Muslims observe first day of Ramadan
Fast begins before sunrise Monday morning and will break with a traditional iftar meal after sundown; despite millions of Arab Israelis celebrating Ramadan, co-directors of the Abraham Fund Initiatives say Israeli institutions still do not recognize the holiday.
The holy month of Ramadan began on Monday, with Muslims in Israel and the territories starting their fast at 3:56am and breaking it at 7:44pm.
The Israeli government does not treat Ramadan as an official holiday. Amnon Be'eri-Sulitzeanu and Dr. Thabet Abu Rass, co-directors of the Abraham Fund Initiatives, said that despite the millions of Israeli citizens celebrating Ramadan, civil institutions do not recognize the Muslim holiday.
“The time has come that the state, its institutions, government offices, and educational and academic bodies integrate Ramadan into the state calendar,” the co-directors said. “Integrating important dates to the Arab-Israeli society into the public calendar is a necessary step to create an equal Israeli society.”
Beeri-Sulitzeanu and Abu Rass also said that the hot weather this year requires public and private sector employers to exercise greater sympathy with fasting Muslim employees.
They further stated that the month-long fast has deep social meaning for Muslims.
“The point of fasting is to raise (one’s) consciousness to do acts of kindness and identify with poor and weak members of society, who (suffer) hunger and hardship on a daily basis,” explain Be'eri-Sulitzeanu and Abu Rass. “During (Ramadan), many Muslims will donate to charity and volunteer at communal and medical institutions.”
Religious authorities from Saudi Arabia’s high sharia court announced on Sunday that Ramadan will start Monday morning. They made the announcement after making lunar determinations. The Saudi court will also announce the start of Eid Al-Fitr at the end of the month.
