The Abrahamic Reunion Annual, Multi-faith Ramadan Iftar gathering, Tuesday evening June 28, in Faradis, near Haifa, was a big success. Joining were 220 people, Jews, Christians, Muslims and Druze.
Coming on two buses from Jerusalem, Israeli Jews, Christians, and Palestinians from East Jerusalem, we relaxed for 3 hours together on ‘Hof Dor’ beach, also called by its original Arabic name Tantura. After wading in the waves and sharing some music together, I shared the history of a massacre that happened at Tantura village here during the 1948 war, including to the family of our hostess in Faradis, Ibtisam Mahamid. We did a shared prayer to heal the wounds of the past, of the wounded family of Abraham.
Arriving in Faradis, to a local schoolyard, there was an impressive array of tables and chairs, and fresh food being cooked on the premises. Ibtisam Mahamid thanked all those who made the effort to journey to Faradis. Mayor Yunis Mar’eh shared: “You people of many faiths honor us by gathering in our town of Faradis, on our special Ramadan fast day.”
A young Muslim leader, Hamza Hasadiya, opened with a recitation from the Quran of “Surat il Bakara”, the Surah that mentions the history and meaning of the fast of Ramadan. At that same time of the recitation,the religious Jews prayed mincha, the afternoon prayer. We prayed side by side in mutual respect.
Sheikh Hassan Mar’eh, Imam of the Huda Mosque, addressed all of us gathered at tables: “We are honored to host this unique gathering of the Abrahamic Reunion: rabbis, sheikhs, priests, and especially the Palestinians who made this long journey (to the north) on a day of fasting.” The Imam shared that: when one is fasting, for the entire month of Ramadan, it opens our hearts, we seek to lift up the poor, disadvantaged in our society.”
Rodef Shalom Eliyahu McLean and Abed Alsalam Manasra, as Holy Land Director and Assistant Director of the Abrahamic Reunion, formally welcomed each of the communities represented at our shared meal:
Rabbi Yair and Ilana Silverman, with a group from his Congregation ‘Moed’ in Zichron Yaakov, Siham Halabi and Druze women from Daliat il-Carmel, East Jerusalem Palestinians, including the family of the late Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari, Palestinians from many parts of the West Bank- Jericho, Sawiya village, Bethlehem, Husan and Hebron, Rabbi Yakov Nagen and students from Otniel Yeshiva, Sheikh Abu Rukkun with Druze from Isafiya, Greek Melkite Deacon Jiries Mansour from Rame, Elana Rozenman from Trust WIN, Sheikh Abed Alsalam Manasra the Elder from Nazareth, and many local dignitaries from Faradis.
Rabbi Yakov Nagen blessed the Muslims on their fast day, sharing a story of Muslims waiting with the Jews to break the fast together at last year’ Iftar, Hadassah Froman said, “When we Jews share with Muslims their sacred time during Ramadan, we are also inspired to do teshuva, repentance.”
In a show of multi-faith unity, we, the religious and community leaders, men and women, stood together, hands held and blessed the crowd. Then everyone shared a delicious meal. Kosher food was brought in for the Jews present. For hours people shared food and stories together. A group of Sufis, led by Sheikh Jamal al-DIn from East Jerusalem led a Sufi zikr, a remembrance of G-d ceremony. Anglican Father, Nael Abu Rahmoun came from Nazareth to greet everyone as the evening ended.
Finally, all present went their separate ways, inspired by this experience of multi-faith harmony and unity, in a divided time in the Middle East.
Shalom, Salaam,
Eliyahu McLean,
with Abdel Salaam Manasra,
Holy Land Director and Asst. Director, Abrahamic Reunion
