January 27, 2025

Saint Levant, born Marwan Abdelhamid, grew up in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada before his family moved to Gaza and later Jordan. His early years in Gaza, where his family ran the Al Deira hotel, were formative, and the destruction of the hotel in 2023 heavily influenced his music. Speaking French, English, and Arabic, Saint Levant draws on his diverse background to create a personal yet universal sound. He later moved to the U.S. for university, where his music career began with tracks like Jerusalem Freestyle and Nirvana in Gaza, addressing themes of identity and the Palestinian struggle. One of his most popular songs, Deira, was written after the bombing of his family’s hotel and reflects his commitment to both art and social change. Tracks like Very Few Friends and his EP From Gaza, with Love, capture his ability to merge languages and genres into something that connects deeply with listeners. On top of his music, he co-founded GrowHome to support Palestinian entrepreneurs and started the 2048 Foundation to help Palestinian creatives. Whether performing at Coachella or speaking out on social media, Saint Levant uses his platform to bring attention to the Palestinian cause and fight for justice.

January 14, 2025

Llunr, whose real name is Bader Khatib, grew up in the U.S. and is a Palestinian artist making waves with his heartfelt and impactful music. Llunr's ability to connect with fans through his lyrics and online presence, especially on TikTok, has earned him a growing fan base and a spot as one of the rising voices in the region's music scene. He leverages his platform to inspire, provoke thought, and keep his music meaningful and fresh. One of his most impactful tracks, Wake Up, brings the reality of Palestine to life with haunting lyrics and a powerful beat. The song challenges listeners to confront social injustices, shining a light on the pain of dehumanization with lines like, "Too bad we're just bodies on a screen." It captures the frustration of being unseen and unheard, turning that pain into a call for awareness and action. Through Wake Up, Llunr urges listeners to look closer at the world around them and find their voice in the fight for change and justice.

December 11, 2024

The video highlights the Labor of Love exhibit, a global exploration of Palestinian embroidery as a cultural and historical touchpoint. Curator Rachel Dedman delves into how embroidery reflects women's lives, politics, and economic shifts in Palestine, making it more than a craft. The project emphasizes the importance of preserving embroidery as a living tradition that connects the past and present. By embedding it in broader narratives, the exhibit helps maintain Palestinian cultural identity and ensures its stories and heritage remain visible and valued worldwide, making a significant global impact.

