Dancing Under Occupation

Approximately 750,000 Palestinians were displaced and became refugees as a result of the 1948 war which led to the founding of Israel. None of these displaced persons were ever allowed to return to the homes or communities from which they were displaced and the Palestinian refugee population has continued to grow in the time that has passed since 1948. Today there are more than 7 million Palestinian refugees scattered around the world. (American Friends Service Committee)

This week, Shoruq Debka and Hip-hop brings its national dance tour to New Haven and Hartford. Shoruq’s Debka touring troupe are girls and boys ages 13-16, from the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine. Participants are trained in traditional debka dance techniques that allow them to express their thoughts, opinions and identity. Shoruq’s Hip-hop group is specialized for girls. The girls write about their feelings and experiences as refugees and as girls to share them with the world.
Shoruq is an initiative of Palestinian refugees. Their vision, mission, and programs are geared towards meeting the short-term needs of their community and empowering the most marginalized refugee groups by developing their capabilities.

In addition to such refugee camps as Dheisheh, there are a number of other camps in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
In America, many local communities work valiantly to respond to the refugee crisis, trying to honor the words on our beloved Statue of Liberty,
“Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free…” (Emma Lazarus)

With all the admirable attention and energy toward refugee resettlement, this week’s dance program will help us to remember the plight of Palestinian refugees who languish in camps, far removed from the pitifully small (and getting smaller) refugee resettlement pipeline. As important as refugee resettlement is, we need to work toward the liberation and the homecoming of all Palestinians, represented so nobly by the youth in this week’s program. Their music and their dance is a testament to the dignity and transcendence of the Palestinian spirit.

“Debka is our heritage. I send my message to the world and resist through debka. I’ve met many good people and we’ve become like a family.” – Tamer, 16
All I need in this life, is to be free
Free, from this cage, but I need a key
The key for a life waiting for me
If only you’ve seen what my eyes still see

New Haven: SCSU, Engleman C112, Thurs 3/30, doors open 7:00PM, tickets: jvpnh.org/debka
Hartford: Artists Collective, Fri 3/31, doors open 5:45PM, tickets: tolef.org
This vigil on 3/26/2017 Contact Jewish Voice for Peace New Haven at: JVPNH.org
JOIN THIS VIGIL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE—EVERY SUNDAY 12-1 P.M.,
BROADWAY, PARK & ELM STREETS:RESIST THIS ENDLESS WAR!
https://newhavensundayvigil.wordpress.com/