One thing that the NCRR 9/11 Committee realized very quickly was how little they all knew about Islam and in meetings with the Muslim Public Affairs Council decided to hold a �break the fast� together. The first �Break the Fast�, held on December 8, 2001 at Senshin Buddhist Temple, focused on understanding Islam and Ramadan with a sharing of Buddhist traditions and values. During World War II, Buddhist ministers were among the first to be rounded up after Pearl Harbor. Over 100 people gathered to do the Buddhist chant, hear the call to prayer and eat together.

From Salam Al-Marayati, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), we learned that Ramadan is a training to become a more just and compassionate person, an important Buddhist value as well. However, Rev. Mas Kodani emphasized that we do not have to look for similarities in our religions in order to support each other. Our humanity and our experiences as Japanese Americans obligate us to act.

In four consecutive years NCRR jointly hosted �Breaking the Ramadan Fast� events between our communities, each organized differently to reach more people. The second �Break the Fast� brought many more Muslims to Senshin who shared readings from the Koran and a resolution that read: �We American Muslims and Japanese Americans share many values and have common commitments, among them a reverence for the dignity and honor of every human being.�

In 2008, NCRR held educational programs at four different mosques prior to the Manzanar pilgrimage in April. Tad Nakamura's �Pilgrimage� film was shown at the programs. For the last two years Muslim community members from northern or southern California have organized buses to the Manzanar pilgrimage.