Iftar celebrations under the Jersey City skies
By: May S. Young
Jersey City, New Jersey was voted as the nation’s most ethnically diverse enclave according to the financial site, WalletHub. Mayor Steven Fulop proudly reinforced the fact by hosting the city’s very first Iftar Dinner in sync with this year’s Ramadan Celebrations. On the evening of July 1st, 2015, over three hundred participants gathered for a celebratory dinner right in front of City Hall in Jersey City. The dinner was free and opened to the public.
Iftar is a dinner celebration after a day’s worth of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. A crowd of mostly Pakistani and Egyptian Muslim worshippers gathered for their evening prayers and indulging in the feast. There were members of the Judaic, Christian faiths as well as non-believers joining in the festivities. Inter-faith outreach have always been one of the keys to Jersey City’s diversity success.
Since taking office in 2013, Mayor Fulop began his inclusive campaign in getting all communities involved. The Jersey City Police Department is first in the nation to also include members of the Muslim Community in its independent review board. As of 2014, Jersey City appointed its first Municipal Court Judge of Egyptian-American descent.
For those who are not familiar with Muslim customs, seating arrangements are segregated. All the men sit on one side of the dinning area, women and their children sit on the other. This arrangement also extends to the areas for prayers.
If you approach the festivities with an open eye and an adventurous stomach, you will be very happy with your new discoveries. Each table have a plate of sweet Medjool Dates for starters. Appetizers include salads, fried vegetable fritters and huge samosas. Two types of Biryanis were served: one savory with chicken and the other a sweet one with raisins. Main courses featured succulent grilled chicken and various masalas surely whet everyone’s appetite.
The clouds rolled in and it rained for about fifteen minutes, but that did not dampen anyone’s spirits for the evening.
Given there are just way too many stories of racism and hatred in the headlines, it’s lovely to be reminded different communities still get together and break bread.
Everyone is the same at the dinner table, because everyone loves to eat.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Source: www.examiner.com