Noah’s Pudding Celebration in Brighton

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:45 in Community Engagement

Tags:

Bill Randall

Where: Norton Road, Hove BN3 4AH
Date: 16th January 2013
Time: 18:30

Speakers:

Bill Randall, Mayor of Brighton & Hove Councillor
Mustafa Kasim Erol, Oxford Branch Director

Abstract

This event invites local people to come together and experience the Anatolian Muslim tradition of 'Noah’s Pudding'. Short speeches will be given by our guest speakers, followed by time to enjoy one another’s company over a delicious dessert and other refreshments.

The basis of annual Dialogue Society grass roots activities, 'Noah's Pudding' celebrates the common heritage of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It also provides a tasty way of bringing people together regardless of culture, religion or worldview.

The pudding is traditionally made around the Muslim festival of Ashura. According to Muslim prophetic tradition it was on the day of Ashura that Adam and Eve were created, that Moses (peace be upon him) and his community were saved from the Pharaoh's army, and thethat day Noah's (peace be upon him) ark was saved from the flood. The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) fasted on the day of Ashura, and many Muslims continue to follow this example. Noah’s Pudding represents the meal Prophet Noah is said to have made for the inhabitants of the ark when it came to rest on dry land, using the remnants of their food supplies.

Biography of Cllr Bill Randall

Bill Randall is married to Heather and they have three children and six grandchildren. One son apart, his family lives in Brighton and Hove. His many interests include jazz, the opera, the theatre, the cinema, cricket and the countryside. He played regular club football until he was 45 and now enjoys watching Arsenal and the Albion.

Bill is an award winning writer and commentator. He started his career on Jackie magazine in the 1960s and has written about housing, community and environmental issues in the UK and Europe for national newspapers and magazines since the 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s he ran a small publishing company, since when he has worked as a freelance writer and media adviser.

Bill is a former Chair of Shelter’s National Housing Aid Trust, a former trustee of Age Concern (Brighton, Hove and Portslade) and a former trustee of Brighton and Hove-based arts charity Same Sky.

Bill has represented Hanover and Elm Grove on Brighton and Hove City Council since May 2003. In May 2011 he became Leader of the City Council and the first Green Party local authority leader in the UK. On 17 May he moved from that post to become the city’s first Green Mayor.

Biography of Mustafa Kasim Erol

Mustafa graduated from the Department of Theology, Selcuk University, Turkey. He obtained his MA from Birmingham University in 1999. He taught Religious Education & Citizenship in various schools from 2002 to 2008. His most recent post was at Alexandra High School, Birmingham.

He was a founding member of several educational organisations and has acted as chairman for some of them in the United Kingdom. He worked for an interfaith NGO in Turkey between 2008 and 2010 as well as working part time as an Examiner and Team Leader at Cambridge University (2002-present).

Kasim is also a full-time PhD Candidate at Kings College, University of London, at the Department of Education and Professional Studies. His areas of interest include education, intercultural & interfaith dialogue, Islamic theology and human rights. He regularly speaks at conferences and public events on such topics in the UK and overseas

He is married and has 2 children.