The Center for Asian Studies is pleased to help the Program in Jewish Studies bring Palestinian-ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥i author Sayed Kashua to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ for a talk on "The Foreign Mother Tongue: Writing between Arabic and Hebrew in ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥/Palestine" on Wednesday, September 30.
What does it mean to be "Palestinian-ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥i"? Kashua is part of the 20 percent of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥'s population that is comprised of Palestinian Arabs, and he has emerged in recent years as one of this community's most eloquent, clever, and intriguing spokespeople. Palestinian citizens of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ enjoy most of the benefits of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥i citizenship, but also face systematic discrimination; as speakers of Hebrew as well as Arabic, they are often participants in multiple political discourses that many outsiders consider to be separate.
Kashua is author of three well-received novels, the creator of the hit ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥i TV series, "Arab Labor," and a regular columnist for the Hebrew-language daily Haaretz. Through his writing he opens up new and unusual conversations about Arab identity, Palestinian identity, and ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥i identity and explores what it means to sit at a point of intersection between them.
The talk will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Old Main Chapel. Free and open to the public.