100 Years of Palestine Exhibit in Roseville, California
By Ras H. Siddiqui
A very detailed exhibit showcasing the rich culture and heritage of the Palestinian people was opened to the public at Tarbiya House in Roseville, California on Saturday February 17 th to the delight of many visitors during its six-hour time window. Described as a “100 Years of Palestine” exhibition, this effort had the support of a number of organizations including SALAM, Jewish Voice For Peace (Sacramento), Palestine American League, and CAIR California, just to name a few.
Palestinians are a religiously diverse (mainly Christian and Muslim) community whose worldwide Diaspora is getting noticed far beyond the realm of politics. It was great to see this community stepping forward here at this event and sharing with their neighbors their identity and what they as a group have brought to America.
Soon after entering the facility at around 6:30 PM, we encountered Dr Irfan who informed us that that over a couple of thousand people had already visited this exhibit since its 1 PM opening. It was also good to note that even at this late hour (the exhibit was scheduled to close within half an hour at 7:00 PM) the visitor activity was going strong and we were not too late to catch all the important aspects except (sadly) for the cuisine which was no longer available.
Adeeb Alzanoon of the Palestine American League was busy here answering questions that visitors might have so we asked him for a synopsis. He said that the exhibition reflected a visual voyage spanning a century of Palestinian history, showcasing the resilience, struggles, and aspirations of a people. He added that history is presented here via vintage photographs of pre-colonial Palestine, alongside artifacts illustrating traditional life of Palestinians both Muslims and Christians during the Ottoman Empire pre-1917 and under the British mandate from 1917 to 1948. It also covers the period of British colonialism and the struggle against the occupation of Palestine leading to the recent events. The Exhibit also includes a contemporary arts section portraying Palestinian identity, activism, and dreams for a just future, said Alzanoon.
Going through the various sections, the exhibit included beautiful handicrafts, ethnic attire including some amazing outfits for women, books written on Palestine by renowned authors, and pictures, lots of pictures representing the past 100 years of life in the region. The event also included a table set up by the Sacramento Bethlehem Sister Cities organization promoting amity and friendship. Another by Palestinian Public Health also received a great deal of attention.
Accompanying the exhibit was a Bazaar set up to sell various goods of interest to the public. Many of the tables had few items left as it was already near closing time. And again, too bad about the food being sold out. For those of us who are not Palestinian, it is always a treat to be able to get to consume some of their authentic regional food. Our favorite dessert is Knafeh (Nablus style). So, just for that, next time we will remember not to be late!
