Interview with Weekly Blitz, Bangladesh

Interviews with Sister Space On-line Radio:

 Women Peace Poems and You and I Can Change the World

biography
 

BIOGRAPHY

 

Ada Aharoni, writer, poet, playwright and lecturer, was born in Cairo, Egypt, and now lives in Haifa, Israel. She has published 25 books to date, that have won her several international prizes. She writes inEnglish and Hebrew, and her works have been translated into several languages. Believing in the power of the word, she is confident that literature and culture can help to heal the urgent ailments of our global village, such as war, terror and conflict. The themes of love, reconciliation, coexistence and peace, as well as equality of women, are major o­nes throughout her various works.

 

Ada Aharoni received her Bachelor Degree (B.A) in Literature and Sociology, at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (1965), her Master of Philosophy Degree (M.Phil.), at London University (1967), o­n the “Father of the Novel” Henry Fielding, and she was awarded her Doctorate Degree in Literature (Ph.D), o­n the Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature - Saul Bellow, at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (1975). She lectured in the Department of English Literature at Haifa University and the University of Pennsylvania, and taught Sociology (Conflict Resolution), in the department of Humanities, at the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), in Haifa.

 

She has been widely invited as Keynote Presenter and Visiting Professor at many universities and other forums around the world, where she lectures o­n her research and o­n her various books, and about the possibilities of “Conflict Resolution Through Literature and Culture.” Her latest presentations o­n this subject was at the 36^th World Congress of the International Institute of Sociology (July 7-11, 2004, Beijing, China, and at the Inter–State Parliament in Palermo, Italy, in September 2006). She has widely researched this subject, and has been interviewed o­n it as well as o­n her books, in the media and major Television and Radio Programs, in several countries, including: Italy, Israel, America, England, France, Australia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, China, Finland, Japan, Korea, India, Mexico and South Africa.

 

Among her major works are: the historical novel, The Second Exodus (1983), that describes in literary form the forced exile of the Jews from Egypt in the twentieth century, which she and her family were part of.Her second book: Memoirs from Alexandria, (1985), relates the story of of the Jewish Hospital in Alexandria, and the heroic deeds of its Head Nurse, Thea Wolf, who saved hundreds of Jews from the Nazi Holocaust, through the Hospital, together with the help of Egyptian officials. Aharoni’s acclaimed historical novel From The Nile to The Jordan, was first published in 1994; it was translated into several languages, and was awarded the “Haifa and Bremen Award” and the “Merit Prize” in New York. In 1996 she published The Peace Flower, a moving quest for hope and world peace, for young and old. Her latest books: Not In Vain: An Extraordinary Life (Ladybug Press, CA.. 1999), a larger edition of Memoirs from Alexandria, and her important and timely Women Creating A World Beyond War and Violence (2002), contain both prose and poetry. Four of her books have been recently published as E-Books as well as CD’s (Rowe Publishing, England). Her poetry collection: “A Green Week” has been put to music, and is sung by major Israeli and American singers, it has been released as a CD, which together with Aharoni’s books, can be ordered through the following website: www.iflac.com/ada in conjunction with amazon.com

 

Among Aharoni’s published books are: novels, biographies, and poetry collections, such as From The Pyramids to Mount Carmel, in English, French, Hebrew, Arabic and Chinese. A Bilingual collection of her “Selected Poems,” in English and Chinese, has been published in Hong Kong (The Milky Way Publishing Company, 2002). In addition, her poems have also been translated and published in journals in several other languages, including: Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Japanese, Korean, German, Gujarati, and Bengali.She has published two books of translations of the Israeli poet: Shin Shalom, and other major classical Israeli poets, including: Rachel, Leah Goldberg, Yehuda Amichai, and Amir Gilboa. Her latest two collections of poetry: You and I Can Change The World (2000), and The Pomegranate (2002), hail the new millennium as o­ne in which, according to her: “A world beyond war can indeed be created, if humankind begin to listen to writers and poets for a change.”

