American Islam Feeds You

By Matthew Weiner
Interfaith Center of New York

In New York, interfaith with Muslims starts with food. This is especially true during the month of Ramadan, when each evening an iftar, the breaking the day-long fast, provides a public opportunity for sharing in grateful celebration.  Since 9/11, one interesting new trend is that increasingly, inviting non-Muslims to break fast with the local community has become a primary way in which Islam explains itself to the American public, and makes friends.

Pastor Daniel Meeter of Old Reform Church in Brooklyn was at a Baptist service opposing the war. A Muslim spoke, a Rabbi spoke, he and other pastors spoke.  The Imam invited the group to attend his mosque’s Ramadan break-fast (Iftar).  There was one every night for a month, but this one was one especially for non-Muslim friends. 

Meeter agreed to attend. It was the sixth such invitation he had received. Others included the Brooklyn Borough President’s Iftar and the Turkish Cultural Society’s Iftar held at the glamorous Waldorf Astoria which was attended by Judges, Scholars, other religious leaders, and Hillary Clinton.

At this particular Iftar, Meeter was among local shop owners, leaders, and two rabbis.  At the end of the meal -always the center of the program- the Jews, Meeter, and an Imam from Egypt’s Al-Azar University had a long discussion about politics and religion, seated on the floor, for the whole community to hear. 

Meeter’s multiple attendance is a bit unusual.  He has a strong interest in building friendships with Muslims.  But interfaith Iftars have become commonplace: this year there have been dozens throughout New York, and perhaps hundreds Nation wide. 

There are other examples: Union Theological Seminary and the Muslim Consultative Network, with a little help from the Interfaith Center of New York, hosted an Iftar in Saint James Chapel, where Niebuhr, Tillich, and Bonhoffer preached.  What was cutting edge then is different from cutting edge now.  Now Muslim prayers take place; Union removed the cross from the chapel so that Muslims could pray without facing it. Then during dinner, there was a public discussion about Human Rights with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim speakers.  Columbia Muslim Student’s Association joined in as well to support a “tradition” established in the weeks after the 9/11 terror attack.

There are even joint religious programs: every year there are Iftar- Sukkus gatherings, where community members meet to explain to each others congregations the significance of shelter, food, and hospitality, and share a potluck meal meal.  And not just monotheists are involved. In Bay Ridge Brooklyn, Imam X hosted Ven. Rey Fashi, a Chinese monk, to a feast, because by the Imam’s account Chinese Buddhists and Arab Muslims share the neighborhoods, and must know each other better. 

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