Om. Sādhu. Selah. Amen. Ameen.

However you pray—or if you don’t at all—there is a space at Emory Law newly dedicated to meditation and reflection for all faiths.

The Interfaith Prayer Room is a calm, quiet space that students, faculty, and staff can access and use without having to travel to other campus prayer spaces.

On September 16, representatives from the Emory University Office of Spiritual and Religious Life (OSRL) gathered with members of the School of Law, peering into the new space, touching the fabrics, noting the religious books and icons, and appreciating the effort required to create this new room at Gambrell Hall, directly across from the Center for the Study of Law and Religion (CSLR).

The Reverend Dr. Gregory McGonigle, Emory’s dean of religious life, said, “It’s not easy to dedicate a space in our academic buildings. This prayer room is a sign of inclusion and a desire for peace. It exists to meet both practical and symbolic needs in our Emory community.”

Paula Ramos, director of student engagement, Associate Dean John Acevedo, and Whittney Barth, executive director of CSLR, worked with OSRL to coordinate the creation of a dedicated room, Dean Rich Freer noted during the ribbon cutting event. Ramos said that she is grateful for a place where students, staff, and faculty can come to honor their traditions or take some time for personal reflection.

In a round robin of remarks, each of Emory’s chaplains offered some words of dedication. Ustadh Dr. Rahimjon Abdugafurov 20G, Muslim chaplain and senior fellow in CSLR, read an opening from the Qur’an. Pandit Rajeev Persaud, the Hindu chaplain, prayed for justice for every student who visits the room. The Venerable Priya Rakkhit Sraman, Buddhist chaplain, reminded everyone that hatred cannot defeat hatred. Rabbi Jordan Braunig, the Jewish chaplain, read from the book of Deuteronomy, invoking justice and righteousness as the law school’s pursuit. And Christian chaplain, The Reverend Maddie Herlong, read from the book of Philippians, with the hope that those who enter will focus on what is noble and right.

The Interfaith Prayer Room is open Monday through Friday in Gambrell Hall, room 305a, and ORSL is available to support students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels, as well as faculty and staff. The law school prayer room now joins 16 other sacred spaces available across Emory.

OSRL supports the university's religious and philosophical life by providing opportunities to engage with spiritual life on campus through worship, meditation, education, service, and interfaith engagement. Part of their mission is to educate about spirituality and ethics in society and the world. To reach their office, visit religiouslife.emory.edu.