Celebrate

the Season

with the

Spirit of

Arab Heritage:

Top 10 Gift Ideas

From all of us in Arab America, we’re thrilled to bring you our handpicked gift guide: The Top Ten Perfect Arab-Inspired Finds for the Season of Giving! Whether it’s an elegant thobe, a bold Palestinian hoodie, or a beautifully crafted mate tea cup, this list spotlights amazing pro-Arab businesses with something special for everyone. This holiday season, celebrate your loved ones while supporting small businesses that make a difference. Explore the treasures below and give a gift that tells a story. 

Perseverance

and Prizes

In this poignant reflection, Arab America contributing writer, Barbara Nimri Aziz, urges us to balance celebration with the urgent need to support our communities and preserve our cultural heritage in the face of ongoing struggles. She highlights the achievements of Arab American writers, including the recent recognition of two Arab women at the 75th American National Book Awards, and explores the growing importance of children's literature by Arab authors. Aziz calls for continued action, storytelling, and unity in our fight for justice and representation.

Arab America

Announces

Spring 2025

Virtual Internship

Opportunities

Are you passionate about Arab heritage, culture, and media? Arab America, the leading provider of digital media on the Arab and Arab American identity, is offering virtual internship opportunities for Spring 2025.

This flexible four-month program begins in December/January and provides hands-on experience in writing, digital marketing, video production, event promotion, and more. Interns will gain valuable skills, connect with community leaders, and have their work published on Arab America’s platforms. 

This unpaid internship offers academic credit and is open to students and recent graduates. Positions are filled on a rolling basis, so apply now via our Google Forms questionnaire. Click here to read more.

POLL: Will a new Trump administration shift U.S. policy in favor of Palestine? Click to www.arabamerica.com and scroll down to the poll to answer your opinion.

In the New Syria, Why Do Kurds Matter?

In this insightful analysis, Arab America contributing writer Ghassan Rubeiz explores the evolving situation in Syria, where the first glimmers of hope emerge following the fall of the Assad regime. With a new transitional government in place, Syrians are celebrating newfound freedoms, yet questions surrounding governance, inclusion, and the Kurdish question loom large. Syria's path forward remains uncertain as the country faces geopolitical tensions and a delicate balancing act between regional powers, teetering between hope and fear.

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History of the Golan Heights

The Golan Heights, a small but strategically vital plateau in the Middle East, has been a flashpoint in the Arab-Israeli conflict for decades. Originally part of Syria, it was captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967 and has remained under illegal occupation since. While internationally recognized as Syrian territory, Israel's control of the Golan Heights has been bolstered by settlements and a controversial U.S. recognition in 2019. Arab America contributing writer, Mehdi El Merini, delves into the region's rich history, its significance in geopolitics, and the ongoing struggle over its future.

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Pathbreakers of Arab America—Ernest Hamwi

This is the sixty-seventh of Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, arts, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Arab America contributing writer, John Mason, highlights this week the Pathbreaker Ernest Hamwi who is a Syrian-born Arab-American businessman and entrepreneur. Born on November 18, 1883 in Damascus, Syria, some consider him the creator of the ice cream cone, which he purportedly conceived of while working as a concessionaire at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Much more information is available on the ice cream cone than on Ernest himself. Nevertheless, this is his brief but eventful story.

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The Power of Cookbooks: Breaking Stereotypes One Recipe at a Time

Do we need more Middle Eastern cookbooks? The answer is a resounding yes, as Salma Hage’s The Levantine Vegetarian and Leila Heller’s Persian Feasts show. These cookbooks go beyond recipes—they celebrate rich cultures, reclaim heritage, and challenge stereotypes. Arab America contributing writer, Khelil Bouarrouj, examines how these works use food to tell powerful stories, reshaping how the Middle East is seen.

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Beneath the Sands: The Vibrant Colors of Esna

For centuries, the Temple of Esna lay hidden beneath silt and sand, its grandeur buried and its secrets forgotten. Travelers passing through the Nile's banks could scarcely imagine the vibrant sanctuary that once stood there, alive with the prayers of ancient worshippers and adorned with dazzling colors. It wasn’t until modern restoration efforts unveiled its true splendor that the temple’s story came back to life. Let's dive deep into this journey of an ancient masterpiece reclaimed from the embrace of time, ready to share its wonders with the world with Arab America contributing writer Yara Marei. 

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The Library of Alexandria: A Beacon of Ancient Knowledge

The Library of Alexandria, one of the most renowned cultural institutions of the ancient world, represents humanity's quest for knowledge and enlightenment. Located in Alexandria, Egypt, the library flourished during the Hellenistic period, serving as a hub for scholars, philosophers, and scientists. Its eventual annihilation was a devastating blow to global intellectual legacy, cloaked in mystery and sorrow. Arab America contributing writer, Rania Basria, looks at the Library's origins, contributions, and eventual dissolution.

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Chickpea and Pomegranate Dip--Hummus wa Rummaan

The ancient Aleppo in Syria prides itself in having the best cuisine in the Arab East. It is rich and varied, and the city cooks have a history of being adventurous when combining ingredients. With the profusion of chickpeas and pomegranates near Aleppo in the 18th and 19th centuries, new culinary ideas came to the fore by combining, for example, the popular pulse chickpeas with the much-enjoyed pomegranate. It is a perfect dip to serve during the Christmas season as it adds a distinct flavor and a festive touch to the table. The detailed recipe is in the following article by Arab America contributing writer, Habeeb Salloum.

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Middle Eastern Holiday Baking--Barazek

Arab America contributing writer, Blanche Shaheen, takes us on a sweet journey through Middle Eastern bakeries, where delights like baklava, semolina shortbreads, and custard-filled filo pastries tantalize the senses. Among these treasures is barazek—a unique cookie that blends the rich elements of baklava, shortbread, and biscotti. In this article, Shaheen shares the secrets behind these irresistible cookies and a step-by-step guide to making them. Discover the magic of barazek and bring a taste of the Middle East to your kitchen.

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POLL: Will a new Trump administration shift U.S. policy in favor of Palestine? Click to www.arabamerica.com and scroll down to the poll to answer your opinion.