Muslims, Jews prepare for holidays

Two major religious events from different spiritual traditions will coincide in September, involving thousands of people in the DuPage County area.

Ramadan, a month-long tradition for Muslims, and Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur, High Holidays for the Jewish faith, both begin Sept. 12 and 13.

During Ramadan in the Naperville/Aurora area, hundreds are expected nightly for prayers, which has forced the Islamic Center of Naperville to add a new location, said Ahmed Qadeer, chair of the interfaith and community relations committee.

In addition to its smaller building at 450 Olesen Drive in Naperville, prayers will also be said at 2844 Ogden Ave., just east of Route 59.

"This will be the first use of the new building for us," Qadeer said. "We're quite busy getting it ready."

Leaders of the center have not determined when they will start the month-long days of fasting, whether it will be Sept. 12 or 13. They will determine the start date based on the appearance of the new moon Sept. 11.

"We make it consistent with the interpretation of the readings of the prophet," he said.

Muslims fast during daylight hours and then break their fast and pray after sundown. The focus of the month is on family, charity and strengthening community ties.

The 27th night of Ramadan, the Night of Power, is a high point of the month, when Muslims believe that one night of prayer is more powerful than 1,000 months of prayer.

After 30 days, Ramadan ends with Eid ul-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast. This large celebration involves family visits, sweet treats and large gatherings for prayers. The Islamic Center could use a convention center to hold the numbers, Qadeer said.

"It's a couple of thousand of people and we pray in three shifts," he said.

For details, visit www.islamiccenterofnaperville.org or call (630) 355-3733.

Preparations are also under way at Congregation Beth Shalom in Naperville to accommodate the large number of participants expected for Rosh Hashanah, said Allan Litwack, executive director of the congregation and overseer of many logistical details.

"A lot has to happen, and it's a major time of year for our members and their families to be here," he said.

He listed projects such as seal-coating the parking lot, window washing, shampooing carpeting and renting music systems and chairs for that are planned at 772 W. 5th Ave., Naperville.

Worship leaders are preparing the many services that begin with Selichot, when Jewish people recite prayers of forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays. It will be at 8 p.m. Sept. 8.

Rosh Hashanah services will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. Sept. 13 and 14 and 8 p.m. Sept. 14. All require advance tickets purchased through the congregation office.

Yom Kippur observances are at 6 and 7 p.m. Sept. 21, with services at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sept. 22. Those services also require a ticket.

"We'll have the maximum we can seat for these services, up to 800 people, and maybe some day we'll have to consider two shifts," Litwack said. "Families come together, they come from out of town, college students come home."

For a complete schedule, visit www.napershalom.org or call (630) 961-1818.