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COURIER LIFE, APRIL 15-21, 2022
BY JESSICA PARKS
Bay Ridge pols, community
groups and faith-based organizations
united together to host a
community iftar, with over 1,000
attendees celebrating the Islamic
holiday of Ramadan on April 8.
“I’m overjoyed that Bay Ridge
was able to come together as a community
and celebrate an iftar with
so many neighbors and community
organizations after two hard, long
years during this pandemic,” said
State Senator Andrew Gounardes.
“Breaking bread together is a crucial
part of our community here
in southern Brooklyn, and I really
appreciate the chance to share this
joyful moment with hundreds of
our neighbors after so long.”
Iftar is the ceremonial meal
eaten at sundown to break the day’s
fast during Ramadan. The holiest
month of the year brings deep spiritual
reflection, and taking part in
the fast each day from sunrise to
sunset is one of the pillars of Islam.
The Ramadan-centered event
was fitting for the Bay Ridge
neighborhood which boasts the
largest Arabic-speaking population
in New York City, but also
provides a great opportunity
for residents of different backgrounds
to come together with
their Muslim neighbors.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and state Sen. Andrew Gounardes with fellow organizers of the iftar.
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes’ office
“Bay Ridge is home to one
of the largest and most vibrant
Muslim and Arab communities
in our city and we are honored
to partner on this wonderful iftar
celebration in Bay Ridge during
the holy month of Ramadan,”
said Annabel Palma, chair and
commissioner of the city Commission
on Human Rights. “The
NYC Commission on Human
Rights has and will always celebrate
and protect this city’s Muslim
communities.”
Organizations that hosted
Bay Ridge’s first Iftar included
the Bay Ridge Fifth Avenue Business
Improvement District, the
city’s Commission on Human
Rights, the Mayor’s Office of
Immigrant Affairs, the city Office
for the Prevention of Hate
Crimes, the Islamic Society of
Bay Ridge, the Arab American
Federation, the Arab American
Association of New York, Bay
Ridge Community Development
Center and the Yemeni American
Merchants’ Association, as
well as Gounardes and Councilmember
Justin Brannan.
The celebration isn’t over yet
— AAANY tion is partnering with
Artisans of Medicine NYC and
Muslims Giving Back for two more
community iftars later this month,
on Monday, April 25 and Wednesday,
April 27 at 6pm at the Association’s
Bay Ridge headquarters.
BREAKING
BREAD!
Community iftar in Bay Ridge
brings neighbors together