The Jewish community in Golders Green hosted an Iftar for the local Muslim community, to celebrate historic heroes and heroines from both traditions and discuss all that they have in common.
This is the fifth consecutive year in which the Alyth Synagogue has hosted the breaking of the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. It forms part of Faiths Forum for London’s Big Iftar, that works to bring communities from across London together by sharing a meal, talks and respective traditions. Discussions focused around heroic figures from both the Islamic and Jewish religions throughout history, to show how these great people responded to the challenges of their ages, but also the shared values and morals between the two faiths. The evening began by looking at women from the Koran and Torah whose brave actions and voices built the values of both religions, and continued with a historical sweep from Prophet Muhammad, Moses, Nachmanides and Omar, and finished with the first woman Rabbi, Regina Jonas and other modern Muslim heroes.
On display at the Iftar, was World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Yad Vashem’s exhibition ‘BESA, A Code of Honour’. It depicted the Muslims that risked their lives to save their Jewish neighbours during the Holocaust in Albania. It was the only European country to successfully save the majority of its Jewish population.
Mustafa Field, MBE, Co-Founder of The Big Iftar and Director of Faiths Forum for London said: “With growing concern of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, it is important to remember that our communities, historically, have always supported each other and will always continue to do so.
“Ramadan is one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims. Not only is it spiritually important, but it is also an opportunity to fortify relationships with neighbours, so a perfect time to bring communities together.”
Both Ma’ariv the Jewish evening prayer and Maghrib, the Muslim evening prayer, were recited as a reflection of the similarities and cohesion between the communities.
For more information about The Big Iftar events throughout Ramadan, visit: http://www.thebigiftar.org/