 

Aharoni is the Editor-in-Chief of the Anthology: A Song to Life and to World Peace (2003), which is widely used as a Textbook in Univerisites and colleges, as well as of the Anthology: Waves of Peace (1997), dedicated to the memory of Yitzhak Rabin. She is also the founder and editor of the Literary Magazine Galim: Waves (1987- 2004), and the o­nline journal Horizon: Pave Peace. She is the founder and editor of Lirit: Poetry Israel, the o­nline magazine of the Hebrew Writers Association, featuring major Israeli poets in English translation.She is as well an Editor for the UNESCO EOLSS Encyclopedia (2004 – 2005), and is in charge of the section o­n: Non Violence, Peace Building,Peace Culture, and Peace Through Literature.Her important and innovative research entitled: “A New Peace Culture Required for Sustainable Global Development,” was published in the UNESCO Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: “OUR FRAGILE WORLD: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development” (2001 EOLSS Publishers Co. Ltd., pp. 917 – 934).

 

She is the Vice President of the Hebrew WritersAsscociation in Israel, and the Head of its Foreign Relations committee.She initiated, organized and presided at its important Conference in Tel Aviv, o­n “Bridges of Understanding through Literature,” which was attended by both Jewish and Arab writers (on September 6, 2004). 

Aharoni is the founder and international president of IFLAC: PAVE PEACE, the International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace (established in 1999 – website: www.iflac.com ). She chaired its founding congress "The International Congress o­n Conflict Resolution Through Culture and Literature," in the Galilee (June 1999), the second o­ne, in Sydney Australia (2001), and the third o­ne in London, England (2002). The latest IFLAC Conference was in Bursa, Turkey, from 9-11 October, 2003. It was opened by the Minister of Culture of Turkey, and the Minister of Religion. The Iflac conferences brought together researchers, writers, poets, media, educationalists and diplomats, from twenty five countries, many from conflicted areas, like Israel and Palestine, India and Pakistan, Turkey and Greece - for the bridging of cultural bridges of understanding and respect and the paving of peace between people andnations.

 

Aharoni is also President of the World Congress of Poets XIII (Haifa, Israel, 1992), and convener of the PCC "Pave Peace Through Culture and Communications" commission of IPRA: the International Peace Research Association (1996-2005). She was co-founder of The Bridge: Jewish and Arab Women for Peace in the Middle East (1977 – 1999), in 1999, The Bridge, joined IFLAC, and itnow functions as its women’s wing.

 

Her latest project is the founding and organizing of the FIRST WORLD CONGRESS OF JEWS FROM EGYPT, together with a group of researchers and writers o­n the Jews from Egypt in the twentieth century. The Congress will take place in Haifa, from May 9 to 12, 2006.

 

Aharoni has been awarded several international prizes and awards, among them are: The British Council Award, the Keren Amos President Award, the Haifa and Bremen Prize, The World Academy of Arts and Culture Award, the Korean Gold Crown of World Poets Award, the Rachel Prize, andtheMerit Award of the HSJE: The Historical Society of the Jews from Egypt,for her "devoted and unmatched efforts in researching the history and culture of the Jews from Egypt, and to promote visionary literature and poetry proclaiming peace in the world."In 1998, she was elected o­ne of the hundred “World Heroines,” in Rochester, New York, for her “outstanding literary works for the promotion of women and peace.”

 

Ada Aharoni lives o­n beautiful Mount Carmel in Haifa, where she has dedicated her life to the creation of a peaceful Israel and Middle East and a better world beyond war, through her writings and her wide activities, and the promotion of bridges of multi-culture, peace and understanding.

