It's the final days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. As the month of fasting draws to a close, one Christian man whose business is to help his Muslim neighbors get through the fasting, is keeping an ancient tradition alive by roaming the streets and beating his drum.

"We pray in the name of the prophet and begin in the name of Allah." 3 a.m. Michel Ayyoub is a human wake-up call for his Moslem neighbors: he’s urging them to get up and eat the traditional Suhur pre-dawn meal before the fasting day starts. Why is a Christian taking on the task?

"Ramadan is a month of tests and hardship. For me this is an opportunity to do a good thing and help my Moslem brothers," said Michel Ayyoub, town vrier of Akko, Israel.

Dressed in traditional Syrian garb or “Shami”, Ayyoub is upholding the Ottoman era tradition of the “musaharati” or the drum-beating “town crier”. He’s been at it for thirteen years

"It’s exciting to see him do this. It’s a very good deed - especially for a Christian. Not even Moslems do this anymore. So we’re thankful and pray that he keeps doing it," said a resident in Akko, Israel.

By keeping a custom outside his faith alive, Ayyoub is sending a message: In turbulent times there’s no need to kill each other. People can live together side by side.