Saturday, August 31, 2013

See You Soon, Al-Bustan!

Five months ago, I was graciously welcomed into the Al-Bustan community as an intern. Although it was my place of work, I saw this organization as more than that. To me, Al-Bustan is a place to discover one's identity and be accepted by those similar and different than you. Upon arriving, I was ready to immerse myself in this positive environment. As I became more involved in the programs, especially during the summer camp, I learned more about myself as a leader and as a member of a thriving community. I am grateful for having the opportunity to work with the talented teaching artists of Al-Bustan, who have each inspired me to pursue my passion as they have pursued theirs. Hazami Sayed, Executive Director, made the most impact on me from this experience. With her obvious dedication and commitment to the organization and Arab culture, she is the rock of the foundation. Her guidance through these past several months has allowed me to mature professionally, gaining knowledge of multiple aspects of running an organization, such as market outreach, research and analysis, program design and development, customer relations, and database management. Overall, I am extremely appreciative for all that Hazami and Al-Bustan have done for me.

Today, I am traveling to visit my family in Palestine. Although this chapter in my life is coming to an end, I am and will always be a part of Al-Bustan. I will take the lessons and values learned and continue to spread the organization's mission.

Thank you, Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture!
My favorite experience, my family - Al-Bustan Camp 2013
Zeanah Rumman-Obeid - Drexel student, intern at Al-Bustan

Friday, August 30, 2013

On Language and Heritage: Interview with Dr. Shawqi Kassis

As Al-Bustan is planning for this fall's concert series, I learned that the featured guest in December will be a long-time Philadelphia area resident, Dr. Shawqi Kassis, a scientist and author.  Dr. Kassis will be reading experts from his recently published book "Haifa is Not Cordoba."

To my surprise, I realized that at a young age I had met Dr. Kassis through my parents.  Born in Haifa, he grew up in the village of Rama, which is not too far from where my father was born in Acre.  He came to the US at the age of 32 after receiving his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Tel-Aviv University in 1979.  He worked as Visiting Fellow and Visiting Associate in the Neurology Institute at the National Institute of Health from 1980 to 1987.  This was followed by employment at Glaxo SmithKline for the remainder of his technical career where he worked as a Senior Investigator/Lab Chief in Discovery Research and Research & Development.  During this period Dr. Kassis published over 45 biomedical articles in refereed journals in the fields of biochemistry, cell biology and pharmacology.  He has presented over 35 abstracts in international and national scientific meetings and has four US and European patents in the field of microbiology.

Dr. Shawqi Kassis  at a book signing in Virginia in 2011.
After a productive career, Dr. Kassis dedicated himself upon retirement to his passion, the Arabic language, both through teaching and writing.  In 2003, he founded and taught at the Arabic and Hebrew language programs at Drexel University, where I am studying Accounting and pursing a minor in Arabic.  Currently, Dr. Kassis is a writer working on several literary projects, the first of which is the historical fiction book he published last year, loosely based on his life growing up in Palestine-Israel.  I had the privilege of conducting a phone interview with Dr. Kassis, and I am happy to share with you his responses.

How was the transition from working as a scientist to dedicating yourself full time to writing?

Arabic, Arab history, and the situation in Palestine post-1948, have all been on my mind since I was a child.  When I decided to go into the biomedicine I could not pursue my personal interests in writing and Arab literature because I was working all the time in my professional field; so it remained on the back burner for me.  After a car accident few years ago it became difficult for me to commute to my office and work, so I decided to retire and pursue my passion.  The transition was not easy at first due to various reasons; however my love for my heritage and language with its various colors gave me the strength, of which the first fruit was this book about my experience as an Arab living under Zionism.  The idea for this book was sparked in 2003, in response to a request, a desire, from my high school Arabic language teacher to write about my thoughts and experiences.

What Arab literary figures inspired you over the years?

Specifically for this book, none in particular.  However, I adore and am very much fond of several literary figures, some of which I mention in my book, including Mahmoud Darwish, with whom I lived for one year in Haifa in the same room in 1965; Al-Mutanabbi, the greatest Arabian poet of all times; Samih Al-Qasim, who is a fellow villager from Rama, my neighbor and a renowned poet whom I quote many in several verses in the book; and Imru' al-Qais, the first Arabian poet.  Also, other figures like Abdel Rahman Munif, a novelist, as well as Anis Mansour, Abu el-Alaa Elmaarry, Nizar Qabbani, Ahmad Shawqi and Naguib Mahfouz.

