[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    A TRIBUTE TO OFER HAMAMI: AN INSPIRATION TO CULTURAL INTERACTION

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 1994

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man whose continued 
efforts have brought culture, music, and life to the vibrant turbulence 
of the Middle East. Mr. Hamami works as the director of culture, music, 
and social life at the renowned Hebrew and Arabic language school of 
Ulpan Akiva.
  As you know, Mr. Speaker, the Ulpan Akiva School enjoys the unique 
privilege of being one of the few institutions which has labored to 
bridge the gap between the Arab and Jewish cultures, using language as 
a medium. In a land plagued with conflicts and ancient hatreds, the 
Ulpan Akiva, led by their charismatic and honored director, Shulamith 
Katznelson, provides an avenue for the dissemination and interaction of 
Hebrew and Arabic cultures. Ulpan Akiva has been operating for 43 
years, with over 65,000 students participating in its seminars. As an 
institution, it has become a model for the acquisition of new language 
skills and for the successful integration of individuals into our new, 
and far more complex, multicultural world.
  For nearly 20 years as the director of cultural studies for Ulpan 
Akiva, Mr. Ofer Hamami has used music, festivals, and cultural events 
as a means of overcoming the barriers of language, cultural 
differences, and political antagonisms which have hindered Jewish-Arab 
relations. He has organized trips, planned special theatrical and 
musical events, and directed lectures on Jewish heritage in an effort 
to bring the Jewish and Arab communities closer together. He has gained 
international recognition for his efforts and has directed workshops on 
the Israeli community in various nations including Japan, Scandinavia, 
Italy, and the United States.
  Using much of the traditional music and dance of the Hebrew culture, 
Mr. Ofer Hamami creates a warm, comfortable environment for the free 
exchange of ideas. He brings together students who stem from a wide 
variety of national, religious, and cultural backgrounds, both Jewish 
and Arab.
  Mr. Ofer Hamami is an integral and vital part of the Ulpan Akiva 
community. The Ulpan Akiva School and its director, Shulamith 
Katznelson, have recently been jointly nominated as recipients for the 
Nobel Peace Prize for the second consecutive year. In addition they 
were awarded the State of Israel's highest accolade, the Israel Prize 
for Life Achievement in Education. On this occasion, Prime Minister 
Rabin and Foreign Minister Shimon Perez spoke, relating some of their 
own personal experiences at Ulpan Akiva.
  Join with me in recognizing Mr. Ofer Hamami and the tremendous 
accomplishments he has made in bringing together people of such widely 
diverse cultures. He is truly an inspiration to all who seek harmony in 
this extremely volatile area of the world.

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