Noah’s Pudding joins faiths, snacks

Noah’s…Noah’s Pudding Monday, 7:30 p.m. Dowd Room, 2nd Floor, University Center, Carnegie Mellon University Free admission events@pghdialogue.org

On Monday, Pittsburgh Dialogue Foundation and Rumi Dialogue Club of Carnegie Mellon will sponsor a community celebration titled Noah’s Pudding or Ashura.

Pittsburghers from all backgrounds will enjoy dessert and discussion as they celebrate Noah and his ark in this traditionally Turkish and Middle Eastern holiday.

Noah’s Pudding is spooned with biblical history. According to the Old Testament, God saw the wickedness in people and decided to recreate humanity through his prophet, Noah, whom he instructed to build an ark.

After 40 days and 40 nights of extreme Pittsburgh precipitation, Noah made “Ashura” or Noah’s Pudding from the very last of the arc’s supplies: wheat, rice, beans, chick peas, sugar, dried fruits and nuts.

Just as Noah shared the last of his food with family, the foundation will do the same. “It reminds us of our belief in God and the importance of living together in harmony and peace,” said Ensar Hatipoglu, executive board member of foundation.

“Our flood and disasters are many: global terror, war, oppression, poverty, ecological dangers, etc. The ark to overcome these problems is to gather around our common values in search for solutions and consensus,” Hatipoglu said.

Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in Pittsburgh will celebrate Noah’s Pudding together. Nusrath Ainapore, outreach director at the Islamic Center for Pittsburgh, notes that “events such as these help build the bridges of understanding between various cultural groups.” If you’re interested in intercultural conversation and delicious pudding, take a walk to CMU’s University Center. You’ll find imams and rabbi chowing down in the Dowd Room at 7:30 p.m. Monday.