What role has the Arabic language played in your life in America? 

Arabic played an indirect role in my profession, in that for any Latin expression, ever since I was undergraduate and graduate student, I would strive to find the equivalent Arabic word so I can comprehend its precise meaning.  In fact when I was a high school teacher (in Rama during the sixties for two years after completing my BS degree), I requested from all the students in chemistry to write the Arabic terms in addition to the Latin terms.

However, outside my profession, Arabic played a major role because I gave many lectures in universities, human relation commission committees, townships, counties, and in police departments about Arab culture and history of Islam.  I gave these talks to American audiences in English.  In preparation, I had to translate many Arabic passages from the Quran and other sources. 

What do you hope to pass on to younger generations in America through your work?

Well, I would summarize it in one phrase attributed to Jesus Christ: 
ماذا يستفيد الإنسان لو ربح العالم كله وخسر نفسه؟  
'What good would it be for man if he won the world and lost himself?' I don't know if that's the exact translation in the Bible or not but that is my translation.  I have never read Christian or Jewish scriptures in English; I only read them in Arabic and Aramaic.  I reference this phrase by Jesus because the message I would like to pass to the new generation is: Don't run after materialistic gains and lose respect of yourself.  Act according to high moral standards, respect your heritage and your language, and don't be fooled by materialistic gains.

What do you hope to leave as a legacy in America and in Palestine?

To Palestinian and American youth, I urge you to get to know your roots and your language - without your language you are nothing. That is the most important thing. No nation on earth, from the beginning of human history until today, produced anything of any significance or value, without thinking about it, formulating it, and transmitting to the world in its mother tongue.  If you ignore your mother tongue, you lose so much.  

My children, for example, they all mastered fusha, the Arabic classical language.  I can sit and discuss with them topics about historical Arab figures, literary or political topics, and chat in Arabic and argue with them about verses of poetry and what not.

* * *
In this brief conversation with Dr. Kassis, I am all the more intrigued to challenge myself and read his book in Arabic.  Dr. Kassis' stories resonated with me, especially as I prepare to travel later this week to visit my father's family in Acre.  It also has motivated me to continue mastering the Arabic language.  His values in fact mirror those of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, specifically one of its core values, the importance of language.  Language and heritage are an integral part of one's identity.  I am looking forward to Dr. Kassis' reading with musical accompaniment by Al-Bustan's Resident Takht Ensemble on December 8, 2013.  Hope to see you at the Trinity Center for Urban Life!

Zeanah Rumman-Obeid - Drexel student, intern at Al-Bustan

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Mohammad Assaf: Palestine's Voice

ولد محمد عساف في 10 سبتمبر1989 في مصراتة، ليبيا لأبوين فلسطينيين من قطاع غزة، فلسطين، وهو واحد من سبعة أشقاء. عاد عساف ووالديه إلى مخيم للاجئين في خان يونس في قطاع غزة عندما كان في الرابعة من عمره.
Assaf receiving his award as Arab Idol Season 2.
فاز عساف في الموسم الثاني من 'عرب أيدول'، التي تبثها الشبكة MBC  وقال انه لقب "بالصاروخ" من قبل المطرب اللبناني و القاضي 'عرب أيدول' راغب علامه. كان الناس في العالم العربي يصوتون للفلسطيني محمد عساف.
استحق عساف الفوز في 'عرب أيدول' و لأن صوته رائع وجلب بذلك الأمل للكثير من الفلسطينيين. سوف يسافر إلى الشرق الأوسط لإحياء حفلاته في فلسطين في فندق جراند بارك برام الله
كانت فرحة عساف كبيرة بعد أن تلقّى دعوةً من رئيس الإتحاد الدولي لكأس العالم جوزيف بلاتر للغناء في إفتتاح الدورة المقبلة التي ستقام في البرازيل العام المقبل. ويُشارك عسّاف في أضخم حفل رياضي غنائي عالمي على الإطلاق، وأيضا تلقّى الدعوة من بلات، لإفتتاح ملعب رياضي وأول قناة رياضية فلسطينية في الضفة الغربية.

