In a powerful demonstration of unity and interfaith collaboration, Hadassah and the American Muslim & Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) co-hosted an interfaith iftar on Capitol Hill. The event, which featured members of Congress, international diplomats and community leaders, underscored the urgent need to combat hate in all its forms while highlighting the strength of interfaith partnerships.
Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Judy Chu addressed the audience on the pressing need for collaboration across faith groups to counter rising intolerance. Their remarks emphasized the importance of mutual understanding and respect, reinforcing the idea that hate in any form must be confronted collectively.
Hadassah National President Carol Ann Schwartz offered her perspective on the significance of reaching out across communities, saying: “Joining together across faiths to lift each other up and share commonalities is so powerful and personal. As we gather here tonight to observe Ramadan and break the fast, I reflect back on my own experience of fasting during Yom Kippur, our holiest of holy days in the Jewish faith. I have always had a strong connection with Yom Kippur. I spend the day at shul in prayer and meditation, thinking about the year that was and thinking about how I can continue to put my faith into action and make even more of a difference in the year ahead.”
Hadassah CEO Ellen Finkelstein followed with a moving account of her own interfaith experiences. She shared that while a patient at Hadassah hospitals in Jerusalem, she witnessed firsthand how doctors and nurses from diverse backgrounds work side by side to care for patients of all faiths and build bridges to peace.
Anila Ali, president and founder of AMMWEC, spoke passionately about her organization’s work fostering interfaith dialogue and unity among women of different religious backgrounds. Diplomats from Germany, the Netherlands and Malaysia spoke about their countries’ interfaith efforts and the cultural significance of an iftar in their respective regions and reinforced the global importance of fostering interfaith dialogue.
“Hearing the words from Anila and members of her organization, and those of international diplomats, left me feeling more hopeful than I've felt in a long time,” said Hadassah Southern Seaboard co-president Rebecca Young, who attended the event. “Together, uniting our strong voices, experience and determination, Hadassah and AMMWEC, with the support of others, can give our community some of the peace and safety we so desperately need.”
What made this interfaith iftar particularly inspiring was its focus on the role of women in driving social change. Women from various backgrounds came together, not just to share a meal, but to engage in meaningful discussions about combating hate, fostering peace and strengthening interfaith cooperation.
