Interfaith Iftars in Northern Virginia

The holy month of Ramadan came to a close on April 21^st.

During this period, our brothers and sisters in the northern Virginia Muslim community hosted several Interfaith Iftars.  An Iftar is a meal taken at sundown to break the daily fast that occurs during Ramadan.

Our Muslim friends invited people of all faith traditions to join them for this special meal for fellowship and to learn more about Islam and the meaning of Ramadan.  Interfaith Iftars were hosted by the Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center, the American Turkish Friendship Society and by the McLean Islamic Center in conjunction with the Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society of Washington (JIDS).  There may have been others, but these were the ones known to me.

I was honored to attend the Interfaith Iftar hosted by the McLean Islamic Center/Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society of Washington (JIDS).  We heard a panel discussion led by member of the Muslim and Jewish communities, enjoyed conversing with people from different faith traditions, and dined on delicious food prepared by the Bombay Tandoor Restaurant.

Gatherings such as these remind me of why my participation with Tysons Interfaith is so meaningful in my life.  What a privilege it is to learn more about how people of other faith traditions experience and worship God and to be in community with people who respect and honor the spiritual practices of their neighbors.  Please consider joining us!  tysonsinterfaith.org

The following photo was taken at the McLean Islamic Center/Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society Iftar on April 16, 2023. Representing Tysons Interfaith and their faith communities at the event (left to right):  Bill Larson, Emmanuel Lutheran; Susan Posey, Redeemer Lutheran; Andra Baylus, the Meher Baba Spiritual Community; Adarsh Khalsa, the Sikh Community; and Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal.

This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.