 

 

 

 

Books by Ada Aharoni

 

1. Whispered Thoughts - Haifa Publications, Haifa, Israel, 1970.

 2. Poems from Israel - Outposts, Surrey, England, 1972.

3.  Poems from Israel and Other Poems - Berger Publications, Pittsburgh, PA, 1974.

4.  Metal and Violets - Eked, Tel Aviv, Israel, 1978.

5.  From the Pyramids to Mount Carmel - Eked, T.A., Israel, 1979.

6.The Second Exodus: A Historical Novel -Bryn Mawr, PA, 1983. ISBN:

0-8059-2862-6. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 82-90872.

7.  Thea: To Alexandria, Jerusalem and Freedom - Dorrance & Co. Bryn Mawr, PA, 1984. ISBN: 0-8059-2922-3. Library     of       Congress Catalog Card No. 84-91127.

8.Shin Shalom: New Poems - A Bilingual Edition, edited and translated from Hebrew to English by Ada Aharoni - Eked: Tel Aviv, 1985. ISBN: 965-90139-4-9.

9.  Saul Bellow: A Mosaic, ed. Ada Aharoni, G. Cronin and L. Goldman; Peter Lang, N.Y.,N.Y., 1992. ISBN: 0-8204-1572-3.

10.  Selected Poems from Israel - Lachman, Haifa, 1992. ISBN: 965-90139-5-7

11.  A Song to Life and to World Peace, ed. A. Aharoni, Mike Scheidemann et al. Posner and Sons, Jerusalem, 1993. ISBN 965-219-013-6.

12.  From the Nile to the Jordan - Tamuz, 1994, M.Lachman, 1997. ISBN: 965-90139-0-6.

13.  Peace Flower: A Space Adventure - Lachman, Haifa, 1994, 1996. ISBN: 965-90139.A Spoken Book Taped Edition was published by Ladybug Press, Ca., 1999.

14.  Memoirs from Alexandria: Not In Your War Anymore - Hatikhon, G. Farah, Shfar-Am, 1997. ISBN: 965-90139-2-2.

15. Galim Literary Magazine, nos 1 - 8, editedAdaAharoni - Tammuz, Tel-Aviv1985- 1996.

16. Waves of Peace: In the Memory of Yitzhak Rabin, Galim 8, edited Ada Aharoni and Judith Zilbershtein, Hatichon: Shfaram, 1997. ISBN 965-222-774-9.

17.  Peace Poems, A Bi-lingual Edition - Preface by M. Fawzi Deif, Cairo University,M. Lachman, Haifa, 1997.

18.  Not In Vain: An Extraordinary Life - Ladybug Publishing House, California, 1998.ISBN 1-889409-18-(pbk)

19. Lirit: Poetry Israel, Founded and Edited by Ada Aharoni, Electronic Magazine o­n Internet, the Hebrew Writers Association,Agudat Ha-Sofrim Ha-Ivrim,Tel Aviv, no. 1- 1997,no.2 - 1998.

20.Horizon: Pave Peace, o­nlineMagazine, nos.1 - 5. IFLAC- IPRA, 1996 - 2003.

21.Metal et Violettes: (In French), Characteres, Paris, 1996.

22.Du Nil Au Jourdain: (In French), Stavit, Paris, 2002.
      23.You and I Can Change the World: Toward 2000, Micha Lachman, Haifa, 1999.

24.   WomenCreate A World Beyond War and Violence, Micha Lachman, Haifa, 2002.

25.Three E-Books and C.D’s:1. You and I, 2. Peace Flower, 3. Women and  Peace,Rowe Publications, England, 2003.

     26.Selected Poems: Bilingual, Chinese – English, The Milky Way, Hong Kong, 2002.

ISBN 962-475-288-5.

 

Articles and Interviews: A hundred and twelve of Ada Aharoni's articles were published in professional journals and magazines, from 1967 - 2005. She was interviewed o­n numerous media interviews in international media (1980 - 2005).

 

Ada Aharoni’s poems were put to music by Robert Nissenson, and Yigal Alfassi. They are sung by Revital Levanon and Anat Yagen and other singers, o­nthe disc “A Green Week” and other discs, and played o­n radio and TV (1999-2003).

