Musicians strummed non secular hymns and chatter crammed the air as dozens of friends gathered round tables for Iftar, the night fast-breaking meal throughout Ramadan.
Ramadan, a holy month noticed by Muslims worldwide through the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar, takes place this 12 months from Feb. 17 by March 19.
It’s a time of prayer, reflection and charitable giving. It’s additionally when Muslims quick by abstaining from food and drinks from daybreak till sundown as an act of non secular self-discipline and empathy for these in want.
At Tuesday evening’s Iftar, the vast majority of attendees weren’t Muslim — however that was the purpose.
The occasion was a part of a sequence of interfaith dinners hosted by Raindrop Basis San Antonio, a charitable group based by Muslim Turkish-People that goals to domesticate cross-cultural friendships, promote dialogue throughout faiths and construct bridges between various teams.
“Since fasting is in lots of religion traditions, individuals discover it handy to get into the footwear of Muslims through the month of Ramadan,” mentioned Burak Aksoylu, a member of Raindrop’s outreach committee. “So coming collectively round frequent values, constructing bridges, cultivating mutual understanding. These are all a part of our mission. That’s why we’re organizing the dinners.”
The night started with a efficiency by the Raindrop Ensemble and earlier than dinner, three prayers have been led by neighborhood members of Christian, Islamic and Jewish faiths.
Rabbi Lisa Goldstein with Congregation Shalom of San Antonio, led the Jewish prayer.
She mentioned the congregation and Raindrop have partnered for a lot of years for occasions, and the teams’ members have change into nice buddies. For instance, on Yom Kippur, she mentioned the congregation invitations Raindrop to its quick breaking meal.
Goldstein mentioned interfaith occasions like Tuesday evening’s dinner are essential as a result of individuals tend to gravitate towards individuals like themselves, particularly these of the identical religion.
“There’s a lot to be gained and realized from being buddies with individuals in different religion communities and studying about different faiths,” Goldstein mentioned. “The one option to fight antisemitism, Islamophobia, all the hate that goes on in our society is thru schooling and dialogue.”
After the dinner Memet Oguz, a member of the Raindrop Ensemble, gave an academic presentation about Ramadan and answered questions, giving attendees a deeper understanding of the spirit and traditions of the holy month.
Every visitor was served two dates, a fruit historically used to interrupt fasts because the Prophet Muhammad did within the Quran, Oguz defined.
Attendees have been additionally served hen, rice, salad and bread, with plates of watermelon and inexperienced beans on tables to share, and baklava for dessert. Tea, espresso and water have been served to drink.
For its ultimate interfaith dinner and within the giving spirit of Ramadan, Raindrop is partnering with the San Antonio Meals Financial institution for an occasion at its Group Occasion Heart on Thursday, March 12. Tickets begin at $23 with all proceeds going to the meals financial institution.
At its current occasions Raindrop has been amassing meals and inspiring financial donations to the meals financial institution.
“That is very a lot in alignment with supporting the neighborhood throughout Ramadan,” Aksoylu mentioned.
Programming just like Tuesday evening’s dinner will happen, with the addition of an Ebru artwork (or water marbling) demonstration, “providing a glimpse of this lovely Turkish custom and tradition,” Aksoylu mentioned.
Celeste Almazan, a 21-year-old UT San Antonio pupil, attended Raindrop’s interfaith dinner with a company she’s part of known as Nurturing Hope. It’s a collaboration between UT San Antonio, the Alamo Faculties and Trinity College, which pushes college students to get out of their consolation zones in in the present day’s polarized atmosphere, Almazan defined.
“Being right here I used to be in a position to be taught extra about Islam and I used to be sitting at a desk with the Rabbi, so I used to be listening to her communicate a bit of bit too,” Almazan mentioned. “It’s simply attempting to grasp different individuals’s views and the way previous experiences can have an effect on the way in which we act sooner or later.”
