Mohammed Xhemali has joined the Brandeis Multifaith Chaplaincy as the new Muslim chaplain, the Office of Diversity announced this week. As the new chaplain, Xhemali will lead prayers, give sermons and provide spiritual counseling for anyone in the Brandeis community who wants it. He will also serve as the new adviser to the Brandeis Muslim Student Association, where he will assist with their events and programs.

Prior to joining Brandeis, Xhemali got involved with religious exploration when he studied to become a pharmacist, at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy University. There he led the Muslim Student Association. He also gave sermons regularly at the Worcester Islamic Center in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts and served as a chaplain at Worcester County Correctional Facility.

In an interview with the Justice, Xhemali said that he comes from a Muslim family, but added, “I feel like anyone who is taught a certain way still has to take a certain journey on their own to find that intrinsic motivation to assume the role that they end up assuming later in life.” He then elaborated, “I just remember being in high school one day and it hitting me like a wall: am I Muslim because my parents are Muslim or because I think this is the truth from God? And then coming to terms with the answer to that question that is mine — not my parents, not the mosque — that’s the process I engaged in.” 

Xhemali acknowledged that getting in tune with one’s religious beliefs is a difficult process to go through and said that he is grateful he had mentors and teachers to help him. As a chaplain, he wants to help people navigate this process. About his mentors, Xhemali said, “They meant so much to me to be that kind of resource, so being able to turn that around and be that resource for people who are confused or being there for whatever they need; it’s a rewarding experience. It feels like I’m paying back what I’ve gotten through life.”

Xhemali continued, “I just think that in our day and age, it’s so difficult to get an outside take on the ideas and representations of what Islam is about and my goal is to help demystify what this religion is for a lot of people and be there as a resource for them along with every other chaplain here on campus. It is literally our job to have our doors open to people. We are more than willing to invite anyone who wants to come by for any kind of conversation.”

For those seeking spiritual counseling, Xhemali said he and the other chaplains are a great resource on campus. In particular, Xhemali’s hours vary because of his work as a pharmacist, but he will always be in his office at the Brandeis Student Muslim Association Suite in the lower Usdan Student Center on Friday mornings and afternoons, as well as Tuesday afternoons and evenings.

— Mack Schoenfeld