The Ministry of Culture organized a Palestinian Heritage day at the Arab American University aiming to revive and embody the image of heritage and to show the aspects of the Palestinian civilization in terms of time and location, and to recall the Palestinian narration and identity and its historical dimension.
The Palestinian heritage day was permeated with a photo gallery on the heritage which included photos of the different heritage and historical places from all Palestinian cities, and an exhibition displaying the ceramic works, embroideries, inscription on pottery and copper artwork, and many national products. It also included popular Palestinian food such as the Nabulsi Kunafah, Taabun bread and Zeit wa-Za’tar (oil and thyme). The heritage day included also several heritage artistic performances such as the popular wedding and Zajal in which the students had interacted with.
During the Heritage day at the University
Several personnel participated in the events of the Palestinian Heritage Day including:
The Acting President of the University, Dr. Nizam Diab
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, the poet, Mr. Abdel Nasser Saleh
The deputy governor of Jenin, Mr. Kamal Abu al-Rub
The Assistant Rector for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Mr. Faleh Abu Arrah
The Director of the Ministry of Culture Office in Jenin, Mr. Izzat Abu al-Rub
The Head of the cultural Advisory Board, Mr. Faisal Ghawadreh
The University Deans
A group of members of the faculties and administrative bodies
A large crowd of university students, and those interested in Palestinian culture, in addition to representatives of official and popular institutions.
Dr. Diab inaugurated the Heritage Day with a speech in which he said:
"Our heritage accentuates our history that extends for thousands of years, and in every inch of our land there is a heritage indication, a story and a narration that reflects and materialize the extent of our depth and our attachment to our land. He said that organizing such cultural activities at the university is part of the university's philosophy to strengthen its students education and awareness of their culture and heritage".
For his part, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, poet Saleh stressed that this heritage day, which is adopted by the Arab American University is a gesture to keep and save the history and heritage of the Palestinian people in the minds and hearts of the university students, who shall be influential in the future after being prepared to take leadership roles in the various aspects of life.
The deputy governor of Jenin, Mr. Abu al-Rub, pointed that the student’s interaction seen today is a proof of the extent of the Arab American University student’s awareness, and their endeavor for a lasting hold of the Palestinian cultural and heritage identity, and to carry the Palestinian narration generation after generation, because our battle with the occupation is a battle of existence and identity.
The university students expressed their happiness to organize this activity and of the interest of the university administration in the extracurricular activities. They stressed that these activities aimed to confer on university life an atmosphere of happiness and progression in the student’s thinking, and it establishes the optimum values in cooperation participation.
On the sideline of the Palestinian Heritage Day, the Arab Islamic Bank carried out a withdrawal on cash prizes within the participants in the campaign called "make your university installment payment through the bank" for the students of the university. The withdrawal took place in the presence of the Director of the bank’s branches, Mr. Nizam Al-Zamil, and the Director of Jenin branch Mr. Mohammed Zakarneh.
