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This year the same group of students decided to repeat the experience given the new challenges in the region and the world politics. This initiative is important both because of the quality of professors and expert that will guide participants into a better understanding of the strategic and political game that is being played in the Middle East and for the internationality of the participants. In fact as in last year conference people from Lebanon and Afghanistan attended the entire week, this year people from South Korea, Pakistan and Indonesia have already subscribed to the summer conference.

The quality of the program is what makes this conference an unbiased and serious event for whoever desire to improve his or her negotiation skills, learn the complex diplomacy behind the Middle East states’ behavior and meet people with the same interests and enthusiasm from all different part of the world. The fact that participants come from the Middle East itself, Asia and the Western World makes it clear that the program is appealing and gives the opportunity to learn how to deal with different cultures and how to come to an agreement with partners, no matter how difficult it can be.

MESC2 will take place between August 2nd and August 6th, for more information can be found at MESC2’s website: www.mesc-tlv.com. Applications’ deadline for this year is July 7th, 2009.

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More than one billion Muslims around the world are exchanging this salute these days.
September 1st, 2008 marked the beginning of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, the most blessed month of the year. Ramadan is believed to be the month in which the Qur’an was revealed to Angel Gabriel and then later on to Prophet Muhammad. It is a month in which Muslims fast from sunrise (fajer) to sunset (maghrib). This means they cannot drink, eat, cuss, lie, smoke, or perform sexual activities. Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God Almighty by fasting. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for those who are less fortunate.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar and has approximately eleven days less than the solar calendar; thus, Ramadan comes at a different date every year, usually ten days before. For example, in 2007 Ramadan began the 13th of September. Every year Ramadan is closer and closer to the summer season, where days and fasting hours are longer.
Living Ramadan in an Arabic country is a very special and unique experience. The country transforms in such a way that you can breathe the essence of Ramadan in the air. In Syria, the canons fire twice a day in order to mark the beginning and end of fasting. Work hours are shortened so that the families can be home earlier in order to prepare themselves for the break of the fast (iftar) at sunset which includes prayer and a meal deserving of a king. Restaurants open only for iftar and close at the sight of the first rays of light when fasting begins once again. People, along with stores, are in the street and awake till dawn. Mini Luna-Parks are set up all over the country. There are special foods served during this period including dates, fried bread covered in date paste, dried figs, and almonds. Lanterns and small yellow lights are hung in the streets. It is a time to spend with family and friends; a time to share.
A typical day during Ramadan begins very early with waking up before sunrise to have a cup of water, a bit to eat, and performing the morning prayer. The day continues as any other day of the year except there is the struggle of refraining from drinking or eating; it is continuous self-discipline. At sunset, fast is broken with a grand meal including rice, meat, vegetables, dips, and infinite Arabic deserts. This is followed by visiting or being visited by family and friends, shopping, and rest. At night, people gather at the mosques to hear the recital of the Qur’an as during Ramadan the Qur’an must be read in its entirety. This is followed by the Suhur meal which begins around 11 pm and can last until dawn. On one of the last ten days of Ramadan, Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree) is proclaimed; it is the anniversary of the night Muslims believe the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel and it is also the anniversary of the night in which the Qur’an is believed by Muslims to have been revealed in its entirety. Muslims gather at the mosque and pray all night as it is believed that Allah (God) will grant any desire wished for during this night. The last days of Ramadan are characterized by stores open 24/7, traffic all day and night, excitement. Ramadan comes to an end at the end of the month with Eid al-Fitr (festival of breaking the fast) which consists of donating money and food to the poor (Zakat), resting, and feasts.
For a non-Mulsim, it is very interesting to follow and be part of these traditions that date back centuries. Respect is obviously the rule of the day; as a non-Muslim it would be discourteous to be in the street and start drinking water in the middle of a scorching summer day. During iftar, driving around the streets is eerie, not a human in sight, as if everyone had fled. Ramadan is a special month but at the same time very difficult; each day is a fight against temptation. The struggle of fasting, the desire to be closer to a greater being, the faith, the uniting of millions across the world, it personally reminds me of Christmas when for one moment you feel the world is at peace, too busy celebrating to fight.
In Italy there are one million Muslims; many more than I had imagined. They too fast during the month of Ramadan. It must be all the harder to do so in a non-Muslim country where the majority do not fast and temptations are swirling around you. Imagine walking in the heat running errands, you’re thirsty, your mouth and throat get parched, finally a store with cold water, the liberation, the trickling of water down your throat into the rest of your body. Imagine not being able to do that for hours, till sunset! This month when you see a veiled woman, an Arabic man/woman, instead of the first thought being “terrorist, immigrant, osama bin laden,” think a moment longer and admire him/her for their endurance. Today we are surrounded by different languages, different nationalities, different religions, beliefs, traditions, difference being the key word. The only way we can co-exist is to learn about these differences and more importantly to respect them instead of trying to decide who is superior when clearly such a decision depends from whose perspective it is being made… Accept, Do Not Impose!

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