On October 7th last year, 2023, the world was thrown into yet another intensification of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Since that moment, we’ve all heard of and seen atrocious acts of war – most of us through media, some of us through loved ones, or with our own eyes. The confrontation with such dehumanization has impacted all of us, in utterly different ways, each coming from different lives and viewpoints and arriving at different conclusions.
Another October 7th is coming up, and it will mark a year of suffering; a year of anger and grief; a year in which it has often been hard to meet each other in good faith – also within our university, and on our campus. On this unordinary Monday we (NEWConnective and 3D) want to offer a space to acknowledge the weight of the date. Specifically, we call together a commemorating gathering for the victims of the gross violence that has been raging in Palestine and Israel.
During this commemorating gathering we invite poetry, prayer and music. Contributors are Lievnath Faber and Anthony Jeer – as well as NEWConnective’s and 3D’s team members. This gathering takes place in English. In addition to the commemorating gathering, the space will be open during the day from 12:30 PM onwards for people to commemorate individually (and to light a candle). At 5:45 PM the space will close.
Program
3:30 PM – Walk-in
3:40 PM – Welcome and introduction
3:45 PM – Poetry reading
3:55 PM – Commemorating contribution by Lievnath Faber
4:10 PM – Musical intermission
4:25 PM – Commemorating contribution by Anthony Jeer
4:40 PM – Closing remarks
4:42 PM – Candle lighting and closing music
5:00 PM – Space to meet and share
5:45 PM – Space closes
Contributors
Lievnath Faber is a Jewish scholar, working at the intersection of antiracism and Jewish activism.
Anthony Jeer is a Palestinian master’s student in Peace, Trauma and Religion at VU.
NEWConnective is the VU’s platform for Life’s Big Question; and 3D is the VU’s stage for dialogue.