November 24, 2024

Dr. Viktor Frankl, in his epic work, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” speaking out of the depths of the concentration camps during the holocaust, wrote that the one thing the Nazis could not dictate despite all their power and control over the lives of the inhabitants of the concentration camps, was how each individual reacted to their suffering. That element remained firmly in their own hands. The commanders of the concentration camps could kill, torture, starve, dehumanize, subvert, and crush, but they cannot determine how each person would react to the evil and oppression inflicted upon them.Indeed, many brave Jews who survived became world-class champions in working against racism and discrimination and for justice, human rights, international law, and philanthropy throughout the world. They became agents of light against the forces of darkness. Others, unfortunately, were so filled with understandable bitterness and anger that they lost their faith in humanity, and turned their awesome energy into ensuring the victory of their own tribe even if it caused immeasurable suffering to others. They felt their own massive suffering, and the failure of the international community to prevent it, gave them license to ignore international law or the rights or feelings of others, and that it gave them permission to do whatever they felt necessary in order to ensure their own survival and empowerment. After what they suffered, they felt no one had any right to question them.I often think that the most amazing thing about Palestinians in their current situation is their resilience and ability to withstand unimaginable suffering, to not give up as they experience their own genocide and the relative silence of the international community. I just spoke to a Gazan whose grandfather, Mahroos Mustapha Bseiso, was a prominent and wealthy Palestinian who owned much land in Beersheba. His family had lost all their considerable possessions during the Nakba in 1948. Adel Bseiso first contacted me to help him prepare full documentation of the properties his family had lost and organize a digital history showing their properties and their current state. (That information is now compiled into a Digital Library housed at Columbia University which can be accessed at https://dlc.library.columbia.edu/bseiso). He informed me that he has recently, during the current genocide, lost tens of the members of his Bseiso family, who are living as refugees in Gaza. Yet, he was still determined not to give up. He still believed in a better future and wanted to dedicate his life’s work, current possessions, and any compensation he may eventually get in the future for his family’s properties to alleviating suffering and ensuring a better future for surviving Palestinians. He did not talk of vengeance or violence or destruction, but of how we can stop the current ongoing atrocities and build a better future for Palestinians.It may be difficult in the midst of an ongoing genocide, where every day brings news of further massacres, deliberate starvation, denial of medical services, and yet more and more bombardments for people to even think of the day after, or for victims to think of anything other than vengeance. A ceasefire, after all, is only the equivalent of saying “get your knee off my neck.” Calling for unimpeded access to food and water and medical supply is only an immediate response to “I cannot breathe,” as Israel is choking the population. Beyond putting an end to these outrages, we need to seriously think of the day after. Justice requires a thoughtful response to Palestinian and Israeli demands and needs, and that continues to be a vital task if we are ever to see a lasting and effective end to the ongoing injustices. It is also necessary to address the traumas being currently inflicted, as well as the past traumas plaguing both communities. It is my firm hope that any resolution allows for a process of healing, just arrangements, including reparations, but also a different outlook that is not based on power, violence, revenge and bitterness, but on justice, reconciliation and ultimately coexistence with one’s present enemies.For those who live outside the area, it is imperative that we throw our weight into actions that lead to life, and not death; that lead to healing, and not further suffering; that not only end the ongoing nightmare, but that also boldly declare that violence is not the answer. What is needed is a process that truly turns swords into plowshares and outlines a better future for all concerned. This may sound idealistic and utopian, but it is a vision that is both necessary and possible. In fact, one can argue that it is the only possibility that has any chance of working out.Violence has shown that while it can inflict huge damage on an enemy, it has singularly failed to achieve its objectives. It neither yields security to Israelis or liberation for Palestinians. It can only yield the infliction of pain on the other side and the assurance of continued hatred and enmity. It may still be difficult for those immediately involved in the ongoing fighting to contemplate this, but for those who are looking in, and who have any concern for the parties involved, this should be our foremost priority: not total victory over our enemies, not achieving our goals through massive military might that creates a “deterrence,” but through empathy, caring, win-win solutions and a commitment to justice and an end to violence on all sides.

November 18, 2024

About The Song I saw a horrific video of a Palestinian man who was on his knees holding his dead child in his arms, holding him or her up to the sky, crying hysterically, with the haunting sound that sounded like his soul was in deep pain. It sent shivers down my spine and tears down my face as he was pleading shouting, and crying, "Where are you God?"This Palestinian man lost his entire family. All 8 members, of which 3 were babies 2-3-5 years old, and his mother, father, sister, brother, sons, and daughters. One of many Palestinians to lose everything including their families, while the world watches this horrific genocide and they do nothing.I was saddened and compelled as a Palestinian to share the moment the best way I know how; through music. I wanted to record a track from his perspective. I wanted to project his voice, his pain, and his loss. I wanted you to feel what I felt when I heard his voice and felt his pain. I wanted the listener to stand in his shoes, to stand in the bloody war-torn streets of Gaza. As he held his child to the sky and cried to God, "Help him", cried to God, "Take me", over and over. (A Cry for God)That Palestinian man is our father, brother, son, and countryman—a citizen of Palestine. The world has turned its back on them all. With no home or a country to go to. From 48 to 23 and everything in between.I recorded the track in Arabic. By far the most emotional, painful, and heartbreaking thing I ever put on tape. I stand and cry with all my fellow Palestinians. I will always honor my ancestors and my fellow Palestinians, and I hope I honor you with this track. Something for all to cry to and with, and never forget all those who died in this horrific genocide. We will never forget.Allah Yrhoomhom - "God have mercy on their souls"Written and Produced By: Adel Bseiso“From the bottom of my heart”

