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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Thursday, February 13, 2003</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">CONTACT:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>413-549-1710</P>
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<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><STRONG><I>"Love is Stronger Than Hate"</I><BR>MALAKA BUBLIL, a
Libyan Jewish Woman, </STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><STRONG>Speaks About Growing Up in the Arab World</STRONG></P>
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<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Malaka Bublil, co-founder of JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to
the Middle East<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and North Africa),
will speak on <I>"Love is Stronger than Hate"</I> at the University of
Massachusetts/ Amherst campus on Thursday, February 27, at 7pm in the Campus
Center room 163c. She presents the rarely heard perspective of Mizrachi Jews who
grew up in Arab countries.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Ms. Bublil was born in Libya in 1948. When the Six Day
War broke out between Israel and its Arab neighbors in 1967, she survived
anti-Jewish riots thanks to the courage of her Muslim landlord who sheltered her
in a situation reminiscent of Ann Frank. Later her Christian employer helped her
safely escape the country. Like other Libyan Jews who managed to flee with
little more than their lives, she became a refugee. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Eventually settling in California, Ms. Bublil has
devoted her life to seeking awareness, healing, and understanding. She was
awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award for her human rights
advocacy. For the last six years, she been working with Muslim refugees
from Bosnia.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Having been seared by acts of hatred and saved by acts
of love and courage, Ms. Bublil's life serves as an inspiration. As she lectures
widely at campuses across the country, students have responded that her story is
particularly interesting because of<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>“how she has been able to incorporate her individual healing and
reconciliation with helping others.” One student expressed it this way: “I was
enlightened and educated about a situation I knew nothing about, and by her
example I am inspired to reach for higher goals in my own life despite calamity
or hardships.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">This event is presented
by the Student Alliance for Israel and the David Project, and co-sponsored by
the UMass Judaic<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and Near Eastern
Studies Department, and Sephardim (Sephardic Students<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Association).</P>
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