The month of Ramadan, that started this year on August 1st, has passed the halfway mark. For observant Muslims, this means less than two more weeks of the daily fast – that extends from the pre-sunrise meal through dinner at sundown.
Lately, I’ve been waking up at 4 AM with the sound of the Muezzin’s call from the neighboring Bedouin village. And I think of my friend Balkees and her family, roused from their beds and sitting around the table in the darkness, sharing a meal of fresh whole-wheat pita bread, home-made labaneh sprinkled with zaatar (also home-made), and chunks of sweet, refreshing watermelon – an intense dose of hydration for the dry day ahead.
But my turn to fast is still a few months away, so today I am indulging in my favorite Galilee lunch: farike, vegetable salad and yoghurt, topped with toasted almonds. A marvel to behold and savor!
