To celebrate the Jewish holy month of Tishrei and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Miami University's Hillel Foundation will be hosting a dinner they call Ramadan Break-Fast: Breaking the Fast, Building Community.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are supposed to fast from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is also one of the customs associated with Yom Kippur, one of the Jewish holidays that occurs during this month and the holiest day of the Jewish year.
This meal, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct.11, is for Christian, Jewish and Muslim students, faculty, staff and community members.
Hillel hopes that educating diners on the holy months of Ramadan and Tishrei as well as fasting traditions in Christianity, will break barriers and build understanding among the people of the different religions.
"We're putting a lot of emphasis on food," said Amy Greenbaum, director of Hillel. "Food has a good way of bringing people together."
This year in particular, the Jewish and Muslim holy months occur during the same lunar month of Sept. 23 and 24 through Oct. 22.
"This dinner is open to the public," said Miami University senior Jacob Patterson-Stein, outreach chair of Miami Students for Israel. "It is an event for the Miami community to get together and talk with their peers about the holidays and enjoy the food. Also, the community can get together and learn about different cultures while breaking down barriers."
The Hillel Foundation has a kosher kitchen and event planners are preparing for 50 people, but Patterson-Stein anticipates that more will attend.
On the menu are traditional foods with which to break the Yom Kippur fast and also the Ramadan fast, since the meal will occur after sunset. The meal will include dried dates and apricots as appetizers, lentil soup, red beans and tilapia, a type of fish. The meal, except for the desert, is being prepared by Hillel's chef, Paula Duncan. All of the food will be kosher and halal, meaning that, according to Jewish and Muslim religion, the food is permissible to eat.
"People don't advertise their (religious) beliefs because Islam and Judaism (are minorities) here," Patterson-Stein said. "Everyone attending will be comfortable and open to learning."
Greenbaum, who is also an adviser for Miami Students for Israel and Association of Jewish Students, also said that it is important to acknowledge and recognize that these holy months do coincide and that people can learn about each other while sharing a meal.
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"I am grateful and delighted that so many in the community are embracing the idea of building community together by breaking the fast," Greenbaum said. "I hope (this meal) will be the first of many."
The event has 13 confirmed sponsors including the Association of Jewish Students, Lights on Campus, Center for American and World Cultures, Division of Student Affairs, Hillel, Interfaith Circle, the Jewish Studies Program, Lutheran Campus Ministry/Faith Lutheran Church, Miami Students for Israel, Middle East and Islamic Studies Program, Muslim Students Association, Office of Diversity Affairs and Office of Residence Life.
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