IFTAR THANKSGIVING
בס"ד
6 Tishrei
Work has been slow going, but I will persevere, im yirtzeh haShem (with G@d's help).
Tonight, Joel & I went to our friend Tabassum's to share in her Ramadaan Iftar (break fast). We had a wonderful time! & I can't believe it's been a year since we last joined her for a Ramadaan evening meal.
She picked up food for us all at Sabra's, one of our local hekashered meat restaurants, & we brought our glass plates, etc. Dietary practice only has the power to separate people if the practitioners allow it :)
We each took turns praying once we got to her place, Joel & I each doing Mincha & Tabassum doing Magrhib Salat (sunset prayers - the Arabic "maghrib" has the same root as the Hebrew "maariv", the evening prayers in Judaism). We compared our prayers, their similarity in words & actions. I really enjoy learning about Islam through my Muslim friends like Tabassum, Rabia & Kyla.
The rest of the evening was so great - we talked a lot about religion, a little about politics, how we rely on G@d, through our faiths, to help us be the best we can be. I really value being able to exchange philosophy of different religions with other people of faith. Thank G@d!
We stayed late - much later than we ought to have considering we have all early prayers & work, but it was so delicious to have such company!
posted by Soferet | 11:33:00 p.m.
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3 Comments:
Oh, oh, oh -- this sounds so wonderful. Truly I wish I could have been there.
\I love your description of your evening, and I am especially moved by the line Dietary practice only has the power to separate people if the practitioners allow it :) Amen, sister -- I wish more people felt that way!
בס"ד
& you would have been very welcome, Rachel - have I ever mentioned that Joel & I have a teensy bit of a blog-crush on you?
& the food thing? Yeah. It's important. We can each use our religions as tools to divde or to unite.
Joel & I look for ways to use Judaism as a uniting force in our lives. So, when we go to a non-Jewish or non-Kosher keeping friends' or family's for a meal, we get there early if we have permission to kasher part of their kitchen & if not, we get kosher take-out. The point is to share time, food & talk with others. It's a vital, bonding human experience that transcends cultures & religions, so it is a very powerful divider or uniter.
When I travel somewhere to teach, I request that the shul or organisation bringing me in find me home hospitality rather than put me in a hotel. Even if the home is not kosher or shomer anything. Why? Because I think it's really important for Orthodox Jews like me who know little about Reform Judaism (for example) to meet & make friends with Reform Jews & likewise they should have a positive experience with me. Worst comes to worst, I can eat boiled eggs the whole time I'm there, or cereal (hekashered, of course - & I don't do cholov yisrael). In the meantime, we can get to know each other! Wouldn't that be a great way to break down some of the misunderstandings & wrong assumptions separating each denomination of Judaism?
Shalom AVIEL!
I am sad I missed you:(. I wish I could have been there. We MUST get together soon! I love talking with you and Joel.
Love rabia
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