STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Muslims, Jews, Christians and people of many other faiths have formed an oasis of harmony in Tompkinsville in a world where intolerance sometimes seems as prevalent as grains of sand in a desert.
Imams, rabbis, priests and other clergy, politicians, police brass and plenty of ordinary folks broke bread at tables and praised each other from the podium at the annual Iftar Dinner at the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center on Thursday evening. Over 250 people attended the event.
Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore), the first Muslim and the first African-American to serve as a Staten Island representative in Albany, participated in the prayer service with others of his faith; then they sat down to break their fast that began at dawn and ended after sunset with the evening meal.
PURPOSE OF THE FASTING
Iman Tahir Kukaj said that the purpose of fasting is to unite Muslims in faith, mission and goals that include making them pious, tenderhearted and dedicated to doing good for the world.
“It’s not about how much time you can make it without eating or drinking,” the imam said. “It’s about how much you will prepare yourself to be a person that people will benefit from you.”
Imam Kukaj is slated to become a Muslim chaplain with the NYPD in June.
Many of the speakers stressed the importance of unifying Staten Island through events such as the dinner amid acts of horrific violence, hatred and prejudice against religions throughout the world.
‘TIME OF REFLECTION’
“I know that Ramadan is a time of reflection, self-discipline and acts of kindness and forgiveness and it’s also a time for all of us to reaffirm our promise to uphold the ideals of tolerance and acceptance which have been hallmarks of our city," said Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, the NYPD borough commander.
"As I look around the room tonight, I see more than tolerance, I see community, I see Muslims, Christians, Jews, people of other faiths and people probably of no faith at all and we’re all sitting together preparing to share a meal. This is how it should be. This is how we keep each other safe,” he added.
Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said that many of her constitutes are “rent-burdened,” paying more than 30 percent of their income for rent and live in “food deserts which means that people don’t have access to healthy food choices.
“I represent a district that is the most diverse" on Staten Island, she said, adding that “it truly represents what New York City is about.”
Rose was at the Albanian Center when a multicultural community gathered to show support after the mosque attack in Australia.
“We vowed then that we would stay together, we would pray together and that we would move together to make sure that we were all of one accord,” Rose said.
In presenting a proclamation to the Albanian Center and its leaders, Fall said, “They do so much for our community, they unite our community and I think it’s only right that we recognize all the good things that they do.”