and discover they are stronger than they think. Come in to the Islamic Resource Center and borrow or buy your copy today.

Friday, April 24, 2015

IRC To Expand Hours This May

It is amazing how many changes we have been undergoing lately. Between adding new sections, creating new programs and hosting our first-ever film festival, it seems like there is always something going on. Well, now we are changing again to give you more.

Earlier this year we gave you Sunday mornings due to popular demand. Now we are going to expand our regular hours for you even further. Get ready to have your socks knocked off because we are going to be open Monday through Friday from 10AM through 7:30PM! That's 9, count them NINE extra hours we are available to serve you every week!

These extra hours start May 4th. Come in and visit us. Check out a book, buy a Ramadan gift or just say hello. We are waiting for you.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Final 2015 Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival Event Thursday

Yes, the Milwaukee Muslim Film Festival 2015 #FilmFest #MMFilmFest is finally coming to a close this Thursday. The final showing of the final film, "The Wanted 18," airs at 7 PM at the UWM Union Theatre. As usual, UWM students get in for free. For everyone else, tickets are $6 at the door. This is a fun film and I'm so excited we were able to air it. I know I'll be there and I hope to see many of your smiling faces as well. Let's give this festival the send-off it so richly deserves.

I can't wait to see you there.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The Wanted 18 Opens Tomorrow

Tomorrow marks the first showing of "The Wanted 18." Tickets are $6 at the door and screening starts at 7pm at the Oriental Theatre. This final film in our festival series #MMFilmFest is so new that trailers were officially released only one month before the festival began!
Told through claymation, "The Wanted 18" tells the story of a group of "pacifist intellectuals and professionals" from the Palestinian West Bank that wanted local alternatives to Israeli goods, purchased 18 cows and transported them to the West Bank, and through trial and error create a dairy co-op. This act of defiance doesn't go unnoticed. After raiding the dairy, Israeli officials photograph the cattle and declare the cattle "a threat to the State of Israel."
If you can't make it to tomorrow, have no fear. The film will be showing again 7PM Thursday, April 23 at the UWM Union Theatre. UWM students receive free entrance to the Union Theatre.

Again, this is the final film in our film series. Let's make this showing the best one yet!

Monday, April 13, 2015

Nasreddin Hodja books for all ages

Every religion and culture has its own folk heroes and fools. For much of the Islamic world, Nasreddin Hodja is that character. He was a wise man from Anatolia whose jokes make you "think, laugh, and learn" (Demir Cengiz).

------------

I'm Not Sleepy Yet
Written by Demir Cengiz
     Nasreddin Hodja visited a family in a village. There he performed the night prayer. After chatting for a while, the house owner wanted to remind him it was bedtime.
     "Nasreddin Hodja, why does a person yawn?"
     Hodja, who was rather hungry, responded "Because of either hunger or sleeplessness."
     After forcing himself to yawn, he added: "But I'm not sleepy yet."

-------------

Here at the Islamic Resource Center, we aren't tired either. Our quest to satisfy your hunger for books knows no bounds. We have an excellent collection of Nasreddin Hodja books for all ages. They all have that characteristic humor we've come to know and love from all his stories. Borrow one from our library to read today or buy one as a gift. They'll keep you chuckling over his antics even after you've closed the book.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

"The Wanted 18" Opens April 15



The final film in our first annual film festival #MMFilmFest , "The Wanted 18," is set to air April 15th at the Oriental Theatre and April 23rd at the UWM Union Theatre. "The Wanted 18" is a claymation account of a Palestinian co-op and the eighteen cattle they purchase that are then classified as enemies of the State by the Israeli government. For more information, visit the festival website at mmfilmfest.com.
Come see this adorable, thought-provoking film as we wrap up our first city-wide film festival. As usual, tickets are $6 at the door and UWM students get in free to the Union Theatre. We hope to see you all there!

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Behind the Scenes at the IRC

We have all been working really hard to bring you some amazing programming. With the film festival well underway #MMFilmFest , we have had little time to really sit back and let our collection speak for itself. It is therefore with great pleasure that I write the following update:

This January we were blessed with a donation of 63 excellent hardcover books from the International Islamic Publishing House (IIPH) all of whom are now fully cataloged and in our collection. These are excellent books covering a wide variety of topics and from many points of view.




And with their inclusion, we are within sight of our next major collection milestone. We are within sight of our 2000th item!

To get us there, we are adding three series of children's Arabic books from Ladybird / Lebanon Library Publishing, which will put us over the top. These books are well known children's stories and fables from around the world written in simple to read Arabic. Perfect for those just learning Arabic, these stories are high-quality hardcover books with excellent illustrations and clear script. The few I have seen so far look amazing. I can't wait to get the rest out!

"The Three Billy Goats," "Samer and the Giant," and "The Silly Biscuit"


With these lovely additions to our collection rounding out the first 2000 items, we figured we should celebrate. This May we will host an open house for anyone interested in coming. We haven't set a date yet, but as soon as we do we'll let you know. Stay tuned for more updates.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

"Giraffada" Opens Tomorrow



The fourth movie in the Festival lineup #MMFilmFest is "Giraffada," about one veterinarian's search for a replacement giraffe for the only remaining zoo on the Palestinian West Bank and the bond between boy and giraffe. For more information on the film, see the festival's website at mmfilmfest.com.
"Giraffada" is the only non-documentary in the series. It is set to air Thursday, April 2 at 7PM at the UWM Union Theatre and Wednesday, April 8 at the Oriental Theatre. As with previous films in the series, there will be a post-screening talkback session after each airing. Tickets are $6 at the door. UWM students get in free to the Union Theatre.