For more details o­n Ada Aharoni’s life and works please visit her Homepage: www.iflac.com/ada

 

Her books and e-books can be ordered at the above website, in conjunction with amazon.com

 

www.iflac.com/ada/books

 

www.iflac.com/horizon

 

www.iflac.com/jac

 

www.wjce.org

 

 www.iflac.com/ada/heb

 

www.iflac.com/iflacheb.htm

 

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Ada Aharoni

 

A GLOBAL CALL TO URGENT ACTION

THE CREATION OF A WORLD SATELLITE FOR PEACE CULTURE (WSPC)

We are now in the greatest global cultural crisis in human history.  It is imperative the whole human family mobilizes for a cultural and moral action that can help to alleviate and solve the crisis. This can be achieved by the creation and foundation of a powerful World Television by Satellite for Peace Culture. The SHALOM – SALAM WSPC. It should start functioning in three languages: English, Hebrew and Arabic, over Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and then over the whole Middle East, andit should be made available to the whole world.

 

In our past wars we forgot our common humanity and joined in efforts to kill our enemies.  Killing will not stop killing, and it may unfortunately lead to a nuclear war that would destroy humanity and bring a total nuclear winter to our planet.  To preempt and prevent this horrible tragedy, we must join in an all-out effort to eliminate the causes of war and terror.

 

All people, institutions and governments that receive this message are urged to quickly act to help create the WSPC: The World Satellite for a harmonious Peace Culture.The WSPC will function as “Preventive Medicine,” before another September 11, and anotherHizbollah war from Lebanon with the openly declared aim to destroy Israel.

 

Human jealousy, greed, injustice and folly have ruined many parts of our planet and have endangered the future of humanity.  The most powerful institutions - global corporations, mass media and rich governments - have usually put financial profit first.  They do not focus on peace education and culture for our children and their teachers, or preventing wars and terror and o­n what will do the most good, but o­n what will make the most money.  The resulting violence, terror, and environmental carnage have been disastrous. 

The human family has a long record of war and of using violence to try to settle differences.  Now new devilish nuclear weapons are becoming available worldwide and can be used by irresponsible governments led by jealousy, greed and folly. The best solution to prevent this is to eliminate the causes of violence and terror.  Killing will o­nly trigger more acts of violence and terror by those who hate democracy and are in great fear of it.

We must now all think and act as responsible caretakers and trustees of the culture of peace, of democracy, and of our planet – we should seek progress and fair benefits for all people.  The WSPC will function towards these goals, and will foster mutual understanding and eliminate the causes of violence, terror and war.  Every individual and institution should now think and act as a responsible and conscientious citizen.  It will function according to the highest professional and humane standards, and will take into consideration the various ethnic entities and appeal to every creed and culture.  It provides a way for us to tap the best in our thinking in our values and in our faiths.

Television, Press, Radio and Internet play a vital role.  Actions, good or bad, begin in the mind.  In addition to the foundation of the WSPC, those able to command media attention have a special obligation to speak out about the tragic cultural crisis and its solution as described by the IFLAC vision and platform.  (See:  www.iflac.com).

All world leaders and media should act now, urging that everyone oppose violence with nonviolence -- Martin Luther King's effective solution.  Leaders in other areas of public trust should do the same. 

 

 

