Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers broke bread together, united in faith and enduring tradition.
“The most important thing is [for us all to] come together, share our food and sit around the table. Show off this beautiful, peaceful event,” Sarah Unal, a Muslim New Yorker, said.
What You Need To Know
Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side held its Shabbat service Friday night, followed by its annual Interfaith Iftar
Guests learned about the observance of Ramadan and the traditions surrounding the meal
The gathering comes amid ongoing violence in the Middle East and one day after a man drove into a Michigan synagogue
She broke her fast at the Interfaith Iftar at Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side on Friday night.
After Shabbat services, the synagogue held its annual Interfaith Iftar — the daily meal Muslims have at sunset to break their fast during Ramadan.
“Because of all the unrest in the world and all the tension, particularly in New York City, I think these interfaith events would be very helpful in rectifying this. People should really get together and understand each other’s culture,” Dave Rosenberg, a Jewish New Yorker who attended the event, said.
Dozens participated in prayer before sitting side-by-side at the dinner table.
Guests learned about the observance of Ramadan and the traditions surrounding the meal.
Temple Emanu-El said the goal of this event is to bring Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities together.
“Events like these signal a message of unity and the message that we don’t need to import the conflicts that are taking place elsewhere in the world into our lives and relationships,” Rabbi Joshua Davidson said.
The gathering comes one day after federal officials say an armed man rammed his vehicle into one of the country’s largest Reform synagogues near Detroit, Michigan.
This, as the United States and Israeli governments ramp up their attacks in the Middle East.
New Yorkers told NY1 that this ongoing violence weighs heavily on their hearts and minds.
“I went to several wars, and [war is] not the answer. I believe this is the answer,” Samuel Wanderer, a member of Temple Emanu-El, said.
At a time when there is so much divisiveness, these New Yorkers pray events like these will create a ripple effect and forge deeper understanding and compassion.
“This small event seems small, but if you can do this event successfully with one another, it means it can be copied for other people too,” Amar Unal, a Muslim New Yorker who attended the Iftar, said. “So, we always promote events like this and we always tell our friends to do stuff like this. It’s possible. So we’re proving that it’s possible. With Jewish people, with Christian people, with Muslims together, it’s possible.”
Temple Emanu-El plans to host the event again next year to honor the enduring relationship between the Muslim and Jewish faiths.