The Museum of the Palestinian People’s new travelling exhibition, Bethlehem Beyond the Wall, offers visitors a rare glimpse of Bethlehem from the perspective of the city’s residents, produced by guest curators Mary Panzer, Ph.D. and Bshara Nassar. In February, it comes to Manhattan College.

Bethlehem Beyond the Wall will be on view in room 5A of the Raymond W. Kelly '63 Student Commons from Monday, Feb. 19 to Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Everyone recognizes Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus; few know that the city has a rich modern culture. Throughout history, Bethlehem has been a site of tragedy, struggle and survival. Today, the area including Bethlehem and its surrounding villages is home to 100,000 people, the site of three refugee camps, and four generations of refugees. Bethlehem Beyond the Wall seeks to show the city through the eyes of people who have lived there for centuries.

The exhibition includes roughly 100 photographs organized into discrete sections, seven paintings, four video interviews, and a series of maps to help viewers locate Bethlehem inside shifting political boundaries.

Related events and programs:

Monday, Feb. 19: Opening reception, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Kelly Commons 5A

Tuesday, Feb. 20: Bethlehem and the Bronx: Manhattan College faculty share hopes and experiences about the College's relationship with Bethlehem University , 5:30 p.m., Kelly Commons 5B

Monday, Feb. 26: Discussion with artist Elias Habibi, 5:30 p.m., Kelly Commons 4A

Tuesday, Feb. 27: Across the Divide film screening, 5 p.m., Kelly Commons 5B

The Museum of the Palestinian People is the first museum in the United States to celebrate the culture and people of Palestine. Its vision is to create a permanent place in Washington D.C. where diverse American audiences experience the Palestinian people’s history, culture and spirit.

Bethlehem Beyond the Wall was first made possible by generous support from The Josephine and Paul Wenger Fund for Peace Through International Understanding of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, N.Y., and Rochester Jewish Voice for Peace.

Generous support for the exhibition was also provided by the Manhattan College community including: Accounting, CIS and Law; Campus Ministry and Social Action; Events Management; Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center; International Studies; Manhattan College Archives; Marketing and Communication; Modern Languages and Literature; the Multicultural Center; Muslim Student Association; L.O.V.E. Palestine; Office of Mission; O’Malley Library; Peace Studies; Physical Plant; Psychology; Sanctus Artem; School of Business; School of Education and Health; Sociology; Urban Studies; and Visual and Performing Arts.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, email info@mpp-dc.org or call 202-499-8959.