A Taste of Seraj Palestine

October 17, 2023

Dear friends of the Seraj Library Project,

Out of respect for those who have lost their lives and the continuing suffering facing Palestinians in Gaza during this humanitarian disaster, we have chosen to postpone the Taste of Seraj Palestine until a happier time. If you purchased tickets to the event, you will hear from us soon about next steps, including the options of a full refund or to convert your ticket price to a donation toward Seraj's ongoing work.

We grieve with the people of Gaza, who, though already refugees, are being displaced anew amid unimaginable horror. Our Seraj staff in the West Bank are currently unharmed, but they too are in states of shock and fear. The threat of violence from Israeli settlers—who have received fresh shipments of weapons from their government and are empowered to use them on Palestinians—is a constant. Please keep our staff and all those served by our libraries in your thoughts.

In lieu of hosting our benefit event, the Seraj US board is taking this time to petition our elected representatives to hold Israel accountable and end funding for genocide, and to amplify voices who are examining recent events in the wider historical context of 75 years of Palestinian oppression. We remain committed to the project of empowering Palestinian communities, one library at a time, and we look forward to resuming and expanding the important work of providing cultural and intellectual resources and community spaces in Palestine. We are grateful for your support and solidarity.

With renewed hopes for peace, Galen Burghardt, Board Chair, Seraj USA

Event Committee:

Mai Khader Kakish, Chair, Tamara Ghattas, Rima Kapitan, Anne Koerber, Amelia Miller, and Elizabeth Trost

and the entire board of Seraj USA