As a 20-something living in New York City, Chelsea Luger tried out more fitness classes than you can imagine."I really should have started a blog about that," she laughs on a call to mbg. But when Luger started to think a little more critically about where this passion for movement was coming from, an idea for a much larger project began to take shape."One day it clicked that there's a direct connection between my interest in fitness and my traditional culture," says Luger, a Native American who grew up

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(RNS) — Once a fringe spiritual practice, witchcraft has become a key, and increasingly popular, component of feminist political resistance.

Source: Witchcraft becomes a political stance — and a booming business - Religion News Service

(RNS) – The Brooklyn Historical Society's new digital archive of 50 interviews with local Muslims can help "change the narrative" surrounding American Muslims, oral historian Zaheer Ali said.

Source: Brooklyn Muslims document their past and present in new oral history project - Religion News Service

Statement from OU and RCA: “Prayers must go hand-in-hand with availing oneself of medical science, including vaccination.”

Source: Jewish Groups Urge Parents To Vaccinate Kids – The Forward

School food inclusivity rally (@safest) We as faith leaders are most privileged to cooperate on a project that will benefit our respective communities. For far too long, students who follow religious dietary guidelines have found their public school cafeteria lacks sufficient accommodation in the food offered. Typically students who require a kosher or halal meal have very limited options in school lunch offerings, often choosing to eat nothing. At this time in history, with persistent and growing incidents of discrimination based on religious and racial animus, New York City...

Six years ago, local children’s author Jane Zalben was in line at Brooklyn’s classic Sahadi’s purchasing ingredients for Rosh Hashanah while a woman wearing a hijab stood in line next to her. Zalben marveled at the experience – how a Middle Eastern grocer could provide food specialties for two distinct religions. Her newly published picture […]

Source: Local children's author takes on interfaith themes with latest picture book - The Island Now...

Following city report, growing pressure on Hasidic yeshivas for education reform.

Source: Yeshiva Reform Pressure Grows After New York Report – The Forward

Just about every culture in the world is represented in New York City. But so many people are still misunderstood, which can cause confrontations or worse. The city is trying to fix the problems, starting in the classroom.

Source: To foster cultural understanding, NYC schools unveil lessons on Sikhism - Story | WNYW

A Pew study says that 20 percent of Americans who identify as Muslims are converts. With surges in hate crimes and negative media portrayals, here's what makes them faithful.

Source: Islamophobia On The Rise In New York. But So Is Islam. | WSKG

Congregation Kolot Chayeinu in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood is removing its savings from JPMorgan Chase.

Source: Brooklyn Synagogue Pulls Cash From Chase In Protest – The Forward

Following the U.S. Senate's failure to find a legislative solution for Dreamers, the U.S. Catholic bishops have announced a National Call-In Day.

Source: National Call-In Day to Protect Dreamers organized by U.S. Bishops

The rates of lead poisoning were worse than Flint for the entire period reported on by Reuters.

Source: Hasidic Brooklyn Neighborhood Has Lead Poisoning – The Forward

Many mothers are using the experience as a way to teach their daughters about the mikveh early on –- without the sexual connotations.

Source: Orthodox Women Dare To Go To The Mikveh On Yom Kippur Eve — Like Men