For centuries, Palestinians created vibrant cities and communities throughout Palestine. In the late 1940s, in order to make way for their new state of Israel in 1948, Zionist militias forced nearly 75% of Palestinians out of their homes and off their land. Thousands of Palestinians were killed and entire communities were wiped off the map. This marked the beginning of the Nakba—an Arabic word that means “catastrophe.” The Nakba was not just a campaign of displacement and forced removal of Palestinians from their land in 1948 but continues today through the Israeli apartheid regime’s demolition of Palestinian homes, separation of Palestinian families, erasure of Palestinian culture and history, military incursions into Palestinian communities, and more.
To commemorate the 75th year since the Nakba began, the Museum of the Palestinian People is hosting a series of events dedicated to uplifting Palestinian cultural heritage, historic preservation, and lived experiences. Please join us in honoring Nakba survivors and those determined to keep Palestinian culture and history alive.
May 11: “Our Palestine” Lecture with Dr. Mohammad H. Ghosheh
Professor Ghosheh published the Encyclopaedia Palestinnica, a 24-volume work considered one of the last century’s most important academic publications on Palestine. He has also authored 80 independent books on Palestine and Jerusalem. Learn about his new project, “Our Palestine,” during this lecture at Middle East Books. Reserve your tickets here.
May 12: Introductory Palestinian Embroidery Class
Learn the basics of Palestinian embroidery with Wafa Ghnaim. This class is jointly hosted by The Tatreez Institute, Qatar America Institute for Culture, and Museum of the Palestinian People. Reserve your tickets here.
May 13: Curatorial Tour of TATREEZ INHERITANCE
Join TATREEZ INHERITANCE curator Wafa Ghnaim for a tour of this exhibition featuring Palestinian traditional dress and embroidery. Reserve your tickets here.
May 15: Nakba Commemoration with Nakba Survivor Hasan Hammami
When he was 15 years old, Hasan Hammami’s family was forcibly removed from their home in Jaffa. His father was in the citrus business, but he and his family lost everything after the 1948 Nakba, and they had to start all over again. Hasan became a stateless refugee at the age of 15. Between 1948 and 1993, he made 23 country moves in search of education and livelihood. Hear Hasan’s story in this virtual interview on May 15. Register here.
May 19: Book talk with Raja Shehadeh
Join a book talk at Politics & Prose from Raja Shehadeh, Palestinian lawyer and founder of Al-Haq, and learn about his new book, “We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I: A Palestinian Memoir.” Learn more.
The Museum of the Palestinian People is dedicated to preserving Palestinian history, honoring our shared cultural heritage, and celebrating Palestinian achievements and artists. In the face of the ongoing Nakba and efforts to dispossess Palestinians of their identities, this work is crucial to cultivating a world where Palestinians can share their stories, honor their heritage, and one day, return home.
Be a part of our historical and cultural preservation work by joining the Resilience Monthly Club.