CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN HARTFORD

---NEWS RELEASE---

(September 12, 2007)--- Mayor Eddie A. Perez and the elected and appointed officials of the City of Hartford hope residents embrace diversity in observance of Ramadan and Rosh Hashanah. 

This is the first day of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar.  Muslims fast during the daylight hours and it is also a time of worship and contemplation often at Mosque.  At the end of the day, the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the “iftar.”

Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year and begins at sundown tonight.  This is a time to begin introspection--- looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new one.  Much of the day is spent in synagogue.

Mayor Perez says, “Hartford is rich with different cultures and religions and this is a time to celebrate our diversity.”