Second "Interfaith Dialog Dinner" in Reno Draws 130

October 7, 2005

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

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On October 7, 2005 the Reno Gazette-Journal reported, "Sisters Nadia and Hannah Khan of Sparks broke their Ramadan fast Thursday with three Carmelite Sisters from Reno... Both sets of sisters were among the 130 people Thursday night at the second Interfaith Dialog Dinner at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The event was organized by the Sierra Foundation, an interfaith group of mostly Turkish Muslims. A Catholic priest, an Episcopal priest, a Methodist pastor and the Muslim president of the Sierra Foundation spoke about living with other religions and learning tolerance, but most learning came from the dinner conversation before the speeches... Ismail Ozdemir, president of the year-old Sierra Foundation, said he tried to arrange for a Jewish speaker, but no one was available. The dinner cost the organization about $7,000, raised through member donations. Ozdemir said the interfaith dialogue dinner is held during Ramadan because it is a month of sharing for Muslims."