Leadership
Salima Maxine Adelstein
Abdul Karim Pinckney
Salam Alikum, Peace be with you, lovers of God. My name is Salima Maxine Adelstein, and I want to share with you a little about myself and the founding of the Farm of Peace.
About 25 years ago, I met a Sufi sheikh named, Sidi al-Jamal.
He profoundly changed my life and introduced me to the Shadhilliya Sufi Way. I studied with him at his zawiyah in Jerusalem and he walked me thru the stations of this way.
I had been mediating for 25 years before that and although my experiences in meditation were wonderful, I had never touched the depth of my heart and the ecstasy and joy of the treasures inside. Of course, I needed to purify my old habits and issues that kept me in states of worry, hardship and drama. I left Jerusalem with such gratitude and a deep peace and inner happiness, that my heart wanted to share this knowledge with anyone who would be interested.
From a small group in Silver Spring to a larger group in Frederick Maryland, we met and carried the message of peace, love, mercy, justice and freedom. At an all-night prayer retreat, the community had a single wish: to have a place to gather, to live in community, pray together, grow healthy halal food, and to serve by teaching and sharing our knowledge with others.
As destiny would have it, we discovered some land in Warfordsburg PA. My sheikh and guide said “Yes, this is the place buy it now” and named it “The Farm of Peace.” After 16 years, we transferred it to the non-profit, Sufi Center East and is now collectively owned by the Mid-Atlantic community.
Before his death, he blessed me with the rank of Murshid Murrabi Ruhi (spiritual caregiver and mature guide) to carry the teachings and the message to a wider audience.
As co-president of the University of Sufism and faculty member, I am working with the Farm of Peace as the Spiritual Director teaching and leading our zawiyah (spiritual retreat) programs.
I invite all you lovers of God to come and experience the peace and beauty of the Farm and discover the beauty and secrets inside your heart. Everyone is welcome.
Abdul Karim Pinckney was born and raised in The Bronx, NY. Converted to Islam in 1999. A student at Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, CA for five years where he studied Maliki fiqh. He took bayyah with Sidi in 2009. Also was an assistant to Imam Musa Abdul Ali in Mt.Vernon, NY at Masjid Yusuf Shah from 2012-2015. His duties included giving classes, assisting events and giving Friday sermons.
He has a yearning for helping beloveds come to know their Lord with clarity through revelation and reason, in the hope of reaching direct experience with the result of an increase in love of God. Please call the Farm of Peace to reach Imam Abdul Karim Pinckney
Our Board of Directors
Jo Ann Samah Ross
Jo Ann’s clients include the U.S. and foreign governments, nonprofit associations, and global companies to whom she offers consultancy services such as:
- spirituality in the workplace
- cross-cultural communications
- diversity
- global awareness
- global leadership
- multicultural team-building
Jo Ann’s Master’s degree in French Literature and Civilization is from the University of Maryland, where she was a faculty member for thirteen years. She holds a second Master’s in Divinity from the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism, which allows her to offer Sufi healing sessions to curious hearts and lead workshops on Sufism. She holds the rank of Maqadum.
Jessica Rahima Pasko, MD
Rahima Pasko is a medical doctor double-boarded in Internal Medicine (adult medicine) and Pediatrics. She has been a traveler on the Sufi path for nearly two decades and completed the three-year certificate program at the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism in 2005.
She is passionate about running youth programs at the Farm of Peace where children both near to far can come to the Farm and experience country life including farming, hiking, exploring local streams and making nature art and even most recently star gazing with a local astronomy club.
She also participates in the Wellness Weekends on the farm offering Hijama or wet cuppings.
Sabrina N’Diaye, PhD, MDiv, LCSW-C
Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye is an integrative psychotherapist and founder of the Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing in Baltimore, Maryland. There, she lovingly serves women, couples, other healers, and small groups. Her approach to healing is a blend of wisdom, science, and ancient spiritual practices.
She is a proud senior faculty member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, where she teaches the art of self-care to healthcare professionals around the globe. As Center faculty, she has responded to community trauma in Las Vegas, Houston, the Pine Ridge Reservation, New York City, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, and the Veterans Administration. She is currently serving the Center as a teacher and guide for healthcare professionals in Jordan and East Africa.
Dr. Sabrina is a highly-respected member of the global mental health community, and frequently lectures on cultural diversity, spirituality, stress management, self-care for healers, addictions, and the “magic” of connection. Her many audiences include police departments, flight attendants, healing artists, peacebuilders, and aspiring writers. She is currently writing her first book, The Laugh of Love, based on her maternal grandmother’s ability to transcend multiple traumas and chronic illness.
Dr. Sabrina is a devoted wife, mother, daughter, and life-long learner, who remains humbled by the healing power of compassion, love and forgiveness.
Manijeh Marvastian
Manijeh Marvastian is a teacher and Sufi spiritual healer, who brings to her powerful work a unique blend of ancient mystical healing, and expertise in a variety of modern energy therapies. Manijeh recognized her gift of healing at a very young age but did not follow her calling until after earning a Bachelors’s degree in Computer Engineering and working in corporate America for many years. While healing from a serious injury, she started her journey of becoming a healer through intense prayer and studying BioEnergy, Esoteric Healing, Polarity, Reiki, Massage, Yoga and Qi Gong. Manijeh graduated with a Master of Divinity from the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism. Manijeh has a private healing practice in Bethesda Maryland and has devoted her life to guide hearts to taste Divine love, healing, and inner peace. She is also engaged with her family foundation in altruistic projects worldwide to help bring justice and healing for those in need.
Robert “Jamil” Bastress, M.Ac. M.Div. MMQ
Jamil is the current chairman of the board, former Imam of the Farm of Peace and muqaddam in the Shadhiliyya Sufi order. Jamil is also a nationally board-certified licensed acupuncturist. He earned a master’s degree at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Columbia, Maryland in 1999. In 2003 he graduated from the Jaffe Institute of Spiritual and Medical Healing with a Masters in Spiritual Ministry. He earned a master’s in medical qigong in 2016. Jamil currently resides in Pittsburgh with Na’ima his wife of 18 years and 16-year-old son Salim.
by Heart Light Digital