Washington D.C., USA - The Israeli ambassador to the United States is hosting a dinner celebrating the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, marking the first time an ambassador from the Jewish state has hosted such a dinner in the U.S., the Embassy said.
Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren will host the dinner at his residence, with about 60 guests expected, including imams, rabbis and officials from the White House, Congress and the State Department, according to Israeli Embassy spokesman Lior Weintraub.
Thursday’s Ramadan dinner, called an Iftar, will feature a call to prayer, during which the dining room at the ambassador’s residence will be turned into a Muslim prayer space, the Embassy said.
All food served at the meal will be halal, meaning it has been prepared according to certain Muslim customs. The meal was prepared under the direction of a Muslim chef, the Embassy said.
“We are proud and honored to hold an event that showcases the diversity of Israeli society, including a large percentage of Israeli Muslims,” Weintraub said.
“We are proud to celebrate Ramadan with friends from the Muslim-American community,” he said, “and we believe that the Muslim community can be a unique bridge between cultures and religions, and between the United States and the Middle East.”
The dinner comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and much of the Muslim world, with a rash of violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the past week and the Palestinian Authority preparing to make a bid for statehood in the United Nations next month.
Iftar dinners are held during Ramadan to break the daily fast.
President Barack Obama hosted an ftar dinner at the White House this month, a tradition that dates to President Bill Clinton.