Ramadan celebration at the IRC in NY office
Ramadan celebration at the IRC in NY office
Photo: IRC

The International Rescue Committee in New York (IRC in NY) hosted their second annual Ramadan celebration on June 18, 2016 for newly resettled refugees and asylees to have a place to break their fast with other clients. Considered the holiest month of Islam celebrated by millions worldwide, Ramadan is a period of detachment and self-restraint for individuals to physically and spiritually detox themselves from worldly pleasures to obtain God-consciousness. Fasting is one of the five main pillars of Islam, and during Ramadan Muslims observe fasts from dawn to dusk and are in a state of worship all month long. This special time of year is usually celebrated with families, friends, and communities who come together nightly to break their fast.  For newly resettled refugees and asylees who are separated from their families, it can be a lonesome month; thus the IRC in NY’s annual celebration was born in 2015 to strengthen community ties and solidarity for clients living in a new environment.

For the IRC in NY’s 2016 iftar event, restaurants from all around New York City donated foods and sweets - many of which were cultural dishes already familiar to IRC clients and others that were new foods representing the diversity of the United States. The night started off with a beautiful call to prayer, called Athan, signifying the breaking of fast, which proceeded to a congregational prayer in a small conference room. The night consisted of many smiling faces of IRC staff and volunteers enjoying a beautiful and abundant dinner with the people they serve. At the end of the night, the leftover food was taken by some clients to enjoy at home and extras were given to a local women's shelter. Some clients even took it upon themselves to distribute additional leftovers to some to the homeless people around the office. The IRC in NY’s iftar was a memorable night full of laughter and community, where families could enjoy traditional celebrations while simultaneously making new friends.