Meretz UK held a warm personal first memorial ceremony to commemorate our dear Prof Gertrude Falk.
Hashomer House, 37a Broadhurst Gardens, NW6 3BN.
Music, poetry and fond memories; also the planting of a tree in the yard.
Meretz UK held a frank conversation with an excellent speaker: Avraham Shomroni, veteran Israeli left winger and former chair of Mapam UK, spoke about the future for Israelis and Palestinians after the Gaza crisis and the state of politics in the light of the recent Israeli elections. The official talk was followed by a lively discussion during question-time.
Recommended donation: £4 /£3 con’
Come along and contribute to a fair and open discussion
We are happy to invite you to this fascinating talk, on this unusual subject
The inhabitants of Damascus have a secret passion that is little known to the West. Lingerie – the racy, erotic, and at times ridiculous kind – is manufactured, bought and worn at a rate seemingly at odds with ‘conservative’ Syrian Muslim culture.
Based on the new book: The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie: intimacy and design (Chronicle Books with the Prince Claus Fund Library, 2008) by Malu Halasa and Rana Salam, the lecture be illustrated with examples including bras and knickers decorated with roses, a popular motif on Hizbullah propaganda, and ish al-asfour (the bird’s nest), a metaphor for women’s pubic hair – whilst playing Arabic pop music or with flashing LED lights. Styles zigzag from prim virginal floral arrangements on a thong to nippleless leotards and knickers adorned with plastic mobile phones. This sha’abi (populist street culture, verging on vulgar) lingerie is a customary gift for brides from female friends and family members and forms an important part of weddings and marriage.
Light refreshment
Recommended donation:4 pounds /3 con'
Secret Life: an exploration of Syrian lingerie, design and globalization, a lecture by Malu Halasa
The lecture by Malu Halasa will explore issues of globalization, design and intimacy through the prism of the country’s sexy lingerie industry.
Feel free to click on this links to know more about Syrian lingerie by Malu Halasa:
Everything you ever wanted to know - and less - about Syrian underwear 'The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie' explores a known but nebulous subcultureBy Anna Sussman Daily StarWednesday, February 11, 2009http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=4
Middle Eastern lingerie comes out of the closetIndependent, The (London) , Dec 12, 2008 by JOY LO DICOhttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20081212/ai_n31131720
see London I see DamascusBy JENNA KRAJESKI2 September 2008New Yorker.comhttp://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2008/09/bawdy-body.html
About Malu:
Malu Halasa is an editor and writer. She is co-editor of Creating Spaces of Freedom: Culture in Defiance (Saqi Books/Prince Claus Fund Library, 2004), Transit Beirut: New Writing and Images (Saqi Books, 2004), Kaveh Golestan 1950–2003: Recording the Truth in Iran (Hatje Cantz/Prince Claus Fund Library, 2007), The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie (Chronicle Books, 2008), and Transit Tehran:Young Iran and Its Inspirations (Garnet Publishing/Prince Claus Fund Library, 2009).
Zahava Golan, Member of the Knesset for Meretz, Israel's civil rights and peace party, condemned today the vote of the Knesset to negate Arab parties right to participate in the forthcoming Israeli elections. She said it was an attack of Palestinian Arabs of Israeli citizenship and against the all Left.
Meretz USA Chairman, Theodore Bikel, and Honorary Life President, Harold Shapiro, have called for an, "immediate and absolute cessation of violence between Israel and the Hamas," stressing the urgent need to, "forestall a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, preserve Israel's security, and maintain space for diplomatic progress."
Meretz MK Chaim Oron has said in an extraordinary parliamentary session on what has been labelled in Israel as "The war against Hamas" that the government should reveal its plans. Do they have clear plans, he asked? He continued that, whilst Israel had the right to secure its citizens, he stated that this would not justify the actions by the IDF in the last 48 hours. Any other plan than looking for an instant ceasefire and aid for the residents of Gaza would in his opinion be once again a disaster. (Source meretz.co.il; translated by DZ)
Meretz Israel has today released a statement that calls for the Israeli government to immediately end the incursion in Gaza and especially not to enter ground forces. It calls for the end of unnecessary blood-shed and states that the best approach is the establishment of a lasting ceasefire and direct talks with Hamas.
We would like to thank Emma Klein for a fascinating talk
To Liz Goldberg for arranging this well attended event
and
Thank you for all of you that attended and contributed to the lively conversation
8pm
Saturday, 22 November SATURDAY
LYDIA AISENBERG of Givat Haviva in Israel.
We were delighted to welcome Lydia, a Freelance Journalist and Informal Educator
In the International Dept of GIVAT HAVIVA. The title of her talk was:
Either Side of the Divide
in which she informed us about the Jewish/Israeli Arab/Palestinian communities that she frequently visits in the Wadi Ara/Dotan Valley region, and the issues that arise. She gave a fascinating and engaging talk and also answered many questions about the work of Givat Haviva.
Our sincere thanks to Lydia for sharing her thoughts and experiences with us.
EMMA KLEIN discussed her book LOST JEWS in which she sets out to uncover the real meaning of Jewish identity and in doing so she reveals almost as many identities as there are Jews.
Emma Klein is a freelance writer, journalist and contributor to radio, with a particular interest in matters of Jewish interest. Other books by her include Emma Lazarus, Poet of The Jewish People and The Battle for Auschwitz.
