The Israeli Black Panthers, founded in 1971, was one of the first movements in Israel fighting for social justice for Jews from Arab and Muslim countries (also known as Mizrahi Jews). On March 22 co-founder and former leader of the Israeli Black Panthers, Reuven Abergel, will give a talk entitled "Darkness in the Holy Land: The Israeli Black Panthers’ Struggle for Human Rights and Against Racism," at 5 p.m. in Lewis Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall G76. 

Credit: Mati Milstein

The talk will be in Hebrew with English translation provided by Itamar Haritan, a Cornell University graduate student in anthropology and Jewish Studies. In-person attendance is open to current Cornell employees and students. The public is invited to attend virtually via Zoom.

“Though the Black Panthers were one of the largest and most significant social and political justice movements in Israel’s history, few outside the country have heard about their struggle,” said Haritan. “Abergel’s is a unique and vital perspective from the heart of the ongoing human rights struggle of Jewish and Arab activists in the country, reflecting the perspective of Jews whose language and culture were vilified as the ‘language of the enemy.’”

This event is sponsored by Cornell University's Jewish Studies Program, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Migrations Initiative, Africana Studies & Research Center, Critical Ottoman & Post-Ottoman Studies and with generous support of the Hope and Eli Hurowitz Fund.

Ayla Cline is an events coordinator in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.