Ramadan: Interfaith Fast-Breaking Event at City Hall
"The House of One is important because it connects people," said Christian Arbeit from 1. FC Union in his recent fundraising appeal for the House of One. Once again, during Ramadan, the House of One successfully brought together people from diverse backgrounds.
Together with the district mayor of Berlin-Mitte, the House of One Foundation invited guests to the Tiergarten Town Hall. "Fasting is more than just abstaining from food and drink," conveyed Imam Sanci, who was unable to attend due to illness. "These days are primarily about peaceful coexistence. Breaking the fast together with our Jewish, Christian, non-religious, or differently religious friends shows that, despite our differences, we are all human first and foremost."
The House of One is Unique
Cansel Kiziltepe, Berlin's Senator for Labor, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity, and Anti-Discrimination, emphasized in her welcoming speech: "Breaking the fast together is a wonderful contribution to making Ramadan increasingly recognized and respectfully acknowledged as a natural part of society." She described this as a hopeful sign of solidarity in Berlin, a city defined by cultural and religious diversity.
"The House of One is a unique project: a shared house for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. A place of encounter where people of different faiths come together. At a time when religious tensions are increasing worldwide, our city is sending an important message in favor of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence."
Mayor Stefanie Remlinger emphasized: "The holy month of Ramadan is a welcome occasion for us at the Mitte District Office to take a stand for peaceful and enlightened interfaith coexistence and against anti-Muslim prejudice. We stand in solidarity, we stand together, and we oppose hate and violence—no matter which faith is being attacked!" Just days earlier, the district had installed a neon-lit sign reading "Ramadan Kareem" above the entrance of the town hall.
Interfaith Solidarity as a Matter of the Heart
The evening’s main focus was on the interfaith educational work of the House of One Foundation. In 2025, three of its projects will receive funding from Berlin's cultural administration. "It has become a valued tradition for the House of One, as an interfaith foundation, to host a shared Iftar," said Grit Großkurth from the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion in her address. "At a time when antisemitism and Islamophobia are prevalent in many places, and when some citizens are questioning whether they still belong here, we need visible signs of interfaith solidarity in our society."
"The House of One has over a decade of experience and demonstrates that Muslim, Jewish, and interfaith solidarity is not an exception but rather a heartfelt conviction and personal commitment," she continued. *"That’s why I’m especially pleased that, despite budget constraints, the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion is able to support three projects: the wonderful podcast ‘331 – 3 Women, 3 Religions, 1 Topic’ as well as the initiatives ‘House of One Goes to School’ and ‘Building Bridges Together’."
Osman Örs and Patricia Böckmann, theological advisors at the House of One, shared additional insights into their interfaith educational efforts during the event. They conduct workshops, lectures, and training sessions in schools, congregations, police departments, and other institutions. In 2024 alone, the House of One reached over 3,000 people through its various programs. A particularly encouraging development: the number of children and young people participating in school programs has doubled. More than 1,400 students took part in workshops, questioning misconceptions and discovering numerous commonalities between different religions.