Work to translate Hanan’s Book into Arabic is complete

Work has been completed on translating Hanan’s book “Traditional Palestinian Costume: Origins and Evolution” into Arabic. This labor of love lasted for almost two years. The English version of the published book has sold out after about three years since it was published, and the remaining few copies available with distributors around the world are selling through Amazon.com for $200.00 to over $1000.00 per copy. At present the translated script is being corrected for language and flow before the layout process begins.

   الأثواب التقليديٌة ألفلسطينيٌة: نشأة وتطوٌر

  حنان قرمان منيٌر

Hanan participated in a Georgetown University workshop

On Saturday, February 20, 2016, Mrs. Hanan Munayyer cofounder and President of the Palestinian Heritage Foundation participated in a  workshop designed for teachers at Georgetown University in Washington DC. The workshop included Arabic Rhythms and Drumming by Mr. Karim Nagi, Arabic Poetry by Zeina Azzam, Poetic Expressions with Teachers by Mrs. Grace Cavalieri,  Textile Patterns and Embroidery by Hanan Karaman Munayyer, and Learn to Dance the Dabke with Ms. Rania Kiblawi. Selections of the Munayyer Collection representing Ramallah and Al Khalil regions of Palestine and some modern embroideries were on display, followed by a hands-on demonstration of cross stitch embroidery of Palestinian patterns. This program was made possible by Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.

From left:, Hebron area dress recently donated by Mr. Martin Wahl, Ramallah dress, and teachers practicing embroidery.

Seton Hall University Hosts New Jersey Premiere of Arab-American Documentary  

On Sunday, January 31, 2016, at 2 p.m. Seton Hall University hosted the New Jersey premiere of “A Thousand and One Journeys: The Arab Americans,” a documentary directed and produced by Abe Kasbo. The movie is presently being presented at special locations in the United States, and will be shortly released on DVD.  Seton Hall University and the state of New Jersey play a central part in the film, as both the producer Abe Kasbo and the former Seton Hall University professor Philip Kayal, PhD, the on- screen historian that brings the story to life, are New Jersey residents. The film premiered in 2015 to standing ovations from sold-out audiences in Washington, D.C. and New York City, and is scheduled for future viewings in Ohio and California. It has also been selected for screening at the 2016 Garden State Film Festival in Atlantic City. At the conclusion of the screening, Kayal and Kasbo participated in a Q&A session with viewers.

In his inaugural debut as producer and director, Abe Kasbo’s timely new film vividly paints a portrait of the Arab-American immigrant experience through the stories of people who came to the United States hoping to find the American Dream. In this timely new film “A Thousand and One Journeys: The Arab Americans” Kasbo vividly bring to life the untold story of almost 200 years of Arab contributions made to the American fabric. The film provides viewers with a first-ever documentary of the Arab-American experience as told through the eyes of famous and everyday people, including: the late Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony Shadid; Former Majority Leader Senator George Mitchell, who served as U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and Middle East Peace; comedians and natives of New Jersey Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayid; General John Abizaid; consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader; American racing legend Bobby Rahal; the late White House correspondent and journalist Helen Thomas; actor and M*A*S*H star Jamie Farr; and actor and founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Danny Thomas.  

Filmed in eleven states and over seven years, this ground-breaking documentary is a uniquely American story that provides viewers with a first-ever glimpse of the Arab Americans experience told through the eyes of famous and everyday people. As director Abe Kasbo put it, “The Arab American experience is truly an American story. Just like Polish and Italian Americans, the immigration of Arabic speaking people to the United States and their evolution into integral, productive citizens is a purely American phenomenon. As Americans we can only complete our story when we recognize and understand the stories and histories of our fellow citizens.”  The documentary explores early and multiple waves of immigration along with the tremendous impact of 9/11 on the Arab American community and its challenges and dreams in light of the current zeitgeist. 

Kayal and Kasbo hope that the film will educate viewers about the history and contributions of Arab-Americans to the American fabric.  Kasbo said “It is my hope that viewers will walk away from the film realizing that the foundation of American history includes Arab-Americans who have made and continue to make significant contributions to every field that they have gone into.”

To view the trailer and for more information about “A Thousand and One Journeys: The Arab Americans” please visit www.arabamericandoc.com, follow the film on Twitter @ArabAmericanDoc.

Both Hanan and Farah along with more than 200 people attended the opening at Seton Hall. Commenting on the movie Farah said: I never felt as proud Arab as I felt after seeing the movie that afternoon !!

  Martin Wahl Donates Antique Dress to PHF

Mr. Martin Wahl of Corte Madera, California has donated an antique embroidered  dress to the Foundation. Mr. Wahl is the  brother of Ms. Harriet Cowper of Tucson, Arizona who decided  last October to part with her two antique dresses in favor of the proper home.  Harriet and Martin inherited these dresses from their parents who purchased these garments from the Old City Souk in Jerusalem while on a trip to Jerusalem in the early sixties (see the Harriet story in the October newsletter).

In a message received from Martin on December 2, 2015 he wrote:

Hi Farah –

I am Harriet Cowper’s brother.  When Harriet told me that she had found a home for the Palestinian dresses I remembered that we have one too.  I would be pleased to donate it to the Palestinian Heritage Foundation.  I’m relatively certain that it is the same vintage as Harriet’s dresses, acquired around 1966.

Please let me know what to do!

Sincerely,
Martin Wahl

We at PHF would like to thank Mr. Martin Wahl and Mrs. Harriet Wahl Cowper for their kindness and generosity.  The dress donated by Martin constitutes a beautiful example of a dress from the western hills of the Al Khalil region of Palestine.

Traditional Palestinian Costume: Origins and Evolution
 Book Reviews, Lectures and Articles:

Hussein Ibish’s review in NOW Lebanon. August 2011
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=299083

This Week in Palestine, Book of the Month.
http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=3489&ed=197&edid=197

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
http://www.wrmea.com/digital-issue/10872-books-traditional-palestinian-costume-origins-and-evolution.html

Dr. Clovis Maksoud’s review in The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
http://www.wrmea.org/wrmea-archives/519-washington-report-archives-2011-2015/october-2012/11453-books.html

The LINK
http://www.ameu.org/Related-Articles/test.aspx

Library of Congress
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBz0TaLr8nY

This Week in Palestine, October 2015  
http://thisweekinpalestine.com/embroidery-as-a-source-of-palestinian-identity/

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