Perspective papers, research, and critical discourse from the Jerusalem Academy of the Arts. Our journal explores themes of return, collective liberation, cultural preservation, and the power of imagination in the struggle for justice.
Issue N.1Jerusalem in Exile•2024
We Must Return to Another to Return Together
Understanding Radical Ideologies and the Palestinian Problem
Jerusalem Academy of the Arts
“Colonization of the imagination is the most dangerous and subversive form there is: for it is where all other forms of decolonization are born. When the imagination is unshackled, liberation is limitless.”
This perspective paper explores the concept of 'radical' from its Latin root 'radix' meaning 'root,' examining how fragmentation caused by colonialism has severed the ancestral roots, authenticity, and values of Palestinians. It presents a vision for collective liberation through returning to ancestral practices, reviving community spaces (muntadas), and embracing limitless imagination.
Key Themes
The etymology of 'radical' and returning to roots
Fragmentation of Palestinian clans as the root problem
The concept of Return as both physical and spiritual
Muntadas as spaces for critical thinking and creativity
The continuum of collective liberation
Issue N.2Jerusalem in Exile•2024
Akka, Palestine
Northern Palestine — History, Catastrophe, and the Promise of Return
Jerusalem Academy of the Arts
“The door was open, we entered, and on the table we saw pita bread and coffee, probably the tenants in the house were in the middle of breakfast, and on the floor there were tiny shoes of a baby, I guess they didn't have enough time to put his shoes on.”
Akka, the 3rd oldest city in the world and a historic fishing village, is located on the Northern Coast of Palestine. This paper traces the rich history of Akka from its ancient origins through Crusader occupation, Ottoman rule, and the British Mandate, to the catastrophic events of 1948 when Zionist forces imposed a siege that reduced the population from 30,000 to just 3,000 Akkawis.
Key Themes
Ancient history of Akka and its strategic importance
Zahir al-Umar and Northern Palestinian autonomy
British Mandate period and resistance
The siege and ethnic cleansing of 1948
Cultural preservation and the promise of return
Issue N.3Jerusalem in Exile•2025
Nazareth, Palestine
Northern Palestine — An-Nasira, the Helper
Jerusalem Academy of the Arts
“For 78 years, the city of Nazareth, hometown of Jesus Christ, has faced pressure, discrimination, and economic hardship. Its Palestinian residents remain steadfast in preserving their heritage and await reunion with their exiled brothers and sisters.”
An-Nasira, meaning 'the Helper,' is where the Angel Gabriel announced to Mother Mary she would give birth to Jesus. Dating back to 2000 BC, Nazareth is nestled between the hills of Mount Tabor. This paper traces the city's transformation under Zahir al-Umar, its prosperity as a market center, and the events of 1948 when Operation Dekel devastated surrounding villages while Nazareth itself narrowly escaped total destruction.
Key Themes
Ancient origins and the Annunciation to Mother Mary
Zahir al-Umar's campaign to unify Northern Palestine
The eight historic quarters and thriving souks of 1914
Operation Dekel and the destruction of Saffuriyah
78 years of steadfast resistance and cultural preservation
Notable Artists from Nazareth
Michael Khleifi (1950) — Founder of Contemporary Palestinian Cinema
Hisham Zreiq (1968) — Pioneer of Computer Fine Art
Dib Joubran (1876–1951) — Founder of Palestinian Oud-making
Khalil al-Halabi (1889–1964) — Pioneer of religious icon painting
Michel Haddad (1919–1994) — Pioneer of modern Arab poetry
Notable Institutions to Visit
Saffourieh Museum for Heritage and Return
Liwan Culture Cafe
NAZART Art Gallery & Atelier
Zahir Al-Umar Saraya of Nazareth
Issue N.4Jerusalem in Exile•2025
Sana'a, Yemen
Central Highlands — History, Civilization, and Endurance
Jerusalem Academy of the Arts
“Sana'a represents Yemen's soul: proud, complex, wounded, and unbroken. It is a place where history still lives — refusing, against all odds, to become the past.”
There are cities that belong to history, and there are cities that are history. Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, is one of the rare places on Earth where time does not feel linear. This paper traces Sana'a from its ancient origins as a center of the incense trade through its role as an early Islamic city, the seat of the Zaydi Imamate, and a battleground against Ottoman imperialism, to the devastating modern conflict that threatens one of humanity's great architectural treasures.
Key Themes
Ancient South Arabian civilizations and the incense trade
Sana'a as an early Islamic city and archive of Qur'anic manuscripts
The Zaydi Imamate and intellectual tradition
Tower house architecture and qamariyya stained glass
Ottoman occupation and Yemeni resistance
Modern conflict and the endurance of civilization
Special EditionExhibition Catalog•2024
Children of War
Paintings by the Children of Mayasem Association of Culture and Arts
Curated by Dima Zaghal of Qisarya
“I wanted to draw a flower to bring hope and joy because I was sad that everything around was full of sorrow.”
This powerful exhibit features artworks created by children displaced to the Al Mawasi refugee camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza, during 2024. In partnership with the Mayasem Association of Culture and Arts, this showcase highlights the resilience and creativity of young artists. Through their art, these young creators express resilience, sorrow, and the strength of the Palestinian spirit. Proceeds directly support the families of these young artists and fund the 'Phonepals' initiative.
Key Themes
Children's art as testimony and resistance
Displacement from northern Gaza to Khan Yunis
The steadfast Palestinian woman as a recurring symbol
Sabr (patience/cactus) as a motif of endurance
Loss of childhood — from school bags to cooking pots
Community resilience through creative expression
Featured Young Artists
Menna Abu Safi, 16
Aya Abu Safi, 13
Tulay Saleh, 13
Rital Abu Shakyan, 15
Siraj Al-Razee, 12
Sama Habib, 15
Shahd Habib, 16
Lama Khalid, 11
Sham Salem, 11
Contribute to Our Discourse
We welcome submissions from Palestinian writers, artists, and thinkers exploring themes of return, cultural preservation, and collective liberation.
