Eid Mubarak!

Today is the third and final day of the Ramadan holiday (Şeker Bayramı in Turkish, and Eid al-Fitr in Arabic), for Muslims across the world. This year I was in Berlin for the entirety of Ramadan and observed as many of our youth devotedly fasted for their holy month.  Together as a community, we also celebrated Iftar (the evening meal that signifies the breaking of the fast each day) on one Friday evening. With children running around attempting to fill out worksheets on fasting traditions in Islam and Christianity, with the reading of a Koran Sura, and with the performance of traditional music as well as fire-juggling by our youth, the evening was a microcosmic reminder of the potential of interreligious dialogue, intercultural understanding and peaceful exchange between and among people of differing faith traditions.

I have long been an advocate of such exchange, but this small event was an important reminder of the peaceful and loving exchange possible, which I find particularly and personally important in a year in which hate, dispute and violent acts have continued to plague my Muslim brothers and sisters around the world – particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

During Ramadan, more than seven Islamic Centers in the U.S. were targeted and attacked. In the same month, Congressman Joe Walsh stated that “there are people in this country, there is a radical strain of Islam in this country – it’s not just over there – trying to kill Americans every week.” Sadly, such statements, such attacks have not been isolated to the United States.

Strategically planned on the final day of fasting, a group called ‘Pro-Deutschland’ (Pro-Germany), a group comprised largely of neo-Nazis and fascists, arrived in Berlin on Saturday to protest three mosques here in the city. Outnumbered by the counter protests at all three protest sights, the small Pro-Deutschland group waved their German flags, held anti-mosque signs and presented caricatures of Mohammed (which is strictly forbidden among Muslims). The counter-protest group, comprised of an interesting mix of punks, hippies, social liberals and Muslim men, women and children, shouted, whistled and cheered to block out the amplified sound of the Pro-Deutschland group; a group of Muslim men peacefully held their Korans in the air and chanted together. Although the majority were fasting for the final day of Ramadan, they stood in solidarity in protection of their mosque, their religion and their identity. Although it was 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, men from the mosques distributed water to the protestors. Through peaceful protest, this colorful group of counter protesters reinforce the importance of standing together in solidarity and the truth that there is strength in numbers.

Youth attaining to fast like their parents.  Children energetically learning about fasting in two differing faith traditions. A communal and interreligious Iftar. Solidarity in protesting those fighting against Islam.

This – not hateful attacks, words and actions – is what Ramadan is about.

Yesterday, we distributed chocolate, Turkish delight, popsicles and candy to the neighborhood children and youth at the Kindertreff to celebrate the end of Ramadan with them. Today, we will build small gingerbread house-like mosques. In a church.

We are all humans; all people with the freedom of religion and that religious practice. Together, Christians and Muslims believe and trust in one God. Together, we must celebrate. Together, we must stand in solidarity at times of attack. Together, we will work to dispel the hatred, the violence. Together, we must stand strong. In love. And in peace.