For my Arabic class, I was asked to explore an icon that I believe promotes peace in a positive, apolitical manner. At first, I found it difficult for a peace icon to be apolitical because typically the two go hand in hand. Then I thought, Al-Bustan strives for a similar mission by bringing together the community of Arabs and non-Arabs, from all walks of life. The arts, especially music, are a universal language across the world. One person who recently exemplifies this is Mohammad Assaf, a Palestinian from Gaza. As a public figure who just won Arab Idol, Assaf has the ability to influence the masses through his music. With that in mind, I began writing an expository essay for my Arabic language class. 

As I noted in the Arabic paragraph above, Assaf was given the name "the rocket" by Lebanese superstar and Arab Idol judge and mentor Ragheb Alama because of his exuberant personality. Assaf is Arab Idol's second season winner, which got me wondering about the first season's champion, Carmen Suleiman. While Assaf received overwhelming attention after his victory, Suleiman recognition was more modest. I thought to myself, what is it about his story that is so compelling? 

I was curious to see the reaction of Arabs about his victory so I browsed the web for critiques. It was difficult to find a source that spoke negatively about Assaf. How did he win the love and support of so many people? Was it simply his voice, or is there more behind this story?

I came across an insightful article written by Maysoon Zaid, an American comedian and activist of Palestinian descent. As she writes:

The story of how Mohammed Assaf got to audition in Cairo from Khan Younis is the stuff that episodes of Glee are made of. As the legend goes, Mohammed had to beg and bribe the Egyptians, at Rafah crossing, to let him out of Gaza and into Egypt. His incredible journey spanned two days and when Mohammed finally arrived in Cairo, he was too late. The gate was closed. Devastated, he called his mom to tell her he was coming home. Like a true stage mom, Entisar Assaf wasn't having it and wouldn't allow her son to quit. She told her child that coming home was not an option and to get his singing self over that gate by any means necessary. Apparently, all Palestinians have an inner Spider Man and scaling walls is child's play.

Mohammed obeyed his mama and hopped the wall. Once inside, our hero faced another roadblock. He didn’t have a contestant's number and no number means no audition. He had come too far to give up now, so like a scene from a Broadway musical, Mo spontaneously broke out into song right in the middle of the gaggle of people waiting their turn to audition. He sang his heart out. A man from the crowd stepped forward and handed Assaf his audition number. He told Mohammed that he was just there clowning and that Mo had a real shot and could have his spot. The kid from Gaza had finally caught a break.

I was struck by how his story represents the daily struggles of Palestinians and their perseverance in achieving their dreams. His story inspires Palestinians, and all Arabs, to fight for freedom and to never lose sight of their roots even in times of hardshipAssaf's ability to compete against all odds and his subsequent victory provided a sense of hope, a source of inspiration, and another voice for Palestinian people.

Last Thursday, the Eid in Dubai concluded with one of the most awaited events of the year, the Arab Idol Live Tour 2013. The concert was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, featuring champion Mohammed Assaf, and the two finalists, Syrian Farah Yusuf and Egyptian Ahmed Jamal, as well as Ragheb Alama. Details about the rest of the Arab Idol Live Tour has not been revealed to the public yet; however, Assaf's team is working on bringing him to the United States this upcoming year.

While in Dubai, Assaf is working diligently on his first album, which will feature ten songs, and his first single to be released soon. MBC is making a autobiographical movie about Assaf's life journey, shining light on Palestine. 

Assaf's experience and modesty makes him a fitting figurehead to draw attention to the Occupation. He does not dwell on the past but he is focused on improving the future and promoting peace. Assaf's peace campaign is just beginning. He is proud of his heritage and of his people; he wants to show the world Palestine's potential as well as encouraging the world in joining his campaign. When returning home to Gaza after his Arab Idol win, Assaf exclaimed, "Thank you Palestine and thank you Arab nations! Thank you for your support and standing by my side to put a light on the suffering of my people in Gaza and West Bank. I give you this win because I am proud and I am proud to have you behind me."


- Zeanah Rumman-Obeid, Drexel student/Al-Bustan intern

References: