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UFT Iftar Dinner 2026

The UFT Muslim Educators Committee held its third annual Iftar dinner on Feb. 27 at UFT headquarters. More than 200 members and guests attended, including schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was awarded by the committee for his championing of public education. Attendees broke their Ramadan fast with a traditional meal of milk, water and dates, and later enjoyed a hearty dinner.

UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests from Queens gather for a photo during the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026

UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests from Queens gather in front of signage wishing everyone “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Ramadan.”

Erica Berger
Committee Vice Chair Dina Hassan and committee member Mohammed Bility (far right) look on as committee Chair Abdelhafid Djemil presents Mayor Zohran Mamdani with an award during the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Committee Vice Chair Dina Hassan and committee member Mohammed Bility (far right) look on as committee Chair Abdelhafid Djemil presents Mayor Zohran Mamdani with an award for championing public education, uplifting Muslim communities and advancing equity across the city.

Erica Berger
Members who pack Shanker Hall listen to Mayor Zohran Mamdani speak at the UFT Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Members who pack Shanker Hall listen as Mamdani remarks that educators “should be held in the highest esteem.”

Erica Berger
Members record and take photos during the mayor’s appearance at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee’s Iftar event.

Members record and take photos during the mayor’s appearance at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee’s Iftar event.

Erica Berger
Members and guests eagerly pose for a photo with the mayor during his visit to union headquarters for the UFT's annual Iftar dinner.

Members and guests eagerly pose for a photo with the mayor during his visit to union headquarters for the Iftar dinner.

Erica Berger
District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, the UFT liaison to the committee and an event organizer, presents recently retired UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr (on screen) with an award for his leadership and his support of the UFT Muslim Educators Committee during the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 12, 2026.

District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, the UFT liaison to the committee and an event organizer, presents recently retired UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr (on screen) with an award for his leadership and his support of the UFT Muslim Educators Committee.

Erica Berger
UFT members, guests, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani pray together during the UFT Muslim Education Committee's annual Iftar celebration.

Members and guests, including Mamdani (third from left), pray together.

Erica Berger
Members and guests play a Ramadan-themed bingo during the UFT Muslim Heritage Committee's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Members and guests play a Ramadan-themed bingo as they eat, crossing off words related to their faith like “feast,” “forgiveness” and “lantern.”

Erica Berger
Teacher Shajrah Ruhee Kapadia of PS 37 in Queens kisses her son, who accompanied her to the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Teacher Shajrah Ruhee Kapadia of PS 37 in Queens kisses her son, who accompanied her to the UFT event.

Erica Berger
Brooklyn members and guests gather to commemorate the UFT's annual Iftar dinner with a photo.

Brooklyn members and guests gather to commemorate the Iftar dinner with a photo.

Erica Berger
A school social worker with her son during prayer at the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

School social worker Melanie Grabow of PS 171 in Queens, with her young son standing in front of her, joins fellow members and guests in prayer.

Erica Berger
Members beam after winning UFT tote bags at the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Members beam after winning UFT tote bags during the event as committee member Bility (right) looks on.

Erica Berger
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UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests from Queens gather for a photo during the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026

UFT Muslim Educators Committee members and guests from Queens gather in front of signage wishing everyone “Ramadan Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Ramadan.”

Erica Berger
Committee Vice Chair Dina Hassan and committee member Mohammed Bility (far right) look on as committee Chair Abdelhafid Djemil presents Mayor Zohran Mamdani with an award during the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Committee Vice Chair Dina Hassan and committee member Mohammed Bility (far right) look on as committee Chair Abdelhafid Djemil presents Mayor Zohran Mamdani with an award for championing public education, uplifting Muslim communities and advancing equity across the city.

Erica Berger
Members who pack Shanker Hall listen to Mayor Zohran Mamdani speak at the UFT Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Members who pack Shanker Hall listen as Mamdani remarks that educators “should be held in the highest esteem.”

Erica Berger
Members record and take photos during the mayor’s appearance at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee’s Iftar event.

Members record and take photos during the mayor’s appearance at the UFT Muslim Educators Committee’s Iftar event.

Erica Berger
Members and guests eagerly pose for a photo with the mayor during his visit to union headquarters for the UFT's annual Iftar dinner.

Members and guests eagerly pose for a photo with the mayor during his visit to union headquarters for the Iftar dinner.

Erica Berger
District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, the UFT liaison to the committee and an event organizer, presents recently retired UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr (on screen) with an award for his leadership and his support of the UFT Muslim Educators Committee during the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 12, 2026.

District 9 Representative Aqeel Williams, the UFT liaison to the committee and an event organizer, presents recently retired UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr (on screen) with an award for his leadership and his support of the UFT Muslim Educators Committee.

Erica Berger
UFT members, guests, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani pray together during the UFT Muslim Education Committee's annual Iftar celebration.

Members and guests, including Mamdani (third from left), pray together.

Erica Berger
Members and guests play a Ramadan-themed bingo during the UFT Muslim Heritage Committee's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Members and guests play a Ramadan-themed bingo as they eat, crossing off words related to their faith like “feast,” “forgiveness” and “lantern.”

Erica Berger
Teacher Shajrah Ruhee Kapadia of PS 37 in Queens kisses her son, who accompanied her to the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Teacher Shajrah Ruhee Kapadia of PS 37 in Queens kisses her son, who accompanied her to the UFT event.

Erica Berger
Brooklyn members and guests gather to commemorate the UFT's annual Iftar dinner with a photo.

Brooklyn members and guests gather to commemorate the Iftar dinner with a photo.

Erica Berger
A school social worker with her son during prayer at the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

School social worker Melanie Grabow of PS 171 in Queens, with her young son standing in front of her, joins fellow members and guests in prayer.

Erica Berger
Members beam after winning UFT tote bags at the UFT's annual Iftar celebration on Feb. 27, 2026.

Members beam after winning UFT tote bags during the event as committee member Bility (right) looks on.

Erica Berger