First-of-its-Kind 'Iftar-Model Seder' Draws a Crowd

On Sunday, March 26, members of the Hartford International University community from a range of faiths experienced a unique interreligious celebration: the “Iftar-Model Seder.” The event idea was born from a simple conversation but quickly grew up into a significant event that received media coverage and wide attention. 

This year, the Muslim lunar month of Ramadan and the Jewish lunar month of Nissan with the Passover festival coincide. It is a rather unusual confluence that will happen again in 31 years.

The overlap occurred because the Islamic Lunar calendar is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar used in the Western world, so Ramadan starts about 11 days earlier each year. On the other hand, Passover falls on the 15th day of Nissan, the first month of the Jewish lunar calendar, always in March or April in the solar calendar. 

An eight-day celebration, Passover is always in the Spring because it commemorates the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, which is believed to have happened in springtime. Ramadan is a month-long celebration commemorating when the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims fast to give thanks for the blessing of revelation, reflecting on the Qur'anic teachings. 

Acting Dean Dr. Deena Grant and Director of Field Education Aida Mansoor did not let this unusual event pass without harnessing it to create what they called a “truly interreligious experience.” 

Media coverage

Before the "Iftar- Model Seder" event, the Hartford Courant interviewed Aida and Deena.

“Oftentimes we talk about interreligious dialogue, but here’s an opportunity to do…interreligious practice, interreligious life,” Dr. Grant said.

Aida said the main goal was for people to learn about each other’s faith. “And of course, that’s one of the focuses is to get people together to understand one another and to deepen understanding and respect of one another,” she said.

The presentations 

Dr. Grant gave an opening presentation and emphasized, “We are not trying to merge our two traditions; we are rather celebrating them in the company of one another. And hopefully learning from one another and perhaps gaining some insight into how people Jewish and Muslim alike seek to connect with God through our traditions, rituals, and narratives.”

Pointing out the similarities in different traditions, Aida said, “There is a tradition that states that the prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, was given revelation on the first night of Ramadan. The first revelation of the Torah was revealed on the 6th night of Ramadan, the first revelation to Jesus was on the 13th night of Ramadan, and the 1st revelation of the Qur'an was during the last 10 nights of Ramadan.”

The planning of the event

Given that attendees of this event might have been in their first Iftar-Seder celebration, a 23-page Haggadah was created to  uniquely include practices and teachings related to Ramadan. The Haggadah, which means to tell, is a Jewish text used during the Passover Seder. The Seder, held on the first two nights of Passover, is a ritual meal and service commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. The Haggadah guides participants through the stages of the meal and retells the story from slavery to freedom. 

This event was carefully planned. For Jews, meat needs to be prepared according to Kosher laws, which Muslims consider acceptable. However, Jewish dietary laws don’t permit the consumption of non-kosher halal food. So, the main meal was salmon, which is regarded as Kosher and is accepted by Muslims as well.

Also, part of the event was called a “model” Seder. This means the Seder wasn’t celebrated within the first two nights of Passover. “It wouldn’t be possible for us to do an actual Seder on the night of Passover here, because people wouldn’t be able to come onto campus,” Deena said to The Hartford Courant. Since Orthodox Jews are not permitted to drive once Passover begins, the Seder was held as a model before the start of Passover on April 5, 2023. The Iftar was authentic; Muslims break fast at sundown every day during Ramadan.