Annual Community Iftar at the Mosque Foundation

Every year during the blessed month of Ramadan, the Mosque Foundation hosts an Iftar for our non-Muslim neighbors. For the past thirteen years, representatives from local area school districts, local government and civic agencies, churches, synagogues, and various other establishments have gathered together in the Mosque Foundation to learn the quick basics of Islam, as well as to observe the breaking of fast and Maghreb prayer. The guests would then commence to Aqsa School cafeteria for a simple dinner and program.

This year's Community Iftar took place on September 16, 2008, and moved to the Paradise Banquet, due to an unexpected flood in Aqsa School's cafeteria. Sh. Jamal Said delivered a brief but inspirational speech relevant to this blessed month of Ramadan, followed by Mosque Foundation president, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, who spoke about Interfaith Relations and Civic Engagement.

Annual Recognition awards were presented to: CAIR-Chicago for its relentless effort in defending American Muslim Civil Rights; Faith in Place for its pioneering work to protect the environment and promote healthy habits within faith groups and; Attorney Kalman Resnick for his courageous stance in support of the Palestinian people under occupation. Awards were also presented to Village of Bridgeview officials Joseph Kaput and the late Dan Green.