November 18, 2024

About The Song I was moved and inspired by the support from people worldwide as they took to the streets, shouting, pleading, and singing. FREE, FREE PALESTINE. It’s one thing to see it on social media but to experience the movement and support firsthand was nothing less then powerful, heartfelt, and humbling. I saw this with my own eyes as I traveled throughout, America, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Africa, and The Middle East. As a Palestinian, this brought me to tears, tears of hope. I was inspired to write and share what I saw, and what I felt, Desert Swan began as a poem of WHAT IF’s and quickly became a melody, a song of hope for The Future Of Palestine. God bless every nation and every person for their unwavering support in ending this horrific horror. May God bless and FREE PALESTINE, and may the Desert Swan rise again.Written and Produced By: Adel BseisoLyrics CRS: 1 Free free Palestine Every child woman and man Mother’s cry for you and me From the river to the sea.VRS: 1 What if the sun shined in the rain What if the world felt our pain What if all people loved the same What if mankind was just kindCRS: 2 Free free Palestine Every child woman and man Mother’s cry for you and me From the river to the sea.VRS: 2 God save me from my skin Ethnic cleansing will never end Death and destruction to my kind Dying children of PalestineCRS: 3 Free free Palestine Every child woman and man Mother’s cry for you and me From the river to the sea.VRS: 3 Turning tears into smiles Turning blood into Wine Havens angels spread their wings Desert swans will rise againOUTRO: 2x CRS Free free Palestine Every child woman and man Mother’s cry for you and me From the river to the sea.Free free Palestine Every child woman and man Mother’s cry for you and me From the river to the sea.

November 14, 2024

A Palestinian Life, a poem from the heart By: Adel Bseiso Throughout the years, I have spoken and listened to my family and other Palestinians about life as a Palestinian in Palestine. The elders spoke of a beautiful, peaceful, prosperous, and faithful life pre-1948 and the horror they experienced during and after the Nakba of 1948. Tears would run down their faces as they reflected on the times of displacement, the killing of families and countrymen, and the destruction of their villages. Stripped of their homes and lands, and worst of all, their dignity. They were becoming refugees in their own country. Seventy-six years later, it is even worse: the new generation of Palestinians living in Palestine describes it as a prison in hell. They are treated as non-humans, called animals with no rights, and that they and their children's lives have no value. They are facing extinction through ethnic cleansing, one broken promise after the other of peace, the only thing that will never break is their resilience, faith in Allah, and will to return to their homeland. I was born in Al-Bireh, Palestine, and left shortly after the 1967 war as a 10-year-old boy; I still have family living and dying in Palestine. I will always scream as loud as I can for justice and peace for the people of Palestine, My people. A Palestinian Life

October 30, 2024

Khalid ibn al-Walid, a prominent Arab general from the 7th century, is discussed in the lecture along with his biography and significance. Dr. Roy Casagranda highlights the value of historical context, especially the myths surrounding the teaching of Western civilization that sometimes ignore the contributions of non-Western civilizations. Because of his strategies, charm, and resounding triumphs, Khalid became a famous character in Islamic military history, capturing the essence of early Islamic expansion as well as strategic skill. In addition to questioning popular historical narratives, the discussion attempts to demonstrate his significance as one of the greatest military leaders in history.

October 30, 2024

Rashid Khalidi’s work is a profound testament to the resilience of the Palestinian people. Through his research, teaching, and public advocacy, he has offered a deeply personal yet rigorously historical perspective on the Palestinian struggle. Khalidi’s books, such as ‘Palestinian Identity’ and ‘The Hundred Years' War on Palestine,’ are more than just historical accounts—they are essential narratives that have reshaped the discourse on Palestine by amplifying the voices and experiences that have long been marginalized. With empathy and authority, Khalidi offers an invitation to look beyond established narratives, guiding readers to understand the human stories that lie at the heart of Middle Eastern history.

October 28, 2024

This video on traditional Palestinian soap-making highlights a practice deeply tied to the land and history of the region. Using olive oil, a staple in Palestinian agriculture, the process is a reflection of centuries-old craftsmanship. The soap’s production, especially in places like Nablus, speaks to a long tradition that continues despite changing times, keeping a key aspect of Palestinian culture alive