(JTA) – Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons were among the guests at an event at the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles marking the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Consul General Sam Grundwerg hosted the event, organized the June 15 event with the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding at the consulate’s new headquarters. Simmons, who chairs the foundation, led a discussion with Abdul-Jabbar and Muslim community activist Mahomed Akbar Khan about the importance of Muslim-Jewish relations and cross-cultural exchanges, according to a news release. “In our practice of serving God, there is no more essential service that we can provide than teaching people to connect and see themselves in each other,” said Simmons. Also taking part were Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, and Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz, as well as leaders in the Muslim and Jewish communities.