On December 27, 2008, Israel launched the Gaza War, codenamed Operation Cast Lead, in response it said to the rocket attacks of Hamas. 22 days later, over a 1,000 Gazans had been killed, 4,000 homes and schools were destroyed, and 400,000 were left without running water. The war only worsened the siege of Gaza, causing an outcry around the world. Concerned Jewish communities in Morocco, Montreal and London, among other places, called for Israel to stop its attack. In the wake of the destruction Gazans found themselves living a humanitarian crisis. Read more.

Gaza event: Levantine event for Gaza with (l-r) CODEPINK co-founder Jodie Evans, Nile El Wardani and Jordan Elgrably (Photo S. Twair)IN A FIRST-of-its-kind experiment, the Levantine Cultural Center engaged speakers for its March 4 Gaza benefit to participate in a live KPFK radio conversation with Don Bustany, host of "Middle East In Focus."

Jordan Elgrably: speaking at a recent event at USCBy Amanda Georges
The L.A. Pilot

LOS ANGELES — Even before September 11 drastically shifted the way Arab-Americans lived, journalist and writer Jordan Elgrably was already thinking about ways to educate America about the Arab world.

Months before the attack, Elgrably helped found Levantine Cultural Center in 2001, a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that works to showcase the top names in Middle Eastern music, film and art as an alternative resource of information about the Middle East.

In a post-9/11 world, Elgrably finds his original mission to be even more relevant and imperative.

Elgrably believes that art and culture offer people a unique perspective into Arab and Middle Eastern life and politics.

Even as the United States finds itself increasing enmeshed in the Arab/Muslim world politically, Hollywood exports a great deal of film and television programs watched in the Middle East. We are indeed the dominant cultural force in many Arab/Muslim countries. Meanwhile, Americans are finding more and more Arab/Muslim characters in their film and TV programming…

Recently SAG and DGA members discussed the issues and viewed excerpts from a range of features and documentaries. Invited panelists were actors Shohreh Aghdashloo ("House of Sand and Fog", "X-Men 3", "House of Saddam"), Maz Jobrani ("The Interpreter"), Raya Meddine ("Bosta", "CSI Miami") Omar Metwally ("Rendition", "Munich"), Oded Fehr ("The Mummy", "Sleeper Cell") and Tony Shalhoub ("The Siege", "AmericanEast"); directors Peter Berg (“The Kingdom”), Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) and Stephen Gaghan (“Syriana”); writer Matthew Michael Carnahan (“The Kingdom”, “Lions For Lambs”); and casting director April Webster ("Lost", "Criminal Minds").

Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, September-October 2008, pages 57-58

Music & Arts

Levantine Center Program

Levantine Center panelists (l-r) Naser Musa, Jordan Elgrably and Noa Baum (Staff photo S. Twair).

“A Land Twice Promised” was the title of Noa Baum’s June 21, 2008 presentation at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Los Angeles—the third program in a series on coexistence sponsored by Levantine Cultural Center. Adding a multi-ethnic touch to Baum’s monologue was the innovative music of Naser Musa, a Jordanian vocalist and master of the 'oud of Palestinian heritage. 

In "David and Fatima," the Montague and the Capulet clans become the Aziz and the Isaacs, setting the stage for a battle of the two faith.

Most people might not think there's a lot of room for humor when discussing the Middle East, but former journalist Jordan Elgrably has put together a group of Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Baha'i comedians who think otherwise.

Coming to the Irvine Barclay Theatre on April 29, the Sultans of Satire will parody their own Arabic, Persian and Turkish cultures hoping to offer audiences a fresh and funny perspective on the Middle East in their Laugh for Peace Comedy Benefit.

Patrons of the Newport Beach Central Library have never had to flee from bomb blasts en route to picking up their reading materials. But in a special program Saturday afternoon, the library paid tribute to a city where culture comes with a higher risk.

Most people wouldn’t imagine it possible to gather comedic material from the Middle East. The Sultans of Satire, however, have been doing just that to rave reviews since 2005. Boldly going where few can, the troupe features comedians with roots in the region and benefits the Levantine Center’s efforts to promote peace, diversity and understanding.

"Our music is not about coexistence," said Tamer Nafar, the self-assured leader of Palestinian hip-hop group DAM. "There's a few steps that come before peace."

Nafar, 27, addressed an audience of roughly 200 people during "Poetry of Peace," a hip-hop and cultural jam benefit for the Levantine Cultural Center at USC's Bovard Auditorium on Nov. 17.

The Middle East may seem an unlikely place to inspire comedy these days, but seven comedians of Middle Eastern ancestry will be in Riverside on Sunday to make jokes about airport searches, head coverings and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The show, Sultans of Satire, is making its Inland debut after more than two years of performances in Los Angeles and Orange counties.