Seraj Activites & Events
A listing of recent Seraj activities and programs
2024 Seraj Tour
Begins October 2024 | Seraj Palestine
Come and experience Palestine from the inside, gain a deeper understanding of our work, visit well known sights and cities in the Holy Land, discover hidden gems and make meaningful connections with people and our library communities.
Seraj Storytelling Academy
Begins February 2024 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
Seraj Libraries Storytelling Academy is a 3-year course through which students learn the foundations that guide all of the Center’s programming. In collecting our stories, we know ourselves and one another more deeply. In curating our stories, we heal, root, and design. In performing our stories, we share, build, and connect.
Yoga & Storytelling sessions
Begins January 2023 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
In this course, Kundalini Yoga will be blended with the art of storytelling. Through breathing, meditation, and relaxation, we will be able to express ourselves, remember and share stories about ourselves and our situations.
A Taste of Seraj Palestine
November 2023 | Seraj US
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. Learn More HERE.
Clarinet Play
October 2023 | Seraj Birzeit
Based on true stories with the actor’s childhood memories of the Beirut War in 1982. Story and acting - Fadi Al-Ghoul, Directed by - Akram Al-Maliki, Production - Safar Theater. It was a great and fun night for everyone! This play has won many international awards.
Autumn Nights Festival
October 2023 | Seraj Birzeit
In the first performance of this musical group, the stringed instruments contrabass, oud, and buzuq come together in addition to singing. Through this performance, the musicians explore the possibilities of overlapping sounds in a performance that combines, playing and improvisation. Second performance based on true stories with the actor’s childhood memories of the Beirut War in 1982.
Hakawatiyyeh Storytelling and Music
September 2023 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
Fida'a Ataya, Kavalya Atma Kaur, and Hanna Salmon represented Seraj at a festival in Philadelphia, where they were invited to lecture on the difference between men’s and women’s storytelling traditions.Seraj at St. Bart’s
August 2023 | Seraj US
Telling the Seraj Story in the US.
John Cassel was a guest at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church’s (NYC) Forum on August 27, 2023. View the video by clicking the icon.
The Storytelling Marathon
August 2023 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
Seraj Library is organizing this marathon with the aim of documenting communication between generations of young men and women, the elderly and children in the local community through the art of performing storytelling.
A is for Arab
August 2023 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
We met at the Seraj Children’s Library in Kufor Aqab with the writer Wafaa Al-Shami to read her story, sign it, and fly with it in the Arab world. Thank you to everyone who attended this wonderful event and shared this story with us.
Birzeit Heritage Week
July 2023 | Seraj Birzeit
The twelfth Heritage Week in the old town of Birzeit!
It was a week full of competitions, plays, dances, cinema, story telling, artistic performances and much more. Seraj was happy to be apart of this event. 
The Palestine Forum for Arabic Fiction
July 2023 | Seraj Birzeit
The Sixth Palestine Forum for Arabic Fiction. The Palestinian Ministry of Culture and Seraj Libraries have held a wonderful event at the Seraj Library and Cultural Center in Birzeit titled, "The Palestinian Novel: Topics of New Writing."
BINGO Night
June 2023 | Seraj Birzeit
Seraj Birzeit hosted a fun BINGO night in the summer. Entry is Free, we have big prizes for the winners, and lots of fun music. Of course, our cafe is open with lots of yummy sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. You can view our map and menu for the library HERE.
The Art of Storytelling Conference
May 2023 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
The first annual conference on the art of storytelling. The sessions included interactive performances and activities to discover Palestinian storytelling traditions. Self-awareness, healing, advocacy, learning, pleasure, imagination, discovery, rootedness, and ultimately are practices that connects us to each other, to our history and heritage, the land, sea, and sky. 
Layali Ramadania Storytelling Festival
April 2023 | Seraj Palestine
The Layali Ramadania Storytelling Festival celebrates the tradition of gathering after breaking the fast to eat, drink, and share stories during Ramadan. We bring storytelling performances with storytellers and musicians to communities throughout the West Bank of Palestine, to demonstrate how important the tradition of storytelling is during the month of Ramadan. 
International Storytelling Festival
November 2022 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
The First International Storytelling Festival in Palestine, hosted by the Seraj Storytelling Center. We included performances from professional Palestinian and international storytellers, to share the art of storytelling from around the world with Palestinian communities, schools, universities and libraries. Each performance will be in both Arabic and English, with one Palestinian and one international storyteller. You can view the video HERE.
2022 Seraj Benefit
November 2022 | Seraj US
The Seraj Story really is flourishing. We heard new reports, the new programs we've initiated. In addition, the October Tour group. We are very proud of what we have accomplished and we can’t wait to share our story with you!
2022 Seraj Tour
October 2022 | Seraj Palestine
We visited the libraries, met some wonderful people, played with the children, and gained a new appreciation for the world in which Seraj has to work and the joy that Seraj brings to its communities. In addition, we visited the new glorious storytelling center in Kufor Aqab, and the new cultural center in the old city of Birzeit.
Hosting the author, Nahed Shawa
September 2022 | Seraj Palestine
We are thrilled that we hosted the esteemed Palestinian-Canadian author and publisher Nahed Shawa at the Samiha Khalil School in Al-Bireh! What a special treat for everyone! 
Seraj Community Family Picnic
July 2022 | Seraj US
Meet your fellow-supporters of Seraj community libraries in Palestine.
Learn about the libraries and the children who use them.
Receive an update on the situation in Palestine. 
Storytelling Center Opening
June 2022 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
This summer we held our grand opening ceremony at our center, located in the historic old village of Kufor Aqab as part of a “cultural hub.” Seraj, along with several other cultural and community-focused organizations, are part of a strategy designed by the architectural preservation organization, Riwaq, to bring to life the old buildings and add much-needed safe spaces to community members.
Cultural Center Opening
June 2022 | Seraj Birzeit
Seventeen years later we are overjoyed to see our dream finally become reality! At the request of the Birzeit municipality, we renovated a worndown 150-year-old courtyard and its six houses. With the cooperation with Riwaq organization and a great contractor we’ve rehabilitated these ruins into one of the most beautiful public spaces in Palestine!
Chicago Palestine Film Festival
May 2022 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
Our movie was an early project of the Center to tell media stories. We entered the Chicago Palestine Film Festivel 2022. The movie was called “I Came But Did Not Arrive” The movie was in honor of the Seraj Library and Storytelling Center in Kufor Aqab.
Vanishing Journey: Donkey, alley, story
February 2022 | Seraj Kufor Aqab
A cultural project that celebrates the heritage of Nazareth and its Old City by tracing the trail of the donkey along with the narratives and stories that accompanied it. In partnership with: RIWAQ, Mozayan, Seraj, Souq Stories team. With the support of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and under the supervision of Taawon.