1996-The Year of the Hodja

by Betsy Barlow

UNESCO has chosen 1996 to be the year of Nasreddin Hodja, the wise simpleton also known as Juha or Goha or by many other names throughout the Middle East. The year 1996 is said to mark the 700th anniversary of Hodja's death, although there also are several stories linking him to Tamerlane, who lived a bit later. However, this observance provides a fine opportunity to dust off the Hodja/Juha books.

Watermelons, Walnuts and the Wisdom of Allah and Other Tales of the Hoca by Barbara Walker, with attractive illustrations by Harold Berson, contains some of the stories that have permeated Turkish, Arabic and Persian folklore. I particularly enjoyed the stories "A Donkey Transformed" and "It Won't Do You Any Good." The publisher, Texas Tech University Press, is offering educators a chance to buy this book for half price ($8.75 instead of $l7.50).

Other books in the publisher's Turkish collection are also included in the half-price sale: Tales Alive in Turkey and More Tales Alive in Turkey, both edited by Warren S. Walker and Ahmet E. Uysal, and The Art of the Turkish Tale, vols. 1 and 2, edited by Barbara K. Walker and illustrated by Helen Siegl. Many educators are finding that carefully selected stories offer an enjoyable picture of another culture and its concerns. The above books deal with dishonest tax collectors, greedy relatives, nosy neighbors, self-important officials, as well as acts of kindness and generosity. For further information, contact Texas Tech University Press, P.O. Box 40137, Lubbock TX 79409-1037; phone (800) 832-4042.

Just published last month is Magid Fasts for Ramadan, another book suitable for middle or junior high students interested in learning about Islam. Mary Matthews' text tells the story of a young Egyptian boy who wants to fast, although deemed still too young by his family. This book, which gives a picture of a loving family adept at finding solutions to seeming conflicts, is enhanced by the illustrations of E.B. Lewis. The book, published by Clarion Press, is available from the AET Book Club.

Conferences and Workshops

The theme for Georgetown's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies Spring 1996 workshop, scheduled March 27, was "Arab-American Experiences." It covered the history of Arab immigration to the United States and profiled the community at present, providing an overview of Arab-American literature and how it can be integrated into the curriculum, and addressed the issues members of this community face in American society. A special showing of the new video "Tales from Arab Detroit," a documentary produced by Joan Mandell and Sally Howell that explores cultural conflict and assimilation within the Arab community in Detroit, was part of the event, followed by a discussion of themes in the video and how to utilize this resource in the classroom.

The University of Michigan's Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies is offering two workshops this spring. On March 30, the topic scheduled was "Contemporary Issues of Modern Turkey." The program included videos, speakers on the formation of the Turkish republic and its early history, modern Turkish society, the Turkish economy and democracy, and materials for teaching about Turkey.

The second workshop, to be held April 20 and covering the entire Middle East, is part of a series on Global Education through Arts and Literature. The goal is to help teachers portray Middle Eastern peoples to their classes through arts and literature. A Middle Eastern lunch will be provided, along with some teaching materials. Advance registration is required; contact Betsy Barlow at (313) 764-0350.

The American Forum for Global Education is sponsoring its l0th national conference on April 11-14 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Monterey, California. The theme for this year is "Global Realities and the Local Community: The Challenge for Educators." Invited general session speakers are Bill Bradley, U.S. senator from New Jersey, and Sandra McBrayer, 1994 Teacher of the Year. In addition to the regular sessions, a special pre-conference clinic will be offered on Thursday morning April 11 on "Teaching About Asia and the Middle East: Pitfalls, Pleasures and Choices in Curricula" by Hazel Sara Greenberg, Director, Curriculum Development, The American Forum for Global Education. Cost for the clinic is a $75 materials fee; registration for the conference is $150. For further information, contact the American Forum, 120 Wall St., Suite 2600, New York, NY 10005; phone (212) 742-8232.

Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies will host its spring conference "Arab Jerusalem" on April 18-19 at Georgetown in Washington, DC. Six panels will be presented during the two days: "Overview"; "Oral History of Jerusalem"; "Infrastructure Development"; "Jerusalem as an Intellectual and Cultural Center"; "Jerusalem as a Secular and Religious City"; and "the Future of Jerusalem." Confirmed speakers include: Suad al-Amari, Riwak Centre, Ramallah; Ellen Fleishmann, Georgetown University; Brian Hehir, Harvard University; Nazmi Al-Jubeh, Riwak Center, Ramallah; Sarah Kaminker, Jerusalem; Walid Khalidi, Harvard University; Ghada Karmi, London University; Don Peretz, SUNY-Binghamton, emeritus; Thomas M. Ricks, Villanova University; and W. Sibley Towner, Union Theological Seminar, Virginia. The co-chairs for the symposium are Prof. Judith Tucker and Prof. Hisham Shirabi, both professors at CCAS. The registration fee is $125 ($150 on site), with special rates of $40 for university faculty ($50 on site) and $25 for students ($30 on site). For further information, call CCAS at (202) 687-5793.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) will hold its annual conference April 18-21 in Crystal City, just next to Washington National airport. Topics include: "The Construction of the Arab Image in the Media (with Jack Shaheen and Peter Arnett, and others); "The Arab American Woman: Prospects and Challenges"; "Arab American Identity: Unity and Diversity"; "Rebuilding Lebanon"; "Civil Rights in the 1990s"; a Saturday noon luncheon talk by Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala; "The State of the Palestinians"; "Iraq's Humanitarian Tragedy"; a Sunday morning Forum on the Middle East Peace Process with former ambassadors to the U.S.; and a post-Sunday brunch keynote talk by Dr. Edward Said. For further information, contact ADC at 4201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20008; phone (202) 244-2990.

The goal is to help teachers portray Middle Eastern peoples to their classes.

The American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies will hold its 13th annual conference on May 3-4 at the Connelly Center at Villanova University. The theme this year is "The Islamic Revival: In the Mainstream, On the Margins." Topics to be addressed include: "Basic Issues of Civil Society, Equity, and Democracy"; "Islam(ism) and Developing Regional Hegemonies"; "Islam(ism) and Ijtihad(ism)"; "Early Modernism and the Media"; and "The Impact of Developments in the 'Margins' of Islam." For registration or questions, please call Ms. Susan Hausman, Program Coordinator, 421 SAC, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085; phone (610) 519-4791.

The University of Chicago Middle East History and Theory Workshop, in conjunction with the University's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, announces a conference on April 26 in Chicago. For further information, contact David Peters, METHW Coordinator, CMES, 5828 S. University Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637; phone (312) 363-4739.

A National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute for College and University Faculty, directed by Charles Evans and Julia Clancy-Smith, will be held June 21 to May 27 at the University of Arizona. For further information, contact Charles Evans, Northern Virginia CC, Rt. #7, Sterling, VA 20164; phone (703) 450-2505.

Northwestern University will offer summer study abroad in Alexandria, Egypt. Options include a course in Arabic Language (June 14-August 9) or in Arabic Culture (June 14-July 26). The program is limited to 25 students. For further information, contact Northwestern University, Summer Session and Special Programs, 2115 North Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-2650; phone (847) 491-5250.

The American Historical Association has issued a call for papers on globalizing regional histories, in conjunction with the Middle East Studies Association and other area associations. Panel topics will focus on the range of issues that emerge from processes by which community identities are constructed across national and regional boundaries, both contiguous and diasporic. Proposals for individual papers or for panels should be submitted by May l, 1996 to: Globalizing Regional History, c/o Sandria Freitag, Executive Director, AHA, 400 A Street SE, Washington, DC 20003; phone (202) 544-2422. The AHA conference will be held Jan. 2-5, 1997 in New York City.

Motivated high school students who wish to learn Arabic may apply for a 6-week program to be held between June 26 and August 6 at Northfield, MA. This is the 7th program sponsored by the Arabic Language and Culture Institute and Northfield Mount Hermon Summer School. The program will be supplemented by interactive computer programs and games to enhance students' skills. For successful students, there is the possibility for total immersion learning in the Arab world during the second summer, with visits to ancient and Islamic historic and cultural sites. Partial scholarships are available for students on the basis of merit. For further information, please contact: NMH Summer School, Northfield, MA 01360; phone (413) 498-3112.

MERIP announces the 1996 Philip Shehadi New Writers Award for articles that are publishable in the Middle East Report. Articles should focus on the contemporary Middle East. Topics may include political and social transformation, the state and society, popular culture, gender relations and environmental issues. Submissions should be 3,000 to 5,000 words long and reflect an innovative approach, new thinking, and an ability to communicate ideas effectively. The prize is $500 and publication in the Middle East Report. For guidelines or further information, contact MERIP at Suite 119, 1500 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20005.