Women in Faith: Diverse Voices Speak

Co-presented with the Prince George's County Office of Human Rights

Dealing with Intolerance: How Does Our Faith Guide Us to Deal with Intolerance within Ourselves?

Join Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights as their Women in Faith: Diverse Voices Speak series continues with Dealing With Intolerance: How Does Our Faith Guide Us to Deal With Intolerance Within Ourselves? Reverend Janelle Johnson, Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky, and Rahmah Abdulaleem share their experiences, and Christian, Islam, and Jewish faiths provide guidance in dealing with the intolerance we find within ourselves. In these times of increasing polarization, how can we protect our own selves, our own spirits, from increasing intolerance? Gifted speakers and leaders, our guest panelists bring insight and wisdom to the conversation and highlight how the three Abrahamic faiths share the collective wisdom of millennia of human experience.

Reverend Janelle Johnson, a native of Hampton, Va., attended the University of Illinois with a full track and field scholarship and later transferred to George Mason University, earning a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. In 2007, she earned a master’s degree in business from Johns Hopkins University.

In 2014, her commitment to social justice, education, and equality led to her being appointed as a commissioner by the county executive to the Prince George’s County Human Relations Commission, the civil rights agency for the county to investigate and enforce all federal discrimination laws within its jurisdiction. She was elected as vice-chair of the same commission in 2017 and served until October 2019.

Reverend Johnson was ordained in 2012. She is a servant leader on the ministerial staff at Reid Temple AME Church in Glendale, Md., and the director of their Domestic Violence Ministry. As an author, she released her book “Is He Spiritual: You Deserve Only God’s Best” in 2017, detailing her encounter with domestic violence. As a part of her commitment to continuous learning, Reverend Johnson earned a certificate in theology and ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2017 and a graduate degree in law from the George Washington University Law School.

Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky is the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Director of Intergroup Relations/JCRC Rabbi in Residence. She studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary and was ordained in 2012. Rabbi Sharofsky also holds a master’s degree from the Davidson School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, specializing in experiential Jewish education. She previously served as deputy director of the Jewish Welfare Board Jewish Chaplains Council. 

Rabbi Sharofsky is the recipient of the 2016 JPRO Network Young Professional Award for her dedication to the Jewish community through her work in the Jewish not-for-profit field. She is a Rabbis Without Borders fellow and currently serves on the Executive Council of the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Sharofsky is involved in numerous interfaith organizations throughout Greater Washington, as well as boards and committees dedicated to equity and justice.

Rahmah A. Abdulaleem is the Executive Director of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, where she works to create a global network of advocates knowledgeable about the gender-equitable principles of Islam and are able to advance the cause of Muslim women’s rights in legal and social environments.  As KARAMAH’s Executive Director, she works with scholars to empower advocates about the rights Islamic law grants to women and to educate Muslim women in Islamic jurisprudence, leadership, and conflict resolution so that they may become the leading agents of change within their communities. 

Ms. Abdulaleem is also an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law. She graduated from Duke University with a double major in Religion and Sociology and a Certificate in Markets & Management Studies. Ms. Abdulaleem obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.  Prior to joining KARAMAH, Ms. Abdulaleem represented clients in a variety of automotive, pharmaceutical and asbestos actions and as an arbitrator where she provided assistance resolving small claims to parties from diverse backgrounds with varying needs. She has successfully settled numerous cases through arbitration, mediation and negotiation.