Third Annual Interfaith Fast Breaking Dinner
Sunday, October 16, 2005, Dinner at 7:00PM

Marriott, Austin at the Capitol

The holy month of Ramadan is a time when friends and family gather around the dinner table after a whole day of fasting. The fast provides ground for empathy of those in need. It also serves as a springboard for spiritual growth as one struggles to abstain from indulgence in worldly pleasures such as eating, drinking and carnal desires. The fast continues for thirty consecutive days from sunrise to sunset. The emphasis of the fast breaking dinner "iftar" is on being together and sharing the food and blessings we often tend to overlook. As much as the food, the company and friendship of fellow human beings is a blessing we are reminded of.

The Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) and IDSA carried this tradition of sharing to the greater Austin community. We organized a fast breaking dinner on a larger scale, bringing together a wide range of people in the Austin community. Guests included our friends at various churches, mosques, and synagogues, as well as, community and business leaders, law enforcement officials, and university faculty and staff.

The following organizations participated and sponsored the iftar dinner:

1. The Institute of Interfaith Dialog
2. UT Islamic Dialogue Student Association
3. University of Texas at Austin-University Interfaith Council
4. Austin Area Interreligous Ministries
5. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
6. Lutheran Campus Ministry-ELCA
7. St. Austin Catholic Parish
8. Texas Hillel Foundation
9. Congregation Agudas Achim
10. Central Presbyterian Church
11. Gethsemane Lutheran Church
12. University Presbyterian Church

The event started with Dr. Yetkin Yildirim, IID founding member and VP, giving the keynote speech. Following, the IDSA spokeswoman spoke about IDSA, its goals and activities. Then Karl Groenberg, pastor at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church , read a common prayer. Then the dinner was served. During the dinner the people had the opportunity to socialize and talk to each other.

After the dinner the speakers were again on the stage. The academics evaluated the “good instincts”, politicians stated their appreciation for the hard work put together and the religious leaders expressed their admiration for the pioneering and enthusiastic work of IID and IDSA.

The speakers included the mayor of Austin Will Wynn, Texas State Representative Elliott Naishtat, UT president Larry Faulkner, Susan Heckman as a representative of the Austin office of the congressman Lamar Smith, Whitney Bodman from the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, ex-FBI agent Jerry Adams, Cantor of Agudas Achim Jewish center Neil Blumofe, the excecutive director of the Texas Conference of Churches George Bithos, UT vice provost for inclusion and cross-cultural effectiveness Gregory Vincent, director of AAIM Emilee Whitehurst and a representative of the Austin police department.

Mayor of the city of Austin, Will Wynn, presented a proclamation to IID and IDSA representatives celebrating the Muslim tradition of fasting and communal fast breaking, as well as congratulating and supporting the efforts of IID and IDSA for bringing the Austin community to appreciate all the blessings we receive.

Click on the image to enlarge the proclamation.

Click on the images to enlarge the invitation.