Source: The Washington Post

On December 4, 2000, The Washington Post reported that "during Ramadan, which started on Nov. 27, Muslims don't eat or drink from the time the sun pops up until it slinks away at night...Every night, friends and family gather to break the fast at a really big meal called an iftaar. At the end of Ramadan, people have a huge party called an Id-al Fitr, which basically is a great time to fill up on sweets and open gifts. Thousands of Muslim children at schools around Washington are honoring this holy month. Younger kids don't have...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On December 3, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "Biola University in La Mirada is set to hold the region's first major town hall meeting on the crisis Monday with Jews, Muslims and Christians. The Christian university's forum--expected to draw 3,000 people under the eyes of extra security guards--will attempt to move beyond finger-pointing to discuss concrete peacekeeping ideas. It reflects what organizers say is the small beginning of a return to dialogue, two months after the outbreak of violence that froze the peace...

Source: Star Tribune

On December 2, 2000, the Star Tribune reported that "Muslim cabdrivers who object to transporting alcohol for religious reasons complain they are being forced to choose between their faith and their livelihoods at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Under airport policy, drivers must accept passengers who are carrying liquor--often bought at airport duty-free shops in the United States and abroad--or wait as long as four hours for another fare. Officials of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) said that drivers can...

Source: The Buffalo News

On December 2, 2000, The Buffalo News reported that "the first of this winter's major religious holidays got under way across the country this week with the start of Ramadan, as diverse Muslim communities began celebrating their holy month of fasting...The month begins with the sighting of the new moon, so although most Muslims began fasting Monday, others started Tuesday. There are an estimated 6 million Muslims in the United States. While many Muslims in the Middle East traditionally break the fast by sharing a special holiday...

Source: The Baltimore Sun

On December 1, 2000, The Baltimore Sun reported that Muslims who are fasting during Ramadan look forward to the feast which will break the fast at sunset each evening. "Most Muslims observe iftar - the breaking of the fast - with family and friends. But at the al-Ramah mosque in Woodlawn, iftar is a communal feast, an increasingly popular means of breaking the fast. Each evening after prayers, about 250 sit down to a free dinner, usually a savory Indian or Pakistani meal, with the spices toned down for a congregation that includes...

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

On December 1, 2000, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "Dr. Salma Ahmad serves on the emergency room staff of Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and on the faculty of the Washington University School of Medicine. Despite a busy life as an emergency room physician, university professor and president of a small company, Dr. Salma Ahmad takes time to share facts and dispel myths about her Islamic faith. Ahmad is chairwoman of the organizational committee of the Women's Interfaith Conference in St. Louis-an annual...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On November 28, 2000, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "as the Islamic world begins its observance of Ramadan, a monthlong period of fasting during daylight, more Americans are conscious of the Muslims among them," according to Ibrihim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic relations. "A new U.S. postage stamp to commemorate Eid, the Islamic holiday breaking the Ramadan fast, is a positive sign of Muslim's acceptance in America, Hooper said. The commemorative...

Source: The Washington Post

On November 28, 2000, The Washington Post reported that an increasing number of schools in Washington, D.C. are incorporating lessons about Islam and Muslims into the curriculum. "Educators said they are careful to keep the lessons focused on information rather than religious preaching. But they added that with thousands of Muslim students now attending Washington area schools, basic knowledge of Muslim students and their holidays is needed, especially during a time of tense conflict in the Middle East...Some Muslim...

Source: The Denver Rocky Mountain News

On November 28, 2000, The Denver Rocky Mountain News reported that "Ramadan began Monday for the 1.1 billion followers of Islam - 15,000 of whom who live in Colorado. But Ramadan has another side - after dusk. That's when Muslims break each day's fast with a feast. The Jodehs decided to end the first day of Ramadan with four special friends, all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 'The first night of Ramadan is special, and the tradition is to invite your most dear family and friends. I can't...

Source: The Seattle Times

On November 28, 2000, The Seattle Times reported that "Americans' idea of Muslims and their holidays has been bound up far too much in politics. Americans have associated Muslims with terrorists and fanatics, partly because our longtime support of Israel has made America a target of such fanatics, and because violence makes news. Hollywood, always on the lookout for the politically acceptable villain, has often cast Muslims in that role. But the Islamic belief, which recognizes Mohammed as the greatest in a line of prophets that...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On November 27, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "in a heartfelt letter to his congregation at Temple Israel of Hollywood, Rabbi John L. Rosove described the first stage of the breakdown. One of the members of the Jewish Muslim peacemakers group he belongs to had just resigned. He spoke of being deeply disappointed about prospects for peace in the Middle East and recognized that many in his congregation felt the same way. He wondered what the future can possibly hold for Israeli-Palestinian relations and feared that years...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On November 27, 2000, the Chicago Sun Times reported that "many American Muslims are making the most of Ramadan coinciding with the holidays and school winter breaks this year by planning family trips to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Chicago area travel agents who specialize in booking trips to Mecca say the number of reservations for late December pilgrimages, called umrah, are heavier than they've been in recent years. 'This year traffic for the umrah will be the highest of years that have gone and years to come,' said...

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

On November 27, 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that "the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins today and marks the revelation of Islam's sacred scriptures to the Prophet Mohammed, is a period of abstinence, spiritual reflection and renewal. For many American Muslim parents, it is also an opportunity to share the history, traditions and beliefs of their religion with their children's schools...Fasting students often are excused from gym class or other strenuous activities. And many schools make offices or vacant rooms...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On November 27, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that "builders of a grand mosque in Garden Grove are putting their faith in the giving season of Ramadan to help them raise up to $ 1 million for one of the larger Islamic worship halls in the country...'We're hoping this Ramadan will be very critical in raising funds,' said Ahmed Ali, project coordinator for the Islamic Society of Orange County's $ 8-million mosque under construction...The new mosque eventually will replace the society's overcrowded, one-story facility next door...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On November 27, 2000, The Los Angeles Times reported that "builders of a grand mosque in Garden Grove are putting their faith in the giving season of Ramadan to help them raise up to $1 million for one of the larger Islamic worship halls in the country...'We're hoping this Ramadan will be very critical in raising funds,' said Ahmed Ali, project coordinator for the Islamic Society of Orange County's $8 million mosque under construction...The new mosque eventually will replace the society's overcrowded, one-story facility next door...