“Córdoba Bread Fest explores the links between the Abrahamic traditions while strengthening understanding of our own faiths. In celebrating something as basic as bread, we can transcend our differences in a warm, nourishing environment where interfaith dialogue spontaneously happens.”

—Daisy Khan, Executive Director, ASMA Society

On June 8th, Daisy Khan of ASMA held an interfaith event “Córdoba Bread Fest: Children of Abraham Break Bread Together” in collaboration with interfaith partners including B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue, St. Bartholomew’s church, the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, Islamic Cultural Center of NY, Islamic Center of Long Island, NY Association of New Americans, St. Paul & St. Andrews Methodist Church, Riverside Church, and the UJA-Federation of New York.

The theatrical context of this event was Córdoba, Spain, where a great flowering of culture, art, philosophical inquiry took place in the mid 700’s, amid a climate of religious tolerance. Reigning with wisdom, faith and justice, Muslims lived in harmony with Christians and Jews.

The Bread Fest envisioned a future of tolerance and peace between different religions despite intractable differences and enduring hostilities, a future that can be as vibrant and exciting as we want it to be, and that future—our future—is what this is really all about.”

“We decided to celebrate bread tonight because it is living metaphor for what unites us as human beings.  Bread doesn’t worry about politics, it doesn’t worry about race or religion.  Bread is common to all cultures and all peoples, .it is a warm, wonderful reminder of our shared humanity.