Repentance and Forgiveness Within Ourselves and Between Our Peoples – Interfaith Iftar for Understanding, Reconciliation, and Peace: The Interrelationships of the Ascension to the Tomb of Nebi Yaf’ouri, the Assumption of Mary, Eid ul-Fitr, Rosh Hashanah, and the Feast of the Cross.
Hosted by the Abrahamic Reunion and the Islamic Cultural Center of Nazareth.
During the twenty two days between August 24 and September 14, 2010 there were numerous holy days celebrated by the various faith communities of the Holy Land, which provide an opportunity to engage in a process of deep ecumenism towards conciliation/reconciliation. On August 30, 2010 in Nazareth the Abrahamic Reunion and the Islamic Cultural Center hosted a Ecumenical Gathering where people learned about and experienced each other’s unique customs and traditions, participated in an Interfaith Iftar (one of the religious observances of Ramadan where people gather to break their fast together), and explored new and innovative ways to bring a sustainable peace to the Holy Land.
Ziyara to the tomb of Nebi Yafouri
On August 24-25 is the annual ziyara, (special pilgrimage day) to the tomb of Nebi (prophet) Yaf’ouri, a mystic whose high moral standards are passed down in oral tradition to the Druze faith community through the generations.
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary or Assumption of the Holy Virgin by Peter Paul Rubens (1626)
On August 28, Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the feast day of Assumption of Mary, the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life. Members of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith community believe that Christ received the soul of Mary upon her death, and on the third day after her death, her body was resurrected and she was taken up into heaven bodily in anticipation of the general resurrection.
The shofar used on Rosh Hashanah
On September 8-10, members of the Jewish faith Community celebrate Rosh Hashanah (head of the year), which commemorates the creation of man. The Holiday is the first of Yamim Noraim (“Days of Awe”), which are days specifically set aside to focus on repentance. Jews believe that books of account are opened on Rosh Hashanah, wherein the fate of each individual is recorded.
Sheik Buchari being greeting at an Iftar
On September 10-12, members of the Muslim faith community are tentatively scheduled (after the new moon has been sighted) to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) which marks the end of the fasting period of the month of Ramadan. During the celebration, food is donated to the poor, people put on their best clothes, pray together, feast and visit relatives and friends.
Feast of the Cross - Raising Aloft of the Holy Cross
On September 13-14 members of the Christian faith community celebrate the Exaltatio Sanctae Crucis (Feast of the Cross – Raising Aloft of the Holy Cross) which commemorates the finding of the cross (326 AD) used in the crucifixion of Jesus, the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (built at the site of the discovery in 335), the recovery of the Cross from the Persians (628 AD), and the day (September 14, 335) that the cross was brought outside the church so that the faithful could venerate it.
