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UFT Iftar Dinner 2025

The UFT Muslim Educators Committee celebrated its second annual Iftar dinner on March 7 at UFT headquarters. About 75 people broke their Ramadan fast by drinking milk and water and eating dates and then enjoying a hearty dinner. They prayed, spoke about the pillars of Ramadan and the purpose of fasting, and held a Q&A session for guests to learn about other aspects of Islam.

A child speaks into a microphone on stage as the adults look on and smile at the UFT Muslim Heritage Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

(From right) UFT Muslim Educators Committee Vice Chairperson Dina Hassan, Chairperson Abdelhafid Djemil and liaison Aqueel Williams smile as the daughter of PS 36, Manhattan, Chapter Leader Faiza Khalid appears onstage to tell everyone gathered, “As-salaam-alaikum," or "Peace be onto you."

Erica Berger
Guests are provided cups of milk, a drink that is traditionally served to break the Ramadan fast, along with water and dates at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

Guests are provided cups of milk, a drink that is traditionally served to break the Ramadan fast, along with water and dates.

Erica Berger
Teachers attending the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025 pose between banners reading “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Ramadan.”

Teachers Summer Ahmad, of Tottenville HS in Staten Island, Zeinab Ismail, of Port Richmond HS in Staten Island, Nisreen Ahmad of PS 97 in Brooklyn, and Sofie Palaj, also of Port Richmond HS, pose between banners reading “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Ramadan.”

Erica Berger
UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests gather to pray in a quiet space next to the room where dinner is being served at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests gather to pray in a quiet space next to the room where dinner is being served.

Erica Berger
A daughter and mother take a photo while sitting at a table during the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

Salina Benqassem, a paraprofessional at IS 210 in Queens, enjoys the dinner with her mother, who was visiting from Morocco.

Erica Berger
Two teachers from PS 223 in Queens take a selfie to capture memories at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Dinner on March 7, 2025.

Teachers Jasia Mirza (left) and Fayza Uddin of PS 223 in Queens take a selfie to capture memories of the dinner.

Erica Berger
A group of attendees listen during the program at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

(From right) Vice Chairperson Hassan, a teacher at Queens’ Woodside Community School, watches the program alongside teachers Mehrin Gadit, of John Adams HS in Queens, and Quratul Waqas, of IS 230 in Queens.

Erica Berger
A woman smiles at a table while holding a microphone during the UFT Muslim Educators Committee on March 7, 2025.

Della Regina, who teaches at PS 43 in the Bronx, participates in the committee’s Q&A session, asking a question about Muslims’ prayer practices.

Erica Berger
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A child speaks into a microphone on stage as the adults look on and smile at the UFT Muslim Heritage Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

(From right) UFT Muslim Educators Committee Vice Chairperson Dina Hassan, Chairperson Abdelhafid Djemil and liaison Aqueel Williams smile as the daughter of PS 36, Manhattan, Chapter Leader Faiza Khalid appears onstage to tell everyone gathered, “As-salaam-alaikum," or "Peace be onto you."

Erica Berger
Guests are provided cups of milk, a drink that is traditionally served to break the Ramadan fast, along with water and dates at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

Guests are provided cups of milk, a drink that is traditionally served to break the Ramadan fast, along with water and dates.

Erica Berger
Teachers attending the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025 pose between banners reading “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Ramadan.”

Teachers Summer Ahmad, of Tottenville HS in Staten Island, Zeinab Ismail, of Port Richmond HS in Staten Island, Nisreen Ahmad of PS 97 in Brooklyn, and Sofie Palaj, also of Port Richmond HS, pose between banners reading “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Ramadan.”

Erica Berger
UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests gather to pray in a quiet space next to the room where dinner is being served at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests gather to pray in a quiet space next to the room where dinner is being served.

Erica Berger
A daughter and mother take a photo while sitting at a table during the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

Salina Benqassem, a paraprofessional at IS 210 in Queens, enjoys the dinner with her mother, who was visiting from Morocco.

Erica Berger
Two teachers from PS 223 in Queens take a selfie to capture memories at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Dinner on March 7, 2025.

Teachers Jasia Mirza (left) and Fayza Uddin of PS 223 in Queens take a selfie to capture memories of the dinner.

Erica Berger
A group of attendees listen during the program at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee Iftar Dinner on March 7, 2025.

(From right) Vice Chairperson Hassan, a teacher at Queens’ Woodside Community School, watches the program alongside teachers Mehrin Gadit, of John Adams HS in Queens, and Quratul Waqas, of IS 230 in Queens.

Erica Berger
A woman smiles at a table while holding a microphone during the UFT Muslim Educators Committee on March 7, 2025.

Della Regina, who teaches at PS 43 in the Bronx, participates in the committee’s Q&A session, asking a question about Muslims’ prayer practices.

Erica Berger