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Isaiah 44: 6,8

            Not all neighbors are family.  Christians are in the family of God, and we are brothers and sisters in Christ.  Some neighbors, however, are not Christians.  Regardless, we are to love them as we love our brothers and sisters in God’s family.  Some neighbors practice the Jewish religion; some are Muslims who follow Islam.  September is an extremely important month for these neighbors, and we need to understand why.

             This year, 2007, the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Sept. 12^th,  and Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Sept. 22^nd.   These Jewish High Holy Days are observed in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, or Tishri, and are the most important of all Jewish Holidays. They are the only holidays that are purely religious because they are not related to any historical or natural event.

            Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated the first and second days of Tishri.  It is a time of family reunions, with special food that is meaningful to them.  Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, and is the most solemn day of the Jewish year.  It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayer.

            Islam has a different way to do penance.  It also falls in September, which is the ninth month of the Mohammadan Year.   Ramadan is sacred, observed with daily fasting from sunrise to sunset.  The word Ramadan is derived from ramd “to burn”.  Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.

            Fasting during this month is thought of as figuratively burning away all sins.  Muslims believe that the Qur’an was sent down to earth during this month.  Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all month while the gates of Hell would be closed. The first day of the next month is great celebration for Muslims.  Rejoicing is observed as the “Festival of Breaking Fast” or
‘Eid ul-Fitr’.

            What word comes to mind in hearing Breaking Fast?  Do we not eat breakfast before starting our days? 

            These religions do not have a hold on us. But it is good for us to know what our neighbors are feeling so that we do not offend any who observe different traditions.  We serve the one and only true God.  For it is written in Isaiah, “I am the first and the last.  Apart from Me, there is no other God…There is no other rock, I know not one.”