2012-iftar

Thank you to our cosponsors for making the evening such a success:    Young MALAC,  IKAR, Wilshire Boulevard Temple,  Bend the Arc, and MECA SoCal. 
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NewGround Iftar

hosted by IKAR cosponsored by Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Young MALAC, MECA SoCal, and Bend the Arc

As the Jewish Journal explains, “[a] recent break-fast meal, held in the courtyard of the Westside Jewish Community Center, began with the blowing of a shofar.” 

Before the break fast officially began Thursday night, the courtyard of the Westside JCC was filled with 225 people partnering with others they just met to answer core questions about their identity.  “What gives your life meaning?  How does tonight fit into the larger picture?”  The exercise was an opportunity for attendees of NewGround’s iftar to experience a taste of what the 16 students on the Muslim-Jewish High School Leadership Council will be doing this year.  

Punctuated by words of wisdom from Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR and Imam Rushdan Mujahid-Deen of Masjid Bilal Islamic Center, the evening culminated with the stories from two students on the high school council. Shurooq Abu-Hajar explained why Muslim-Jewish relations matter to her:

“I want to learn about how Judaism responds to different questions or challenges in America because it seems that Jews go through many hardships [like Muslims] and knowing how they respond is very interesting. I want to know if we respond in the same way to challenges. I believe knowing how each religion counters different situations will strengthen our leadership.”