Dear Safranim, Please find information below on a new exhibit at NYPL that includes some Jewish content, and please feel free to share/forward this announcement. Thanks! Niyū Yūrk: Middle Eastern and North African Lives in the City to Open at the New York Public Library
*Yemeni bodegas, Arab nightclubs, Egyptian electronic music. *Niyū Yūrk* examines the impact of immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa on New York and American culture. * August 19, 2025—Opening October 4, *Niyū Yūrk* <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://nypl.org/niyuyurk__;!!KGKeukY!3HK1TgIWq65N1hPc2kXt6yxDAMbcQvQoQ07QfHq5v0Tfw00WFFwNM2xLwGTb1qrX89ZEAE9Xo0J8beLUU1-ONnZbcg$ > will explore the often overlooked history of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) immigration to New York City, from the first waves in the late 19th century through to present day. The exhibition examines how New York City has shaped MENA communities as well as their enduring contributions to the city’s cultural landscape, from Yemeni bodegas in Brooklyn to Arab nightclubs along Eighth Avenue. Through a rich array of materials—including Arab American newspapers, rare books, photographs, digitized music recordings, and film clips—*Niyū Yūrk *showcases MENA voices, stories, and creative legacies. The exhibit also reflects on The New York Public Library’s evolving role in documenting this community that, until recently, wasn’t accounted for in the national census. “This exhibition is a wonderful chance to celebrate the vibrant contributions of Middle Eastern and North African communities that have long shaped New York City,” said Hiba Abid, Curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. “As the first exhibition ever dedicated to our Middle Eastern collections, I’m especially honored to share these unique stories through the rich resources of The New York Public Library.” The four-part exhibition begins with an examination of early immigration of MENA communities to New York City, the challenges they faced, and how they came to influence the city. The impact of MENA communities on New York City can first be felt in the 1880s with Little Syria in the Lower West Side where Middle Eastern immigrants opened restaurants, grocery stores, published newspapers in their native languages, and produced music records. Highlights from these first two sections include: - A rare first-person account from 1895 detailing the immigration experience titled “A Stranger in the West.” Authored by Mīkhāʼīl As‘ad Rustum al-Shuwayrī, who is believed to be the first Arab poet to immigrate to the United States, the book contains detailed descriptions of New York City landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and reflections on the contrasts between American and Arab customs. - *Ellis Island Portraits* by Augustus F. Sherman, chief clerk at Ellis Island, and photojournalist Lewis Hines are among the earliest visual documentation of MENA immigrants in New York City. - America’s first English-Arabic dictionary, which was published in 1896 by Abraham Joseph Arbeely who also founded America’s first Arabic-language newspaper *Kawkab Amrika *(Star of America). The copy on display was inscribed to Andrew Carnegie. - Born in 1883, female journalist ‘Afīfa Karam’s bold work addressing women’s rights established her as one of the most progressive voices of her era, and underscores the crucial role women had in shaping the Arabic literary landscape. - Early Arabic and Armenian music recorded in New York City, including the poignant *Yandım Tokat, Yandım *(I Burned, Tokat, I Burned), performed by Turkish Armenian Mary Vartanian in the cabarets and clubs of 8th Avenue during the 1940s, an expression of painful yearning for the Turkish city of Tokat. The final two parts of the exhibition elevate the voices of artists and writers from MENA communities grappling with New York and American culture, as well as pioneering intellectuals who created boundary-pushing work. Highlights from these sections include: - The first Arab-American novel ever published, *The Book of Khalid* by Ameen Rihani, a native of Lebanon and early member of The Pen League who introduced free verse into Arabic poetry. - An interview with Edward Said, an influential Palestinian-American intellectual best known for his seminal work *Orientalism, *which helped lay the foundations for postcolonial studies. - Ephemera and photographs of Ibrahim Farrah, a performer and scholar of Middle Eastern dance who helped popularize cabaret belly dancing in America. - Work by Halim el-Dabh, an Egyptian-born avant-garde musician widely regarded as an early pioneer of electronic music. Immigrating to New York in the 1950s, El-Dabh wrote the score for legendary choreographer Martha Graham’s 1958 ballet *Clytemnestra*, which was staged by Isamu Noguchi. - Clips from *In My Own Skin, *which documents the aftermath of 9/11 as experienced by five young Arab women living in New York. - “Bodega Boys,” a photo series by Iranian artist Mahka Eslami. *Niyū Yūrk *will be on display in the Ispahani-Bartos Gallery at The New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building from October 4, 2025 to March 8, 2026. Support for The New York Public Library’s Exhibitions Program has been provided by Celeste Bartos, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos Exhibitions Fund, and Jonathan Altman. About The New York Public Library For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.nypl.org__;!!KGKeukY!3HK1TgIWq65N1hPc2kXt6yxDAMbcQvQoQ07QfHq5v0Tfw00WFFwNM2xLwGTb1qrX89ZEAE9Xo0J8beLUU194KHqYoQ$ . To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support. Media Contacts Connor Goodwin, [email protected] Sincerely, -- *Amanda (Miryem-Khaye) Seigel* Librarian III - Instruction and Outreach Dorot Jewish Division, Room 111 Pronouns: she / her / hers The New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building 476 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 212.930.0601 | x20601 nypl.org https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.nypl.org/locations/divisions/jewish-division__;!!KGKeukY!3HK1TgIWq65N1hPc2kXt6yxDAMbcQvQoQ07QfHq5v0Tfw00WFFwNM2xLwGTb1qrX89ZEAE9Xo0J8beLUU1_yUD4stA$
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