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Holy Season for Two Faiths Intersects in Jerusalem

Jewish new year coincides with Muslim month of Ramadan in city special to both

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2008 11:42 AM CDT
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(Newser) – This year’s intersection of Jewish new-year holidays and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan—a rarity due to Islam’s changing calendar—is felt particularly keenly in Jerusalem, a sacred city for both religions, Ethan Bronner notes in the New York Times. Night has become “a kind of monotheistic traffic jam,” with devout Jews praying at the Western Wall while Muslims break their fast.

Many devout Jews and Muslims insist the holy city belongs to their religion alone. But secular Israelis, many visiting Jerusalem to celebrate the holidays, had a more inclusive reaction to the nocturnal milling-about of penitent or fasting worshipers. “We have been taught that here we are at the center of the world,” said one 17-year-old. “These are the gates to heaven.”

Orthodox Jewish women pray as Israeli municipality workers remove notes from the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem.
Orthodox Jewish women pray as Israeli municipality workers remove notes from the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem.   (AP Photo)
Muslim worshipers pray during Lilat al-Qader, also known as the Night of Power, in front of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.
Muslim worshipers pray during Lilat al-Qader, also known as the Night of Power, in front of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Muslim worshipers pray during Lilat al-Qader, also known as the Night of Power, in front of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, Sept. 26, 2008.
Muslim worshipers pray during Lilat al-Qader, also known as the Night of Power, in front of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, Sept. 26, 2008.   (AP Photo)
An Ultra Orthodox Jewish man walks in Jerusalem's Old City, Sept. 26, 2008. Jews will mark the holiday of Rosh Hashana, the New Year, at sundown Monday.
An Ultra Orthodox Jewish man walks in Jerusalem's Old City, Sept. 26, 2008. Jews will mark the holiday of Rosh Hashana, the New Year, at sundown Monday.   (AP Photo)
Israelis pray at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site in Jerusalem, ahead of the upcoming Jewish new year holiday of Rosh Hashana Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The two-day festival of Rosh Hashana that marks the beginning of the Jewish new year will start at sunset Monday. Thousands of Jews are...
Israelis pray at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site in Jerusalem, ahead of the upcoming Jewish new year holiday of Rosh Hashana Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The two-day festival of Rosh Hashana that...   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
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Rosh Hashanah: a time of introspection
Newsday

Ramadan: a time for fasting and faith
Boston Globe

 
Israel • Islam • Jews • Muslims • Jerusalem • Judaism • Islamic Sharia law • holiday • Ramadan • Dome of the Rock • lunar new year • Western Wall • Rosh Hashanah

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