Muslims hold mass prayers at Jerusalem mosque

Jummah prayer at Al Aqsa Mosque

Tens of thousands of Muslims poured into the heavily guarded Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem for the last Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan. 

 

Israeli police put the number of worshippers at 160,000 to 170,000, while Muslim authorities said it exceeded 200,000.

"As in previous weeks, the police deployed 2,000 men around the mosque. They have not interfered, and the prayer has taken place with the utmost calm," police spokesman Shmulik Ben Ruby said.

The sprawling mosque compound is the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina. It is also the holiest site in Judaism because it was the location of the Second Temple, razed by the Romans in 70 AD.
 
The compound is inside Jerusalem's famed Old City in Arab east Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Six Day War and annexed in a move not recognised by the international community.
 

The fate of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues in the Middle East peace process, with Israel claiming the entire city as its capital and the Palestinians demanding east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state.

As with past Fridays, Israel limited access to the compound to men over the age of 50, women over the age of 40 and children, and only granted visiting permits to a limited number of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank.
 

 The site has frequently been the site of violence, most notably in 2000 when the second Palestinian uprising erupted after a visit to the compound by Ariel Sharon, a right-wing politician who went on to become Israel's prime minister.

 

The holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, is expected to end on September 9 or 10, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
  
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.c7f43140457baf9c53dfa85be7942b09.3c1&show_article=1

Dakota Ummah has readers from around the World!!!

Readership map of Dakota Ummah Blog

Although only a few days old, the Dakota Ummah Blog now has readers hailing from around the world.  Readers have logged in from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Germany, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.  We hope to continue to grow and will offer some of the best news, information, and viewpoints dealing with issues including Islam, American Indian (Native American) issues, liberal politics, and other serious and humorous topics.  We hope you enjoy us.  Please feel free to provide feedback.

Native American numbers on rise in North Dakota foster care system

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/289347/

Statistics show that minorities are overrepresented in the foster care system in all states.

 

The most recent Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System report shows that Caucasian children represent 40 percent of all foster children. African-American children make up 31 percent, Hispanic children 20 percent, and Native American children about 2 percent.

 

In North Dakota, Native Americans are the largest minority group represented in the foster system, and their numbers are on the rise. They accounted for 29 percent of the state’s foster children in 2008 and 37 percent in 2009, state child welfare data show.

 

The 30 percent range has been a steady trend for Native Americans in the past decade in North Dakota. Statewide, Native Americans account for 5.6 percent of the total under-18 population, according to a 2008 census report.

 

In Minnesota, Native American foster children accounted for more than 13 percent of all foster children in 2009, but only 1.8 percent of the state’s Native American child population, according to the state’s child welfare report. 

 

Since the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 became national law, states stressed keeping Native American children with their families and their tribes or with any Native American family, even if it’s not that child’s specific tribe. The act made sure Native American children would maintain cultural identity and connections.

The problem is there aren’t many Native American foster parents, said Tara Muhlhauser, director of North Dakota’s Human Services Department, which oversees foster care.

 

Many tribes do not have the services they need to keep foster children inside reservations, so they are transferred from the tribal courts to the state, Muhlhauser said. 

May God bless Lutheran Social Services

Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota works with the United States Government to help refugees establish a home in North Dakota after they are approved for admittance into our country.

  

The goal of their work is to help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency as soon as possible.  Partnerships play a vital role in a successful resettlement experience. New American Services works with many state and local agencies including the North Dakota Department of Human Services, the public schools, churches, health care organizations, social service agencies, adult learning centers, civic groups, employers, plus individual volunteers and mentors.  

Through their New American program, LSS North Dakota accepts between180 to 220 individual refugees each year. 

• Refugees strengthen the local economy by supplying labor, occupying rental housing units and by simply being a consumer.  An employed refugee pays approximately $1000 in state sales tax and contributes $2500 to $3000 in state and federal taxes annually.
• Refugees offset North Dakota’s population decline and help offset declining school enrollment, the shrinking workforce and reduced tax base.
• Refugees bring diversity to our area, helping us learn about and from different cultures. 
• Refugees become homeowners and contribute approximately $100,000 in property taxes per year.
• Refugees start new businesses and in-turn employ others. 

 These people are a wonderful group working for the good of humanity.  The lead for LSS is Sabina Abaza sabaza@lssnd.org.  Her number is 701-235-7341.

Their web page is at http://www.lssnd.org/newamericans/index.html