January Holidays for Muslims and Jews

Dear WISDOM Subscribers:

We are looking forward to seeing some of you at the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church on Sunday, January 20th and at the Charles Wright Museum of African American History following the services. If you are coming to the Church, get there early to get a parking space. The services begin at 11:00 AM.

Please take the time to read below about two special days approaching, one for those of the Muslim faith, and one for those of the Jewish faith.

Gail Katz
WISDOM President


Ashura is a holiday for the Shi’a Muslims that will occur on Saturday, January 19th. The following explanation comes by way of Eide Alawan, the chief adviser to Imam Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn.

Ashura is the annual commemoration of the battle of Karbala, which took place in 680 C.E. when the government of then-caliph Yazid ordered for the wholesale massacre of the family, friends, and companions of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Although Ashura is mostly practiced by Shia Muslims, some Sunni Muslims and even non-Muslims commemorate this event.

After a series of complicated political events unfolded under the Islamic government following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632, Yazid ibn Muawiya became the caliph (or ruler) of the Islamic world in 680. It was no secret that Yazid had unlawfully usurped the throne from a man named Husayn ibn Ali, who happened to be the grandson of Muhammad. To make matters worse, Yazid had forced many Muslims to pledge allegiance to him as caliph, and was now ordering Husayn to do the same. Husayn refused, and his bold move inspired many others to support him. But the tables turned rapidly when Yazid amassed a tremendous army to pursue Husayn and his followers and to exterminate them. At that point, many of Husayn’s followers betrayed him out of fear of Yazid’s wrath, and only seventy-two followers remained. On the plains of Karbala (in what is now south Iraq,) Husayn and his few followers combated Yazid’s magnificent army. But they were overpowered, and Yazid’s army destroyed them all, including Husayn. Their bodies were mutilated, beheaded, and trampled by horses. Their women and children were chained and taken as war prisoners, and the dismembered bodies were left to rot on the plains of Karbala.

Revered by some Muslims as one of the holy Imams, and by others as a righteous companion, Husayn was from the family of the holy Prophet. To imagine that such a grotesque fate befell him is painful beyond description. The details of Ashura are gravely grim, gory, and terribly heartbreaking. Nonetheless, Husayn’s defiance of tyranny continues to be a glorious inspiration for those who recall its details and hold it dear to their hearts.

On this day Shi'a are in remembrance, mourning attire is worn and they refrain from music. It is a time for sorrow and respect of the person’s passing and it is also a time for self reflection. Weddings and parties are never planned on this date. Shi’a also express mourning by crying and listening to poems about the tragedy. They listen to sermons on how Husayn and his family were martyred. Shi’a may also refrain from eating and drinking on this day.

Victor Begg, founding member of the Muslim Unity Center in Bloomfield Hills, (and husband of our co-founder and treasurer, Shahina Begg), has requested that I send out the following additional information on Ashura.

The 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Lunar calendar, is significant for all Muslims, Shia and Sunni alike, and, from the Muslim perspective, also for the Jews. This day is also known as Ashura.What is the Jewish connection? The story is narrated by the companions of Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be God's peace and blessings, who heard that Jews were celebrating on the 10th of Muharram. The Prophet was informed that it is a Jewish celebration of the victory of Moses, peace be upon him, over the Pharaoh's army. Out of love for Moses, who is also a revered Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad asked his followers to fast in gratitude to God for granting Moses victory. Therefore, on the day of Ashura, Muslims fast from dusk to dawn. This observance is most predominant among Sunni Muslims.Muslims also, on this day, remember the sacrifices made by the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in his fight for justice. Martyrdom of Hussein, the beloved grandson of Muhammad is remembered and mourned, as it was described in Gail's email to the WISDOM group.Stories of wars and victory of Godly men over evil is a frequent theme in all faiths. For example, the epic war of Maha Bharata, the greatest war, is a very important part of the Hindu faith. Similarly, the defeat of Pharaoh and the victory of David over Goliath are important events of the Abrahamic faiths. Our Holy days are important milestones and therefore important to share with each other in order to find common links and to understand each other better.

Peace,Victor G. Begg


Tu b’Shevat is a Jewish holiday that will begin at sundown on Monday, January 21st and end at sundown on Tuesday, January 22nd.

From the Detroit Jewish News:

“Tu” is a word formed from the two Hebrew letters, “tet” and “vav”, which together represent the number 15. Shevat is the name of the month. “B” in Hebrew means “in” or “of”. Thus, Tu b’Shevat meant the 15th of Shevat. Tu b’Shevat often is called the New Year of the Trees or Jewish Arbor Day. Although it is a special day on the calendar, it is not a holiday. Rather, it is the time the Jewish ancestors began a new year of a specific taxation. The Temple in ancient Israel was supported by a system of mandatory contributions from what was then largely an agrarian economy. Farmers were required to tithe, or donate, a certain percentage of their harvest to the priest and Levites who maintained the workings of the Temple and its daily services.

Just as April 15 is the cutoff date for taxes in modern America, so, too, did ancient Israel have its day for taxpayers. It was decided that the tax year for tree-borne fruit would begin on the 15th of Shevat. By then, the rabbis reasoned, the winter rains tapered off, the sap started to rise in the trees and new fruit began to form. The laws for the tithing for fruit apply only in the Land of Israel. Jewish farmers elsewhere need not set aside fruit. However, Jews at this time around the world would donate money to plant trees in Israel. Many observe this day by eating the traditional fruits of the Land of Israel, such as wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Since wheat, barley and grapes do not grow on trees, many Jews consume any fruit produced on tress, including apples, pears and oranges. Tu b’Shevat is viewed by some as a day of great mystical significance. In the 16th century, the mystics of Safed in Israel, devised a Tu b’Shevat seder (like the Passover seder) of multiple courses and foods, including four cups of wine.

Tu b’Shevat is an excellent opportunity to teach about the tremendous economic and environmental values of trees. Judaism teaches common sense about trees – useful for the betterment of humanity and respected for their value to the life of the earth.