As the holy months of Ramadan and Tishrei converged this year, campuses across the country paid homage to shared holidays -- an occurrence that happens every thirty years for a period of just three years. For college students, it also brought an opportunity for serious interfaith dialogue and some serious noshing. After speaking to many campuses this week, it seemed only fitting I attend an interfaith event myself. So, in the spirit of lunar convergence, I accepted an invitation to accompany a friend to an iftar, a Ramadan break-fast.
A prominent Pakistani businessman hosted the event, billed as an interfaith iftar. We were guests of the rabbi. The informal (and very spicy) meal was followed by a formal (and not very spicy) program with a speakers lineup including: the rabbi, a pastor, an imam and several government official-types.
When the dinner was over, my friend and I got up to leave. Our host, Mr. Mahmoud, was at the door saying goodbye to each of his 200 guests. When it was my turn to convey to him my thanks, he asked how I heard about the iftar.
"We are guests of the rabbi, Mr. Mahmoud," I said. "And thank you so much for this lovely evening in your lovely home."
"Before you go, I want to show you something," he said, taking a crumpled piece of notepaper out of his pocket. On it he had scribbled the quote: "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." - Hillel, 30 B.C.
"Isn't it amazing?" he asked. "It's something I learned today and it was written in 30 B.C.!"
I nodded in agreement and handed him my business card. "It is amazing," I said. "And the foundation I work for is named for that man."
As he smiled at me, I knew; the significance of Hillel, the foundation, was not lost on Mr. Mahmoud.
- Suzanne Kurtz
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