Jewish Voices: Disrupting the White Colonizer Narrative & Reclaiming the Mizrahi Experience in the Fight Against Antisemitism
Join us as we welcome 4 internationally-renowned Jewish activists of Syrian, Iraqi and Persian descent. We are thrilled to be hosting Matthew Nouriel, Tal Oran, Celine Rouben, and Abraham Hamra for their very first exclusive panel collaboration!
Our expert panelists will be sharing actionable ways to apply lessons learned from antisemitic persecution in islamic countries to what is happening in the USA today, explore the dialogue tactics they are using online to gain more allies, discuss their respective Syrian, Iraqi and Persian Diasporic experiences, and confront the tokenization and erasure of Mizrahi advocates in the Jewish activism space.
About our speakers:
Matthew Nouriel: Digital producer and advocate who creates content that reflects their unique intersectional identity as an Iranian, Jewish, and queer individual, Matthew highlights the inequities in Iran under the Islamic Republic regime, dispels propaganda surrounding Israel and Jews, and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. Matthew’s work breaks down myths propagated by anti-Zionists and antisemites, providing a nuanced and informed perspective on these important topics. In recent years, Matthew has been using his voice to passionately advocate and fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality within the Iranian and Jewish communities, as well as combating antisemitism everywhere. Matthew has taken on leadership roles with both queer and non queer organizations such as JDC Entwine, JQ International, Tel Aviv Institute, and works as the Community Engagement Director at JIMENA – Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. In 2021 they were the recipient of the TrailBlazer Award at the JQ International annual Impact Awards.
Tal Oran (@thetravelingclatt): Tal Oran, a Mizrahi Jew and advocate for Israel and global Jewry, once a globally renowned travel vlogger Tal has shifted his focus to advocating for Israel through powerful storytelling. With nearly 30 million YouTube views, nearly 300,000 subscribers, and recognition as a top content creator by Google and Youtube, Tal has captivated audiences worldwide. halted his decade long adventures around the world after thebreakout of the Oct 7 war.He’s returned to Israel to tell the story and truths about his people the world doesn’t yet know. With a big focus on Mizrahi and Brown/Black Jews Tal wants to inspire people to break away from the white colonist lies about his country and help them find the truth on what Israel really is.
Celine Rouben: Attorney and Jewish-Persian activist dedicated to advocating for Israel and Jewish rights through both an international legal framework and a human rights perspective. Passionate about education and advocacy, Celine uses her social media platforms to amplify the Jewish narrative, history, and indigeneity, ensuring that Jewish voices are heard and represented. She also incorporates Jewish traditions into her work, emphasizing their role in strengthening identity and resilience. In addition to her digital activism, she delivers powerful lectures on fortifying Jewish identity as a means to combat antisemitism and foster deeper connections within the Jewish community. Through law, education, and activism, Celine remains steadfast in her mission to protect Jewish rights and heritage on a global scale.
Abraham Hamra: Damascus-born Abraham Hamra is an attorney and widely known influencer, advocating for Jews in the face of growing antisemitism, misinformation about Israel and the Palestinian cause. His videos on the subject have gone viral as he argues in both Arabic and English, attracting a wide audience and millions of views. He posts in both English and Arabic, but it is his Arabic posts that get the most attention. With millions of views, he has become an a key influencer and activist for Israel in ways we cannot imagine. Using the logic of an attorney, his arguments bring the Israel Palestinian issue to the fore, creating a dynamic argument. Since October 7th, Abraham has taken an active role in combating the type of antisemitism we have seen take the United States by storm. When I say Abraham takes an “active” role, I mean in your face, going toe to toe with anti-Israel protesters and the haters. He also supports victims of antisemitism and makes videos fighting misinformation about Israel and Jews. You will find him fighting back against Jew haters on social media. Abraham has organized rallies and protests and regularly gives speeches sharing his experience as a Syrian refugee. Brash, unapologetic, in your face, Abraham challenges the liberal notion that all Jews are white and he celebrates the true diversity of the Jewish People just by speaking up.