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INTERFAITH PRACTICES

Muslims and Jews dive into holy fasting

Fasting is a vital part of all religions and is practiced as a form of worship in Catholicism, Judaism and Islam. We are reminded of the importance of fasting because of the confluence of major holiday seasons in Islam and Judaism that involve abstinence. 

Ramadan, a month-long period of daytime fasting, ended Sept. 20. The day before, the Jewish High Holy days began with the celebration of Rosh Hashanah and ended with Yom Kippur, a day of communal repentance and fasting on Sept. 28. 

These holy days invoke also the sacrifices all people make for their religion. 

Catholics, whose "fasting" during Lent has been considerably lightened over the years, may be inspired by the practices of their fellow descendants of Abraham. 

Days without
Ramadan is a fast in which Muslims do not eat or drink anything from sun-up to sunset. It is required of adults in good health. Ramadan is the most vital fast for Muslims and it is one of the five Pillars of Islam, which they must follow. 

When asked why Muslims fast during this month, Azra Haqqie, a local Muslim writer and mother, said, "We do it because God asked us to." 

Ramadan is also celebrated in order to practice control and self-restraint. Mrs. Haqqie went on to say that people generally, "go about their business" during the day and don't let the fact that they are not eating affect their daily life.

Further, she explained that she finds her coworkers to be very understanding and respectful of the fact that she is fasting and even go as far as to offer to eat in a different room. 

Where children are concerned, Mrs. Haqqie said that typically it is most difficult for kids during the fast and teachers often excuse Muslim children during lunch time and allow them to study in the library or pray in private. 

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Jews differ from Muslims in the fact that they fast for slightly different reasons. Like Muslims, however, they abstain totally from food and drink. 

Jews fast around the clock on Yom Kippur to experience solidarity with other Jews around the tragedies that their ancestors faced. They also fast to heighten their consciousness of God on their holy days.

Yom Kippur is not as long as Ramadan and lasts only a day, but still holds vast religious importance for Jews. "Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, forgiveness and cleansing," explained Rabbi Dan Ornstein of Congregation Ohav Shalom in Albany. 

He said that Yom Kippur is a full 25-hour fast. As for why people fast on this day, he exclaimed, "On Yom Kippur, a day of forgiveness and self cleansing when everyone is as elevated as an angel, who needs to eat?" 

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