When Peter Remala was growing up in Egypt, Ramadan lanterns hung outside homes across his neighborhood. As a child, he once made his own paper fanous from an old schoolbook. His neighbors—Christian and Muslim alike—proudly displayed it in the street.
“That’s the spirit I grew up with,” Remala said. “I want to show the world there is still peace and harmony between people of different backgrounds.”
That spirit is coming to Campus Center 409 on Tuesday, March 10.
The Egyptian Student Association (ESA), Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA), Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Coptic Jaguars are collaborating to host “One Table, Many Traditions: Fasting in the Arab World,” an interfaith iftar dinner held during the overlapping observances of Ramadan and Lent.
The event will explore the spiritual traditions of both seasons while bringing students of different faiths and backgrounds together over a shared meal.
Though Ramadan and Lent are practiced differently, student leaders say their spiritual foundations are strikingly similar.
Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, involves fasting from sunrise to sunset — abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours. But MESA President and MSA Board Member Waad Al-Hbeish emphasized that fasting is about more than hunger.
“It’s not just a sign of not eating or drinking,” Al-Hbeish said. “It’s about praying, giving and having patience. It reminds us of people who struggle with no food.”
Lent, observed in many Christian traditions including the Coptic Orthodox Church, also centers on fasting, prayer and reflection. For Coptic Christians, fasting may include abstaining from animal products and, for many, refraining from food for part of the day.
Both traditions emphasize discipline, generosity and spiritual growth — themes organizers say made collaboration natural. The idea for the interfaith dinner began with a simple goal: create a large-scale collaboration that reflected the lived harmony many Middle Eastern students grew up experiencing.
“I wanted to do a big collaborative event that invited everybody and showed the unity we have here at IU,” Remala said.
For some students, that unity challenges misconceptions.
“A lot of people don’t realize that in the Middle East, Christians and Muslims grow up together,” Al-Hbeish said. “We celebrate each other’s holidays. We’re neighbors.”
Rather than hosting separate events, leaders intentionally chose to bring four organizations together.
“To have a big idea come to life, you need collaboration,” Remala said. “More resources, more planning, more people.”
The partnership also expands the event’s reach. By uniting ESA, MESA, MSA and Coptic Jaguars, organizers hope to engage a broader audience across campus — not just those who observe Ramadan or Lent.
“This isn’t about converting anyone,” Remala said. “It’s about showing the practices themselves and what those practices lead to. Even if someone doesn’t become Muslim or Christian, they can take the values of patience, generosity and harmony into their own life.”
Organizers say modeling interfaith unity feels especially important in today’s global climate.
“There are conflicts in the world. I want to show that there is still peace and harmony between people of different cultures and religions,” Remala said. “We can live together while disagreeing on things. There’s no reason to fight each other just because we disagree on other things.”
The evening will also serve as a fundraiser supporting humanitarian aid efforts in Lebanon. The campaign, organized by Al-Hbeish and fellow MSA Board Member Jood Alfaran through LaunchGood under the “Reachers of Indiana – Lebanon Emergency Fund,” aims to raise $20,000 to deliver aid and relief to families facing economic crisis and displacement.
So far, more than $2,500 has been raised, with months remaining in the campaign.
For Al-Hbeish, incorporating the fundraiser into the interfaith dinner was intentional. Both Ramadan and Lent emphasize charity and service as central spiritual practices. Organizers say tying action to faith was essential.
“We were talking about giving,” Remala said. “But we need to practice giving.”
Because Ramadan and Lent shift on the calendar each year, their overlap is rare. That makes this collaboration particularly meaningful for the students organizing it.
“In our lifetime in college, we’re able to do this when they’re at the same time,” Al-Hbeish said. “That makes it special.”
Organizers hope the event becomes an annual tradition — even if future themes evolve.
“The general idea will stay,” Remala said. “Highlighting different traditions and values that both religions share.”
At its core, the event is about something simple but powerful: sharing a table.
“At the end of the day, this event is about bringing us together as one people,” Al-Hbeish said. “We have the same beliefs in certain things. We should recognize that and make it one.”
On March 10, students will gather not just to break a fast — but to demonstrate what it looks like to break bread across differences.
Salsabil F. Qaddoura is the campus editor, financial officer and co-social media editor of The Campus Citizen. She is an undergraduate student on a pre-law track with a minor in business. She is passionate about public service and volunteerism to better our communities and the world.
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