On the final night of Ramadan, the 30-day fast in the Islamic community and the beginning of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, people of all different faiths and cultures celebrate together during the second annual Inter-Faith Dinner held at YSU's Debartolo Stadium Club.
The event is sponsored by the Turkish American Society of Ohio, Cleveland, and the Niagara Foundation, a multi-state entity which promotes inter-faith dialog and peace.
"Understanding between people of different cultures, and different faiths, it is trying to promote tolerance," said Abdurrahman Arslanyilmaz, assistant professor of Computer Science at Youngstown State University's STEM College.
Various churches and religions were there to share their own views of faith in the world. Along with YSU professors, Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes and Congressman Tim Ryan were in attendance.
"We're here to tolerate all religions. There's no one religion that has a stronghold in America. That's been the magic of our country since it started," said Ryan, D-Niles.
The dinner also comes just a few days before the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks; amidst the backdrop of Evangelical Pastor Terry Jones in Florida, who plans to burn the Koran to mark the memory of that solemn day in our country's history.
"He doesn't reflect Christianity anymore than those people who flew those airplanes into the buildings on 9/11 reflected their religion. They're both extremists, and both shouldn't be tolerated," said Ryan.
"We are looking on the positive of things, so we are trying to promote diversity, embrace with each other. That's what our purpose is," said Arslanyilmaz.
