SCOTLAND has sent a “wave of solidarity” to Palestine, as a powerful event to honour and support the Palestinian people took place in the country's capital.
The sold-out Crossing Borders show, at the iconic Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, saw celebrated artists sharing Yiddish song and Palestinian poetry in an act of solidarity.
Performers, which included Emmy award-winning musician Michael Alpert and the Edinburgh-based Och Vey Klezmer Band (below), called for peace and justice in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.
Organised by the Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, alongside funding from the University of Edinburgh, it is believed to be the first collaboration of its kind in Scotland.
After the first show on Wednesday sold out, organisers decided to put on another show – now also sold out – on Monday evening.
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Opening the show, fiddler Gica Loening dedicated the evening to Palestinian artists, musicians and writers, adding that they wanted to “send a wave of hope across the airwaves”.
The theme of hope continued, as renowned Palestinian poet Nada Shawa, who moved to Scotland from occupied Palestine at eight years old, shared her poetry which considers themes of diaspora, belonging, and solidarity.
Her poem The Wave, which challenges the Israeli occupation’s attempt to erase Palestinian identity and hope, ended on a powerful note.
“Beneath the shelter and care of the Scots Pine and Heather, from exile, I send the gentle Scottish wave to flow over you, Palestine, to give you the strength to continue to resist and survive.”
Shawa also read If I Should Die, a poem written by Palestinian educator Professor Refaat Alareer, shortly before he was killed in an airstrike in Gaza City in December.
Towards the end of the show, attendees heard powerful words from Kahil Shaheen, a Palestinian refugee who sent a voice note which was played to the audience.
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Shaheen was born in Rafah refugee camp, after his family was forced out of their homeland in 1948.
He thanked organisers for running the event and spoke of his experience in Gaza, where he now works with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.
All proceeds from the event will be divided equally between two charities – Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the British Shalom Salaam Trust trauma appeal.
The former charity offers medical services in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon.
The latter aims to foster positive relations between Palestinian, Jews and other communities living in Palestine and Israel.
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