NEW YORK CITY
June 26, 2022
Imam Abdullah Antepli, Associate Professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations; Associate Professor of the Practice, Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, was recognized May 10th, by Building Together, which recognized his deep commitment to, and leadership in, the field of interfaith relations and pursuit of the dignity for people of all faiths.
He was honored with the Inaugural Peoplehood Award from the Building Together, a U.S. based 501(C)(3) that was created to foster agricultural cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis. Over 200 people attended the gala that was held at the Classic Car Club in Manhattan with key sponsorship provided by Macquarie, Kirkland & Ellis and White & Case. In its first year, the Peoplehood Award honors those who have shown visionary leadership in making the world a better place.
“It is fitting that we are honor to Imam Antepli with the Inaugural Peoplehood Award,” said Ben Jablonski, Chairman of Building Together. “He is a man with a deep commitment to faith and inclusiveness, whose leadership we admire deeply at Building Together.”
Proceeds from the gala empower two farming communities, one Palestinian and one Israeli who have committed to working together by building factories to produce and export date honey, also known as “silan.”
“When many are busy complaining about darkness, Building Together is lighting candles after candles that will shed light for generations to come. I am truly honored and humbled by this great honor. Hope many will follow the example of BT and make a difference inshallah…”
Imam Antepli was presented with a hand carved tree of life created by Palestinian-American artist Dima Zaghal who commented: “In conceptualizing a design for an award, I wanted to symbolize a tree of life. Building Together is about planting seeds and growing together as a community. I was incredibly honored to design and construct a plaque with a visual of an abstract date-palm tree of life to present to Imam Abdullah Antepli.”
About Imam Antepli
Imam Antepli is a globally acknowledged scholar and leader of cross-religious and cross-cultural dialogue in American higher education and in non-profit world. He has built multiple organizations and initiatives to facilitate religious and spiritual life across America’s college campuses, sowing seeds of understanding between religions while upholding their cultural integrity and dignity. In July 2019, Antepli joined the Sanford School of Public Policy as associate professor of the practice, with a secondary appointment at the Divinity School as associate professor of the practice of interfaith relations. He is also a fellow on Jewish-Muslim Relations at the Shalom Hartman Institute and Co-Director of the Muslim Leadership Initiative.
