The Muslim fast runs from dawn to sunset: from when it is time to pray the Fajr (Dawn) prayer to when it is time to pray the Maghrib (Sunset) prayer. The cognate in Hebrew for Maghrib is Ma’ariv. Though the time of Fajr depends on the time of year, it is on average 1-1/2 hours before Sunrise.
The Muslim fast is compulsory during the ninth lunar month of the Muslim calendar: Ramadán, which runs from 28 to 30 days, depending on moon sightings or astronomical calculations. There are other times of the year when it is encouraged to fast: Nisfu Sha’aban (the 15th day of the month Sha’aban that immediately precedes Ramadán), Yawm ‘Arafah (the most critical day of the Hajj, on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th lunar month of the Muslim calendar).
Many Muslims choose to fast for three months: Rajab, Sha’aban, and Ramadán (lunar months 7-9). Still others choose to fast on Mondays and Thursdays throughout the year. The only days where it is forbidden to fast is on the three feast days (Eid-ul Fitr, the Festival of Breaking Fast) immediately following Ramadán and the four feast days (Eid-ul Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice) immediately following Yawm ‘Arafah.
Per the Qur’an and/or tradition: people unable to fast are encouraged to feed a hungry person for a day or a hungry family for a meal to compensate for every day of fasting missed. I myself am unable to fast for health reasons, so I have volunteered with the Food & Friends organization in Washington, DC that feeds members of the community with terminal disease and are unable to leave their homes. That has given me more joy than fasting used to.
Anyone sick should not fast and are encouraged to make up the days they miss due to being sick before the next Ramadán. This is also true for people on travel. This is also true for girls and women who are having their periods. Women who are pregnant or nursing are forbidden from fasting and also forbidden from making up the days they missed. This is because they are feeding someone in need of food who is super precious: their baby (or babies).
There are two types of Jewish fasts: the major fast and the minor fast. The major fast begins at Ma’ariv and lasts approximately 25-1/2 hours: until three stars can be seen in the sky. The minor fast begins at sunrise and ends at Ma’ariv.
As I understand, there are two major fasts: Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av. The minor fasts are the Feasts of Gedaliah, Tevet, Esther, the First Born, and Tammuz. Because these fasts are always a single day event, if you miss the fast for any reason, you miss it. Many, especially seniors, elect to end their fasts early, sometimes in the early afternoon. That typically requires local dispensation from their Rabbis.
For Muslims and Jews to “fast (together) like the Muslims”, they would fast from Dawn (Fajr) to Sunset (Maghrib) on any day other than seven (7) Muslim feast days and two (2) Jewish major fast days. For those who cannot fast, they would feed the hungry per above, but not delay when they would fast or feed the hungry.
Muslim dietary law, relative to Jewish dietary law, is simple. Any food that Jews deem kosher is also halal, so long as it is meat-free and non-alcoholic. On the other hand, Jewish dietary law is complicated. What I write here will likely need to be amended. I will acknowledge all amendments, giving credit to each person who (first) corrects me on a specific aspect of kashrut: Jewish dietary law.
For Muslims and Jews to “feast (together) like the Jews”, it would need to be after Sunset (Maghrib/Ma’ariv) on any day other than the two Jewish major fast days. All food would need to be prepared in a kosher kitchen certified by a rabbi using cooking implements from said kitchen. No meat, grape juice, or alcohol can be served or used in cooking the meal. For certain parts of the cooking, Muslims and Jews can cook together. Cooking and feasting together would always be my preference over fasting, though that may prove difficult in Khalil (Hebron) due to the Separation Barrier dividing the relatively small town into Sectors H1 and H2.
Whether the food is served in a Jewish home or a Muslim home, it is best if all food is transported in plastic containers; e.g, Tupperware, and covered as appropriate in plastic wrap. Serving utensils, forks, knives, and spoons should all be plastic while plates, bowls, and napkins should all be paper, whether wood, bamboo, or something non-metallic that was never used before.
My Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters, please let me know if anything I wrote is either incomplete or incorrect. I am working to appeal to the most “orthodox” as practice either faith tradition in Khalil (Hebron).
Aref N. Dajani 