Breaking a Ramadan Fast with Ramy Youssef

For many American Muslims, the fallout from Israel’s assault on Gaza has brought back memories of the harassment and surveillance of the days after 9/11. Amid the uncertainty and fear, the goal of the banquet was bridge-building. Part of the reason for the hasty planning was that the organizers had hoped a hearts-and-minds Eid wouldn’t be necessary by Ramadan. “Surely this will be over by then,” Zara Rahim, another host, recalled thinking, about the war in Gaza.