Callers jammed the phone lines of the...

Callers jammed the phone lines of the Islamic Center of Southern California this week to ask when the holy month of Ramadan would officially begin.

Ramadan commences with the appearance of the first sliver of the crescent moon in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. For more than 500,000 Muslims in California and nearly a billion worldwide, it is one of the year’s three holiest observances.

In some communities, Muslims rely on local religious authorities to announce the lunar sighting. In smoggy Los Angeles, where the Islamic Center uses scientific calculations to predict the new moon, it declared that Ramadan would begin last Wednesday evening.

From dawn to sunset for 30 days, Muslims traditionally take no food or water and refrain from sexual relations and smoking. Salam Al-Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles, said: “The purpose of the observance is to learn self-control. Of course, there is an element of atonement and purification involved with the fasting.”

Maher Mathout, chairman of the Islamic Center, stresses that Ramadan “is not just a time for abstinence from food. It calls for self-control in the broadest sense--it’s a time to avoid arguments and especially name-calling. There is an emphasis on kindness, goodwill and socializing. It is customary to invite friends and family for the evening meal.”

Some believers rise before dawn to read the Koran or take a light meal before the day’s fast. Some attend daily prayers and recitations of the Koran, as well as special supplemental prayers, called taraweeh, offered at Islamic centers and mosques.

According to Hathout, whose center is one of several in Southern California offering special prayers through April 4, it is incumbent upon all Muslims to observe the fast, but the degree of one’s religious devotion determines the extent of other worship.

Ramadan culminates in the festive holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr, a day of thanksgiving after the conclusion of the month. Prayers are held, and children receive gifts and go to Eid carnivals. Muslims celebrate with traditional meals.

The Islamic Center of Southern California holds prayers daily during Ramadan and will hold Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Saturday morning, April 4, at 7, 8 and 9 at the center, 434 S. Vermont St., Los Angeles. It is taking reservations for an Eid-ul-Fitr celebration at noon the next day at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Tickets, which must be purchased by March 31, are $25 for adults, $15 for children under 13. Child care is available for those under 6. For information, phone the center at (213) 384-6324.

For more information contact one of the following:

Masjid Felix Bilal (213) 233-7274; Islamic Center of Northridge (818) 885-9107; Islamic Society of Orange County (714) 531-1722; Islamic Center of South Bay (310) 534-1363; Islamic Center of San Gabriel (818) 964-3596; Islamic Center of Conejo Valley (805) 499-2106; Islamic Center of North Valley (805) 945-0844, or Islamic Center of San Diego (619) 278-5240.

HONORS

About 800 people are expected to be on hand to honor Bishop and Mrs. Jack Tuell on Sunday, March 22, when the bishop’s retirement is celebrated at the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Sponsored by the Long Beach and Santa Ana districts, the festivities will feature music by several choirs and instrumental groups, and a keynote address by retired Bishop James Ault of the Pennsylvania conference.

During his tenure, which began in 1972, Tuell divided the Pacific Southwest Conference into two conferences, and led the fight against the California state lottery and a proposed television lottery. He appointed the first woman and first Korean to the conference cabinet. Tuell is a trustee of the School of Theology at Claremont and a member of the board of directors of the Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, among other affiliations.

The celebration kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at the Garden Grove United Methodist Church, 12741 Main St., Garden Grove. A reception follows. Child care is available by reservation. For information, phone (714) 539-1053.

SPEAKERS

The general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States, the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, will speak Sunday, March 15, at the 10:30 a.m. service at the First Presbyterian Church of Inglewood, 100 N. Hillcrest Blvd., Inglewood. (310) 677-5133.

“America First: What Isolationism Means to American Jews” is the subject of a talk by Danny Goldberg, ACLU chairman, and David Horowitz, president of the Center of the Study of Popular Culture, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Congregation Ner Tamid, 5721 Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. (310) 540-2631.

The Center for Process Studies will sponsor a free seminar on “Guilt” on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Davis Community Center of the School of Theology at Claremont. Marjorie Suchocki, professor of theology at the school, will speak. (714) 626-3521, Ext. 224.

CONFERENCES

“The Other Jewish America--Western States Jewry Faces the 21st Century,” is the title of a conference to be held Sunday and Monday at two Los Angeles locations. Based on data from a 1990 study of the U.S. Jewish population, the conference is sponsored by Hebrew Union College and the Council of Jewish Federations in cooperation with the Council on Jewish Life. Sunday’s sessions will be at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, 3663 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, while Monday’s sessions will be at USC’s Davidson Conference Center, Figueroa at Jefferson. Registration is $50. (213) 749-3424, Ext. 202.

WORSHIIP

The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove will hold worship services Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. with Pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz. On Sunday, music will be provided by SonLight Singers.

PERFORMANCES

Celtic harpist, poet, folk singer and storyteller Robin Williamson will perform at 8 p.m. today at the Church in Ocean Park. Williams, who is best known as a founder of the 1960s Incredible String Band, plays the bagpipes, fife and guitar as well as the harp. The church is located at 235 Hill St., Santa Monica. Admission is $10; no reservations accepted. For information, phone (310) 399-1631.

Composer Randall Leonard will lead a “spiritual journey” of music, storytelling and meditation at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Unitarian Community Church, 1260 18th St., Santa Monica. Admission is $10. For further information, call (213) 876-5381.

The Wheaton College Concert Choir of Wheaton, Ill., will give a concert at Lake Avenue Congregational Church at 7:30 p.m. next Friday. For information, phone (818) 795-7221.