Marking Iftar in Emerson
More than 70 people from local faith groups attended an Iftar dinner that was hosted by Emerson’s Congregation B’nai Israel and the Peace Islands Institute of Hasbrouck Heights. Before breaking the fast for the evening meal during the Muslim month of Ramadan, clergy and representatives offered words of unity and community. “We are all hosts of one another,” Rabbi Lenny Mandel said. “Here’s a beautiful teaching across our traditions: That the measure of faith is not what we believe in our hearts alone — but how we treat the person sitting next to us. Not what we say in prayer. But how we listen. How we welcome. How we make room.
“Fasting teaches us humility. It reminds us that what we often take for granted — time, food, patience — is actually sacred. And breaking the fast reminds us that joy is not complete until it is shared. Which is why this table matters.”
The evening also included a recurring theme. The Rev. Sharon Gross-Gill of the Pascack Reformed Church in Park Ridge talked about it. “The world often tells stories about our differences,” she said. “But tonight, we are telling a different story. A story where Muslims, Jews, and Christians sit at the same table. A story where neighbors share food, share conversation, and share respect. In a world that can feel fractured, this table becomes a sign of hope.” Rev. Andreé Cornelia Moll of the Central Unitarian Church in Westwood echoed the message to learn about, appreciate, and respect what each of our faiths offers.
Before eating a traditional Turkish meal prepared by members of the Peace Islands Institute, Hakan Yesilova of Peace Island, also the editor of Fountain magazine, offered words of scripture and Muslim teachings. Yosef Mert, imam of Edep Academy in Wayne, issued a formal Muslim call to prayer.
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