Spiritual Center in 2018

During the course of 2018 there were about 25 different events for the community and the general public. The events included book launches, plays, musical performances, film screenings, lectures, and cultural evenings on a variety of topics. The following is a brief listing:

Cultural Events 2018

– Launch of the book Rescuers of 1929 - Hebron and Jerusalem by WAS-NS member Prof. Yair Oron.
– Screening of the film In her Footsteps of Rana Abu Freha and a discussion with the director.
– The Arabic play Tights with the actress, and WAS-NS member Hawla Haj Dibsi.
– Screening of the film My Friend Yaniv of WAS-NS member Maayan Schwartz and a discussion with him.
– The Arabic children’s play Selfie ,directed by WAS-NS member and Arab Hebrew Theatre actor in Jaffa, Imad Jabarin.
– An evening focusing on the plight of African refugees and immigrants in Israel
– Award to Dr. Algenesh Fesseha for her activities in saving Eritrean refugees around the world (Garden of Rescuers).
– Launch of Man, his Garden, his Home, another book by WAS-NS member Prof. Yair Auron.
– Launch of a bilingual children’s book, The Children Laugh, by the Oxford-based Syrian writer, Zakaria Tamer, in cooperation with the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute.
– Launch of Manar Hassan’s book Hidden from the Eye - Palestinian Women and Cities, with participation of leading and famous public and academic figures in Israel.
– Screening of a film on Nakba Day, Sar’a, and a conversation with director Michael Kaminer
– An event honoring the singer Charles Aznavour in the Garden of Rescuers and in the Auditorium with the participation of the French ambassador and of singer Achinoam Nini.
– Ramadan meal for the whole village with a performance by singer Mira Azar.
– A joint evening with a program called "Arab-Jewish Culture" at Tel Aviv University and Beer Sheva, presenting the program to the residents of the village and the region.
-Presentation of a bilingual children’s play The Gruffalo, by the Elmina Theater.
– Lecture during Sukkot on ancient Egypt with Dr. Racheli Shlomi Chen
– An evening on the art of Tai Chi with a resident of the village of Marek Weissman
– The launching and three monthly meetings of the "Study Circles in the Community" project, focusing on the Nakba, Palestinian refugees and the right of return.
– Launch of the Hebrew edition of The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea, with the participation of lecturers from the Department of Korean Studies at the Hebrew University.
– Launch of the book The Villages that are Embedded in our Souls. which is one of a series of children’s books by Ms. Nabila Espanioli, a world renowned expert in early childhood education.

Plans and collaborations for the coming year, 2019

– Cooperation with the Maktoob publishing house in the Van Leer Institute. We will be launching books translated from Arabic into Hebrew.
– Opening of the "Cinema in the Community" project in cooperation with Mateh Yehuda Regional Council and Mifal Hapayis (National Lottery)
– "Spoken Word" seminar for girls in cooperation with the Chicago Community Center in Lydda under the guidance of two Spoken Word artists, a Palestinian and an Israeli.
– Cooperation with the Unit of Jewish Arab Studies of the Department of Literature at Tel Aviv University to conduct a series of lectures.
– Cooperation with the Van Leer Institute in the publication of the books of the Maktoob series - translation of quality best-selling Arabic literature into Hebrew.
– Celebration of holidays and festivals; local cultural activities and special days, like Int’l Women’s .
– Community Study Circles
– Children’s Plays
– Events in the Garden of Rescuers.

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