Last night, Moishe House Boston cosponsored an interfaith event with the Muslim American Society and the Workmen’s Circle celebrating the Jewish High Holidays and the Muslim Eid, the traditional festivities around the end of Ramadan. Over 100 people came from the Jewish and Muslim communities, to educate one another about our holidays, cultures, and special foods, and to get to know one another.
The event was potluck, and we were each asked to bring a food reminiscent of our holidays. We were also asked to send in our recipes, and we are making a cookbook of Jewish and Muslim holiday recipes. The food was amazing, and so was the vibe. Towards the end, two different Muslim participants said something to the effect of, “I have always loved the holidays in part because I get to celebrate with my family.
Today I have a new appreciation, because I’m gaining a wider family of the Jewish community with whom to celebrate this holy time.”
As our new housemate Michelle said at the end of the night, the event was powerful not only because it was great to get to know another culture and create inter-religious relationships. It was also powerful because we felt we were making a public statement, that despite all the tensions between the Jewish and Muslim communities, we young Jews and Muslims believe that a different kind of relationship is possible. If we can start with what we have in common and cultivate real friendships, we are in a much better position to work for peace here and abroad.
That said, the point of our work is not only to be able to talk about the tensions between us. This celebration was not only the appetizer before the real meal of debate and dissent. For us, building relationships with this community is powerful work on its own, sending a message to the wider Jewish and Muslim communities, and the wider world in general, that meaningful and positive Jewish-Muslim relationships are possible when we work for them.
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