Nora Lester Murad's Blog

Jadaliyya features interview with co-authors Nora Lester Murad and Danna Masad

Richard Falk wrote: “I want to recommend Rest in My Shade: A Poem About Roots by Nora Lester Murad and Danna Masad. It is a beautifully crafted story of the Palestinian ordeal as understood through a primary metaphor of the olive tree, so bound up with Palestinian identity, both because of the rootedness to place of olive trees and the life nurturing qualities of olive oil. The book is a brilliant collaboration between its authors and a group of world class Palestinian painters.The lyric words of the text give clear meanings to the vibrant beauty of the visual art. In its few pages the tragedy and the transcendence of the Palestinian narrative are both memorably viviified.”

“A perfect gift, coffee table book, or tool for discussions by adults and children about today’s global refugee and migration crises, “Rest in My Shade” is a thoughtful and thought-provoking browse that will have immense and enduring appeal fo students of poetry, art, and Palestinian history. The reader will come away from “Rest in My Shade” with newly inspired awareness of the universality of the tragic experience of displacement. In this era of Forever Wars and ‘Build the Wall’ politics, “Rest in My Shade” is a welcome counterpoint in our national dialogue and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as family, community, and academic library collections.”

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/mar_19.htm#margaret

On International Women’s Day, a lovely book celebration with friends, music and food in Washington DC organized by the Palestine Museum US.

https://bookriot.com/2019/03/07/nora-lester-murad-and-danna-masad-interview/

On March 4, 2019, a lovely group of Westchester County citizen activists gathered to hear a reading of “Rest in My Shade,” and to discuss the issues of displacement that it addresses.

A seminar and book launch was held on Monday, February 13, “Reframing the ‘displacement’ narrative” in the meeting room at rue de Varembe 1-3 Geneva. On Tuesday, February 14, a private luncheon was held at Restaurant Vieux-Bois in Geneva to launch “Rest in My Shade” to the international community. The events were run by Beris Gwynne of Incitare (https://www.linkedin.com/in/beris-gwy... or @BerisGwynne on Twitter and @4Justice2030 on Facebook) and generated excellent discussion.

The Palestine Museum US in Connecticut launched, “Rest in My Shade” to a group of friends and supporters followed by a book signing. A few weeks later, a book event was held at a restaurant in Manhattan.

Jennifer Lentfer of How Matters reviewed Rest In My Shade!

“I am about as rooted as they come – the great great great great granddaughter of German immigrant farmers on the Great Plains, where I grew up. Fresh out of college, I chose to uproot myself to become an international aid worker.

Make no mistake. Severing from my home was so, so fundamentally different than displacement. So different from those who don’t have a choice to leave their homes due to violence and subjugation, slavery and trafficking, climate displacement, economic migration, and Indigenous Peoples who are displaced “within.”

The forthcoming book by Nora Lester Murad and Danna Masad, Rest in My Shade: A Poem About Roots, was written to spark discussion about what is universal about the experience of displacement (survival? the concept of home?), and inspire discussion and action to address today’s global refugee and migration crises. The 8″x8″ hardback features fine art by 18 Palestinian artists living around the world, and is for adults and children alike. Nora, who is a contributor to Smart Risks, asked me to review the book, but truly, I come up short.

The book is beyond words. It’s stunning. It’s stark. It’s…poetry.

An ancient olive tree is uprooted. It speaks for itself.

Just…listen.”

Read the full review here.

Check out Jewish Voice for Peace’s fantastic new culture hub, GrayLit.

GrayLit “strives to contribute to an emergent culture shift happening at the intersections of Palestinian and Jewish histories, via critical thought and art in connection to interdependent movements for justice.” In GrayLit’s first wave of publications, it featured Rest In My Shade.

Fouad Agbaria, Olive Tree Field

“In this historic moment when millions of people globally are forced to leave their families, cultures, and homes because of violence, poverty, and climate change, Rest in My Shade is both a poetry/art book and a tool for raising awareness among adults and children about the global challenges of migration and displacement. While giving voice to pain and disconnection from one’s land, it offers a window into displaced people’s resilience and strength.”

Read GrayLit’s feature here.