Ramadan Friendship Dinner
Historic County Hall Brought Buffalo Communities Together at the Ramadan Friendship Dinner
May 23, 2019
Peace Islands Institute and Buffalo United for Peace hosted a Ramadan Friendship Dinner at the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Old County Hall, commemorating Ramadan, Muslim’s Holy Month. The theme of the event was "Breaking Bread, Bonding Communities". This year’s event was sponsored by Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Judge Paula Feroleto, the Administrative Judge of the Eighth Judicial District hosted the event. This is the fourth time the historic County Hall building hosts such an event.
Following the opening remarks by County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Judge Paula Feroleto, the keynote speaker of the event, Dr. Jon Pahl from United Lutheran Seminary, discussed the meaning of Ramadan, community bonding, and the contributions of Fethullah Gulen for peace-building. Dr. Pahl also signed his recently released book "Fethullah Gulen: A Life of Hizmet – Why A Muslim Scholar in Pennsylvania Matters to the World."
After a live music performance with “baglama”, a stringed musical instrument shared by various cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, the event continued with reflections by Dottie Gallagher, President & CEO of Buffalo Niagara Partnership; Imam Syed Khalil ullah Qadri, Masjid an-Noor; Dennis C. Walczyk, CEO of Catholic Charities; James P. Kennedy, US Attorney WNY; Reverend Francis B. Mazur, Catholic Diocese of Buffalo; and Cantor Irwin Gelman, Congregation Beth Abraham.