Sacramento Chapter

Sacramento Chapter

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The Sacramento Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7-9PM. The chapter includes members from the greater Sacramento area and the nearby city of Davis. For more information email sacramento@jewishvoiceforpeace.org

Sacramento Jewish Voice for Peace is proud to announce two film events for June 2008

Arna’s Children -- June 23, Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street
Director Juliano Mer Khamis and Prof. Mervat Aiash will be in Sacramento on Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street. They will show the film Arna's Children and give presentations about their work with the Jenin Freedom Theatre. Their purpose is to raise funds and awareness for the Freedom Theatre. Luna’s café will be open for the purchase of excellent food and drinks, so come hungry.

From www.thefreedomtheatre.org: "The Freedom Theatre aims to demonstrate a model of artistic excellence in theatre in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and using the creative process as a model for social change, provide opportunities for the children of Jenin Refugee Camp to develop the skills, self-knowledge and confidence which would empower them to challenge present realities and to take control of their future."

Born in Israel to an Arab father and a Jewish mother, Juliano Mer Khamis is an actor, director, and political activist with a controversial reputation. His film, Arna's Children, is a moving and critically acclaimed documentary about the children's theatre founded in the Jenin Refugee Camp by his late mother, Arna, and the fate of three of the young members of the troupe.

The children's theatre was destroyed during the 2002 Israeli invasion of Jenin, but Juliano returned four years later to rebuild it and carry on Arna's work. The Freedom Theatre runs a full program of computer skills, photography, acting, psychodrama, and visiting theatrical productions. Plans are under way for an accredited drama school to begin in the fall. Please see www.thefreedomtheatre.org for more information.

Mervat Aiash is professor of fine arts at the Arab American University in Jenin, chair of the Freedom Theatre's board of directors and an expert in Islamic art and archeology. She provides an important leadership model for the Freedom Theatre's girls and is a link between the theatre and the university community. She understands the role of culture and the arts in social development, healing and resistance to the occupation.

Knowledge is the Beginning and The Ramallah Concert – June 29
On Sunday, June 29 at 5 PM at the Southside Park Cohousing community room, 5th and T streets, we will have a repeat showing of the film “Knowledge is the Beginning” a documentary about Israeli/Palestinian/global citizen, world famous pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and his creation of the East-West Divan Orchestra, comprising young musicians from all over the Middle East. This film was shown to an enthusiastic audience in May and many wished to see it again with the follow-up film of the orchestra’s concert in Ramallah, on the occupied West Bank. The concert in Ramallah will be shown at 7:30 PM, with a potluck dinner between the two films, at 6:30 PM. Come for either or both films – and bring a dish to share.

Knowledge is the Beginning is a moving film that mixes great art with solid politics, pulling no punches about the latter as it follows the improbable existence and success of the orchestra and the relationships it sustains. Also making appearances are Edward Said, Yo Yo Ma and various Palestinian and Israeli activists for peace and justice. The Ramallah concert documents the even more improbable production of a complex political-cultural event at the epicenter of the Palestine-Israel conflict.

Place: Southside Park Cohousing common house, in the middle of the community at 5th and T streets, downtown Sacramento. Enter by walking behind 440 T Street, or other entrances on T or 5th, or from either 4th or 5th street via the alley between T and U.) It's near the Q Street exits on I-5, 5th Street on eastbound or 10th St. on westbound Capital City Fwy./Bus. 80/Hwy. 50.

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