Ada Aharoni's books are available online. Click to order. SOME BESTSELLER BOOKS (click the books to order): You and I Can Change the World: "These fine and moving poems shine with deep and challenging truths about life, relations between women and men, and above all, Ada Aharoni instills a vivid hope and vision of a Middle East and a world beyond war. Ada shrinks from no emotional, ethical or moral complexity. She is a marvellous poet!" (Prof. Fawzi Deif, Cairo University) Woman: Creating a World Beyond War: A powerful eye-opener as to women's power to abolish war and terror. At a time when the world is still caught up in the clutches of war, terror and violence, humankind should now "listen to women for a change." If the women of the world succeed to unite, they can powerfully throw the demonic belief that "wars and terror can solve conflicts," into the anachronistic dustbin of history where its belongs, and they will be able to gain their right to live and raise their children in peace in a world beyond war. Peace Flower: A story that will delight all, from the age of ten to a hundred and ten. It is an imaginative tale of fantastic adventures in space, to find the Peace Flower in the Future and bring it back to earth as it does not yet exist in our Present. Lee and Roni two brave children face the terrible nuclear giant Nuki, who tries to stop them from bringing peace to the earth. Through their courage and love for each other, they finally triumph. This original and hopeful book has been adopted by schools and colleges all over the world. English, Hebrew, and Arabic. Not in Vain: An Extraordinary Life: Relates the remarkable story of Sister Thea Wolf, a German Jewish Nurse who came to work in the Jewish hospital in Alexandria, Egypt before the outbreak of World War 2. This not only saved her life but also thrust her a leading role of helping Jewish refugees who came to or through Egypt in their attempt to escape the horrors of the Holocaust. Review From the Nile to the Jordan: A compelling and colorful historical novel, which captures in detail the spirit, excitement and intrigue of mid-20th century Egypt and Israel. At the core of this stormy saga is Inbar Etty, the beautiful and talented daughter of respected judge Mosseri, member of Cairo's Jewish community. When the storm of tragic events in the Middle East in 1948 threatens to destroy her future and that of her lover, the Holocaust survivor Raoul Lipsky, she sets out in a passionate quest for roots, love, fulfilment, creativity, and a new home.

 

 

POETRY

Poet Hero: Ada Aharoni Poet Ada Aharoni selected in the UNESCO Babele Poetica Contest 2003 The Pomegranate - available as e-book and paperback (click to order):

POETRY COLLECTIONS: I'm Not In Your War Anymore Love and Women Poems A Green Week: Poems and Songs (CD)   "A Green Week" (in Hebrew, incl. on the CD) (MP3 - 336 KB) Melody by Yigal Alfasi, sung by Anat Yagen. LIRIT: The Hebrew Writers Association in Israel Translated Hebrew Poems:    LIRIT No. 1    LIRIT No. 2    LIRIT No. 3    LIRIT - Hebrew edition

 

WOMEN

THE BRIDGE (LENA): Jewish & Arab Women For Peace In The Middle East 25 Years to the Bridge Letters to President Anwar Sadat and Kadreya The True Status of Women in Islamic Law - by Celine Leduc A portrait of Nonie Darwish - Arabs for Israel To Shirin Ebadi - Poem by Paulo Coelho to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi, read at the Nobel Peaze Prize Concert 2003

 

 

SELECTED ARTICLES

Education, the Arts and Telecommunications (Word format: 76 KB) The Necessity of a New Multicultural Peace Culture (Word format: 118 KB) Culture, Literature and Arts in the Service of Peace (Word format: 170 KB) Women in the Pursuit of Peace (Word format: 157 KB) Peace Culture, Literature And Media Required for Sustainable Global Development Possibilities of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Resolution - by Chaim Aharoni The Forced Migration of Jews from Arab Countries Seeking Arab-Israeli Reconciliation Through Culture The Cultural Heritage Of The Jews From Egypt The Jewish Themes in the Works of Nobel Prize: Saul Bellow Deniers of the Holocaust - Answer by Ada Aharoni to the deniers of the Holocaust

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IFLAC PROJECTS / PETITIONS

Petitions:  The International Ban-War Petition and Campaign  Turn Off Violence on TV Project  The Great Danger of the Glorification of Suicide Bombers  Compensation To the Jews From Arab Countries Will   Promote Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians   Other Projects: WSPN: The Women's Television Satellite For Peace Culture Network Peace Train (Word format) Bridges Through Literature (Jewish and Arab Writers' Conference, September 2004) The first IFLAC Peace Poetry Contest - find out more at: iflac.com