On Sunday, March 2, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond’s Women’s Philanthropy and Hadassah Richmond presented a community screening of Screams Before Silence, a groundbreaking and powerful documentary highlighting sexual violence during the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
Despite the devastating nature of the film, the post-screening discussion with Anila Ali and Dr. Gail Moskowitz turned toward hope for the future. Sylvia Farbstein, a Federation board member and Lifetime Hadassah membership, served as a facilitator for the program.
Ali, a Muslim faith leader is founder of the American Muslim & Multfaith Women’s Empowerment Countil, and has led efforts to promote religious freedom and counter antisemitism, including leading Muslim delegations to Israel.
Moskowitz, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and longtime Hadassah leader, has been a dedicated advocate for women’s rights and social justice.
The discussion, facilitated by Federation board member Sylvia Farbstein, explored the impact of sexual violence in conflict zones and the importance of interfaith collaboration in addressing these atrocities. Ali and Moskowitz emphasized the need for awareness, community support, and collective action to prevent violence.
Attendees left with a deeper understanding of the issue and a commitment to supporting survivors. The event served as a powerful call to action, reinforcing the importance of unity in confronting violence and oppression.
The day after the screening, Ali and her colleague, Soraya Deen, were hosted by the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond where they shared their efforts combatting antisemitism and building interfaith relationships between Jewish and Muslim communities.
Following their visit, Director of Women’s Philanthropy, Dot Heffron, reflected, “I feel more hopeful than I have in a long time. We’re so fortunate to have leaders like Anila and Soraya working beside us.”
