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Sara Cox sits in for Chris Evans with music and chat.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Tue 21 Jul 2015 06:30

Music Played

  • The Rembrandts

    I'll Be There For You

    • The Love Songs Album (Various).
    • Universal.
  • ²¹â€h²¹

    Under The Makeup

    • (CD Single).
    • Universal.
  • Aretha Franklin

    Think

    • Aretha Franklin - Queen Of Soul.
    • Atlantic.
  • Bruce Springsteen

    Hungry Heart

    • Bruce Springsteen - Greatest Hits.
    • Columbia.
  • Gwen Stefani & Akon

    The Sweet Escape

    • (CD Single).
    • Interscope.
  • Spandau Ballet

    Gold

    • The Gold Album (Various Artists).
    • The Hit Label Ltd.
  • David Bowie

    Let's Dance

    • David Bowie - Best Of Bowie.
    • EMI.
  • John Newman

    Come And Get It

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
    • 001.
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd

    Sweet Â鶹ԼÅÄ Alabama

    • The All Time Greatest Rock Songs ....
    • Columbia.
  • Meghan Trainor

    All About That Bass

    • (CD Single).
    • Epic.
    • 1.
  • OMC

    How Bizarre

    • Now 34 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Will Young

    Thank You

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
  • The Weather Girls

    It's Raining Men

    • Success.
    • Cherry Pop.
    • 13.
  • Snow Patrol

    Run

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
  • Chic

    Le Freak

    • The Very Best Of.
    • Rhino.
  • Blur

    Parklife

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.
  • Frank Sinatra

    You Make Me Feel So Young

    • The Frank Sinatra Collection.
    • EMI.
  • Gnarls Barkley

    Crazy

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.
  • Grace Jones

    La Vie En Rose

    • CREAM COLLECT BALEARIC.
    • Castle.
  • Steely Dan

    Peg

    • A Decade Of Steely Dan.
    • MCA.
  • Little Mix

    Black Magic

    • (CD Single).
    • Syco Music.
  • Bobby Darin

    Mack the Knife

    • Songs Of The Century (Disc 1).
    • Global Records & Tapes.
  • Gregory Porter

    The In Crowd

    • Liquid Spirit.
    • Decca.
  • Lianne La Havas

    What You Don't Do

  • Wham!

    Last Christmas

    • That's Christmas (Various Artists).
    • EMI.
  • Cliff Richard & The Shadows

    Summer Holiday

    • Cliff Richard - 40 Golden Greats.
    • EMI.
  • Sting

    If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.
  • Sting

    If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.
  • Sting

    If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.
  • 10cc

    Life Is a Minestrone

    • The Singles.
    • Mercury.
  • Paloma Faith

    Stone Cold Sober

    • (CD Single).
    • Epic.
    • 1.
  • Tobias Jesso Jr.

    Without You

    • (CD Single).
    • Matador.
  • Eddy Grant

    I Don't Wanna Dance

    • Fantastic 80's Disc 1 (Various Artis.
    • Columbia.
  • Lou Bega

    Mambo No. 5

    • Now 44 (Various Artists).
    • Virgin.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

On Sunday I took part in an interfaith event in my local community, in the borough of Hertsmere. It was a gathering organised by our Forum of Faiths group as part of an interfaith week, entitled ‘Our Festivals: Feasting and Fasting’.

More than 60 people of various ages crowded into the Hertsmere Council Chambers to hear presentations by Muslims, Jews and several Christian groups along with a group from the local Hare Krishna Temple about their various festivals.

I don’t know who chose the day of the event, but it happened to fall a few days before one of the most solemn fast days in the Jewish calendar. This coming weekend is the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, the anniversary of several tragic moments in Jewish history. It’s when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed: by the Babylonians and later the Romans; and on the equivalent date in 1290, Edward the First expelled all the Jews from this country. Incidentally, that Edict of Expulsion has never formally been rescinded, so technically I’m not meant to be here. Please don’t call security…

Traditionally Jews observe this sad day by abstaining from food. It’s an attempt to acknowledge the many tragic events that took place on it by trying, in a small way, to mirror the suffering that occurred. But other fast days are more nuanced: the most famous Jewish fast of Yom Kippur is, in fact, regarded as a joyful day. And, as was affirmed by the Muslim presenters at this event, the month of Ramadan, when Muslims refrain from food and drink during daylight hours, is a time of celebration as it marks the revelation of the Koran.

Fasting in various cultures is regarded as an opportunity for reflection and self-improvement. This common feature emphasised the similarities between the various faiths. But the real similarities came at the end food from different cultures was available. It was clear that whatever differences there may be between our respective histories and ways of observing our heritage, we all love our food. And maybe that is the secret of how to achieve genuine inter-faith understanding: don’t worry about religious differences, just eat each other’s food. That’s something we can all do.

Broadcast

  • Tue 21 Jul 2015 06:30

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.