The Israel-Palestine conflict is “an issue that has been going on for the past hundred years. It has never really stopped,” said Parsa Aghazadeh ’25, co-leader of the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) affinity group. He believes it is a difficult topic to discuss due to its controversy and long and complicated history. In an email to the Polygon, faculty advisor and World Languages Faculty Victoria Abdulahad, wrote that during this challenging time, the MENA meetings have been “a space where students can share their concerns and emotions.”
Similarly to Jewish Caucus, during the first month after the war broke out in Israel and Gaza, the leaders felt the obligation to talk about it with their group. Aghazadeh researched the conflict in order to feel more confident talking to his group about it. He also pointed out that there are varying levels of comfort when talking about the conflict. He thinks it might be because some students have family living in the Middle East. To steer clear of controversy, Aghazadeh said they tried to “maintain a space that helps us determine what’s going on rather than who thinks what.” By sticking to the facts and staying updated on the current situation, he felt like people could absorb information without being influenced by anyone’s biases or opinions. According to Abdulahad, “We read articles and watched newscasts about the War. Dr. Shmookler, who specializes in Middle Eastern history, came by to one of our meetings to connect with the students.” Abdulahad also mentioned that the administration members checked in on MENA, ensuring the students felt supported during this tough, frightening, and uncertain time.
The MENA leaders have decided to steer away from talking about the conflict and focus on more positive parts of Middle Eastern culture. Aghazadeh wanted to remind members of MENA that “The Middle East isn’t all bad. There is good about it.” Abdulahad wrote that some recent activities included watching a movie and sharing regional foods, such as dates and halawa. Halawa, also known as halva, is a dessert originating in Persia, made from combining tahini (sesame seeds) and sugar, which forms into a solid but crumbly loaf. The students also learned how to write their names in Farsi and Arabic. They are trying to understand the basics of the Middle Eastern languages since they are a vital part of Middle Eastern culture and are so different from English.
The MENA group is also preparing a presentation for an assembly in April regarding the Middle East. Aghazadeh is very excited to be a part of this historic moment since it is the first assembly Poly has had in years, if not ever, exclusively about the Middle East. While talking about the Israel-Palestine conflict, he feels that it is “important to bring awareness to this issue because many people don’t know about the problems of the Middle East.” During this assembly, he hopes to educate the Poly community and debunk common misconceptions about the Middle East.
Both Aghazadeh and Abdulahad appreciate the diversity in the MENA group. The affinity group has members from many cultures around the Middle East who come and participate in these discussions, some of whom are more closely connected to their roots than others. However, this culture is a part of every member’s identity. Abdulahad thinks “It’s heartening to see them come together and share who they are.”
