This is a weekend of special celebrations for members of the Tri-Faith.

 Tonight our Jewish members celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the new year and the beginning of the Days of Awe leading up to Yom Kippur later in the month.  As the sun goes down, let us pause for a moment to be with them in spirit. Rosh Hashanah is seen as the symbolic anniversary of the creation of the world.  Worship in synagogue services includes the blowing of the shofar or ram’s horn, and there are special foods eaten by tradition including a sweet challah bread and apples dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet new year.  The traditional greeting is “Shana Tova” in Hebrew.

Also tonight, Omaha Muslims are gathering for the first annual Community Iftar dinner sponsored by the Islamic Center of Omaha.  I saw Azhar and Bilal at Borders on Wednesday when they were meeting with colleagues planning the final details and only a few tickets were left.  It will be a fund raiser for the renovation of the Islamic Center which is currently closed for construction.  Iftar is the dinner where Muslims break the fast during Ramadan.  Tomorrow night, they will complete the Holy Month and celebrate Eid-al-Fitr on Sunday. The traditional greeting is “Eid Mubarak.” As our Muslim friends celebrate with their community tonight and their families for Eid, let’s join in wishing them all blessings of the season.

 Join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for all we receive from the God we share.

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