Jews, Muslims Break Fasts Together

Muslim and Jewish students break the fast together at Santa Clara University campus with sweets, dates, and honey Thursday evening.

Santa Clara, Ca. Thurs., Oct. 13. Students from San Jose State University and Santa Clara University joined together to break the fasts of Yom Kippur and Ramadan’s ninth day Thursday at sundown. The event was prompted by professors from SCU’s religious studies program, who invited the schools' Jewish and Muslim students to organize incorporating Yom Kippur’s break-the-fast with the Muslim iftar. The event is one of many in a series to create dialogue between the two faiths in this year’s coinciding months of the Jewish Tishrei and the Muslim Ramadan, both thought of as holy and a time for reflection.

Both groups seemed contented with the outcome. Ahmed Khatib, a member of the Muslim Student Association at San Jose State, says that it is accepted to have friends join for the iftar, and thinks it is great to have Jewish students join the Muslims for the event. “It highlights the beautiful similarities between the Abrahamic traditions,” said Khatib. Naama Shami, a San Jose student associated with Hillel, also appreciates the collaboration, which she feels holds importance for the future. “Non-aggressive dialogue is important to clarify the misunderstandings between the two religions,” said Shami.

Santa Clara University, a Jesuit-affiliated school, hosted the event. Philip Riley and Cynthia Baker, associate professors in the school's religious studies program, invited the Jewish and Muslim student organizations to host a series of events in the month of Tishrei/Ramadan.

San Jose State hopes to follow suit. New ideas for events to include the two organizations are being considered, according to Andrew Schwartz, San Jose State’s Jewish Student Union president.

Maryam Amir-Ebrahimi speaks with Prof. Baker