A Study Day on Najib Mahfouz 

On Thursday, October 23, Bethlehem University held a Study Day in tribute to the late Nobel Prize winner Najib Mahfouz, distinguished author and Novelist. The event was organized by the Faculty of Arts and the Arabic Department, and it was attended by intellectual leaders of the community, academicians and students from the University.

After an opening note by Dr. Moen Halloun, chairperson of the Arabic Department, Brother Daniel Casey, Vice Chancellor, welcomed the audience and expressed his happiness for holding this study day  at Bethlehem University. The ceremony started with a moving and powerful multimedia presentation on the life and work of Najib Mahfouz prepared by Prof. Qustandi Shomali.

Six faculty members from Bethlehem University spoke of the different aspects of the work of Najib Mahfouz. Dr. Waleed Mustafa spoke of Najib Mahfouz the politician. Novelist Jamal Bannoura and Dr. Zien Awawdah spoke of Najib Mahfouz the novelist, Dr. Saleem Zoughbi addressed the history of the Nobel Prize, Dr. Hanna Musleh dealt with the role of Najib Mahfouz in the cinema and Dr. Qustandi Shomali presented a comparative study of the Trialogy of Najib Mahfouz and The Buddenbrooks of Thomas Mann.

Moderator of the ceremony, Dr. Moen Halloun, invited the audience to coffee in memory of Najib Mahfouz.