The 2nd Annual Ramadan Suhoor, organized by the
Rumi Forum took place on the 11th of July, 2015. Various
ambassadors, members of the media, intellectuals from think tanks, scholars, NGO leaders and other
professions all shared a meal together, forming a crowd of more than 80 people.
Laurie Fulton, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, and Earl
Rasmussen, from the Eurasia center gave a few remarks regarding Ramadan and
addressed the concept of sharing meals. Although she hosted many Iftars as
Ambassador, Mrs. Fulton explained that this was her first Suhoor. She discussed
the importance of shared meals in the 3 Abrahamic religions, explaining that
more than religious events, “they are now part of our culture.” In fact, she emphasized
their positive aspects by describing a study that found a correlation between
sharing meals and traits of “generosity, altruism and the ability to interact.”
She therefore concluded that communal meals are significant because they allow
us to “get acquainted, to know more about each other and to enjoy life.”
Additionally, Earl Rasmussen explained that sharing a meal
is indeed “much more than preparing your body to go on for the rest of the
day.” Sharing a meal gives the opportunity to share thoughts, ideas and
feelings. More than a biological necessity, sharing a meal builds
relationships. He emphasized that “we are not just nourishing our bodies, but
our minds and souls.” This is particularly important in today’s society where
working days have become “so busy”. Rasmussen ended his
remarks by citing a quote from the prophet, “Eat together, and not separately,
for the blessing is associated with the company.”
Speaker Videos:
Ambassador Laurie Fulton
Earl Rasmussen, Eurasia Center
See Photos of the event here:
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| 2015 Ramadan Iftars |