A new lecture series in the village is open to all. It is the initiative of a group of young Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom members, in conjunction with the Spiritual Center. Bissan Tibi has been the organizing force behind the project.
Held in the evening, in the courtyard of the library building, the lectures take place in an informal atmosphere as people enjoy snacks and drinks – with a choice of beer, wine or coffee – sitting at small tables; and they have a chance, afterward mingle and speak with the lecturers.
The first lecture in the series was given at the end of August by Ze’ev Engelmayer, the cartoonist known as “Shoshka.” Engelmayer has been particularly active since the onset war, and his drawings about the hostages and the war’s emotional toll touched many people and were shared many times over. Engelmayer brought a selection of his drawings, talked about his life, and showed a presentation and short videos. “The evening went on way past closing time as the audience peppered Engelmeyer with questions and all wanted to speak with him,” wrote Hezzi Shouster, director of the Spiritual Center.
At the end of September, the head of the Hadash Knesset party, Aiman Oudeh, spoke in the courtyard. Oudeh began his talk by taking the audience back to the violent events of October, 2000, which led to a number of deaths and rioting. Oudeh told them that for Palestinians in Israel, these events were a watershed, and he analyzed the ways these events led to the current situation in the Palestinian communities. He also discussed the choices now faced by the left as elections near and how the rampant destruction in Gaza affects the decisions of Palestinian citizens of the country when they are asked to vote.
The third lecture, in October, was given by Dr. Lena Delasha on “the Nakba and the Palestinians who stayed behind.” “It’s really a fascinating topic,” says Dr. Ariela Bairey-Ben Ishay.
New beginnings
The renovation on the Spiritual Center was completed in September, and the result, says director Hezzi Schouster, is a “light-filled space,” with wonderful new facilities and a great space for events, meetings and classes.
At the end of September, a very special event was held in the Spiritual Center: The Master’s program in Religious Studies in Tel Aviv University invited the general public to an evening event entitled “New Beginnings.” Prof. Barbara Meyer lectured on “Bruno Hussar and Interfaith Dialogue”; and Prof. Nehama Verbin spoke on “Beginnings.” The students gave mini-lectures as well as hosting a panel discussion on how religious studies can create connections between people. Village members were moved by the connection between Bruno Hussar’s radical interfaith ideas and the modern religious studies program, as well as by the decision to bring the students and village members together in the Spiritual Center for the event.
Back to the movies
In addition to the new lecture series, the newly-renovated Spiritual Center has returned to the “movies in the community” evenings, showing two films that had premiered in the Doc Aviv festival in Tel Aviv. The first was “Al-Muharibeen (the smugglers)”, about a Jaffa bookseller and his nephew, who end up smuggling books in their struggle to maintain Arab Palestinian culture and identity.
The second, “Holding Liat,” about the kidnap of Liat Atzili and the murder of her husband by Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The film shows her family’s struggle to free her while holding on to their belief that the only solution lies in recognizing the humanity of the other side.
