Programs and Presentations 2024

• 1) The Book-Club/Interfaith Study Group announces that the final discussion on THE ROAD TO MECCA by MUHAMMAD ASAD was held on January 17, 2024 (7.00 – 8.30 p. m.). This will be an open session in which all attendees are invited to share their thoughts on the book.
• 2) The next meeting of the Book-Club/Interfaith Study Group was held on February 21, 2024 (7.00 – 8.30 p. m.). We will begin our review of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017,” by Dr. Rashid Khalidi. He is a Palestinian-American who is the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, and is regarded as a foremost historian of the modern Middle East. He is the great-great-nephew of Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi, former mayor of Jerusalem who had written a letter in 1899 aimed at Theodore Herzl, Austro-Hungarian Jewish journalist regarded as the father of modern political Zionism, ending by saying, “In the name of God, let Palestine be left alone.” Dr. Khalidi’s book is regarded as one of the most original, compelling, and best-researched historical surveys of 20th and early 21st century Palestinian life, as well as a deeply personal account of his family history.
• 3) The next meeting of the Book-Club/Interfaith Study Group was held on March 20, 2024 (7.00 – 8.30 p. m.). In our last meeting on February 21, 2024, we had two introductory presentations on Dr. Rashid Khalidi and significant features of his classic work “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017.” These were followed by a first-person testimony of a recent visit to Palestine by a Bosnian-American activist, and a narrative on “Key Hurdles to Understanding the Propaganda Paradigm in the USA”.In our upcoming meeting, Dr. Riffat Hassan and Dr. Joe Brennan was lead the discussion on the contents of the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the book entitled “The First Declaration of War (1917-1939).” Given the fact that the seeds of what would happen in Palestine over the next century were sown during the First Declaration, the speakers was endeavor to present a careful analysis of the historical developments between 1917 -1939.
• 4) On April 17, 2024, the Book-Club/Interfaith Study Group will continue with its study of Dr. Rashid Khalidi’s classic work “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017.” In our last meeting on March 20, 2024, Dr. Riffat Hassan presented her detailed Notes/Summaries on the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the book. A brief discussion followed this presentation. In our upcoming meeting, Rev. Kathleen Owens will lead the discussion on Chapter 2. After this presentation and discussion, Dr. Joe Brennan will speak on “The Founders of Zionism: Theodor Herzl and Chaim Weizmann.”
• 5) On May 15, 2024, the Book-Club/Interfaith Study Group will continue with its study of Dr. Rashid Khalidi’s classic work “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017.” Dr. Qaisar Sultana (Professor Emerita Eastern Kentucky University) and her husband Ron Smith will lead the discussion on Chapter 3: “The Third Declaration of War” (1967);In our last meeting on April 17, 2024, Rev. Kathleen Owens presented both her detailed Notes on Chapter 2, and her analysis of significant points in “The Second Declaration of War” (1947-1948). Dr. Joe Brennan presented his account on “The Founders of Zionism” which summarized the life and work of Theodor Herzl and Chaim Weizmann. A brief but thought-provoking presentation was made by Azam Saeed on “Place of Leadership in a Freedom Struggle” in which he made introductory remarks on two very popular Palestinian freedom-fighters Marwan Barghouti and Basel al-Araj. The final speaker was Stretch (Deanna Rushing) who belongs to the local Ceasefire Coalition and shared segments of her journey as a justice activist.
• 6) On May 15, 2024, the Book-Club/Interfaith Study Group continued with its study of Dr. Rashid Khalidi’s classic work “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017.” Dr. Qaisar Sultana and Ron Smith led the discussion on Chapter 3: “The Third Declaration of War” (1967). Dr. Riffat Hassan presented an account of three significant Zionists: Ze’ev Jabotinsky, David Ben-Gurion, and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. She also read an account of U. S. President Woodrow Wilson’s religion – Christian Zionism – and its influence on his attitude toward the setting up of a Jewish state. The final segment of the program was a discussion of six questions on pro-Palestinian student protests across U. S. campuses. Rev. Justin Osterman gave a brief overview of the student protests of the Vietnam era, and led an animated discussion in which a number of Group members participated.The next meeting of the Book-Club/Interfaith Study Group was held on June 19, 2024. Rev. Summer Al-Bayati and her son Devin Dadah were lead the discussion on Chapter 4: “The Fourth Declaration of War” (1982).
• 7) On June 19, 2024, the Interfaith Group for Study of Important Books continued with its study of Dr. Rashid Khalidi’s classic work “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017.” Rev. Summer Al- Bayati and Devin Dadah led the discussion on Chapter 4: “The Fourth Declaration of War” (1982). Dr. Joe Brennan gave an overview of statements made by U. S. Presidents on the Jewish State or Israel. A comprehensive handout on the Statements of U. S. Presidents from of Woodrow Wilson to Joe Biden, compiled by Dr. Riffat Hassan was sent to the Group members. Dr. Riffat Hassan talked about a new segment called “Questions, Concerns, Reflections” which will be introduced in future meetings and will be open to Group members.The next meeting of the Interfaith Group for Study of Important Books was held on July 24, 2024. Dr. Joe Brennan was lead the discussion on Chapter 5: The Fifth Declaration of War (1987-1995). The complete program will be announced later.
• 8) After a late-Summer – early-Fall Break, the Interfaith Group for the Study of Important Books was resume its comprehensive study of Palestine-Israel on December 11, 2024 (7.00 – 8. 30 p. m.). As a follow up to our review of Dr. Rashid Khalidi’s classic work “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism Resistance, 1917- 2017.” As a follow-up to Dr. Khalidi’s masterpiece, the Group was studying a recent book entitled “Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic” by Israel’s finest and most honest and courageous historian Professor Ilan Pappe. A blurb on the cover of this encyclopedic work, published on July 30, 2024, reads: “Over 150 years, Zionist lobbying groups transformed Israel into an untouchable state. This is a magisterial history of the most successful advertising claim the world has ever seen.” On December 11, 2024, there was preliminary conversation on significant aspects of Professor Pappe’s book. A systematic review of the book will begin in January 2025.

(8 Programs)