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Memorial service

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February 24, 2005


With the Copley Formal Lounge filled almost to capacity, the Georgetown community gathered Wednesday to mourn the passing of Professor Hisham Sharabi. Sharabi, who died on Jan. 13 in Beirut, was lauded for his many accomplishments.

Professor Sharabi, a veteran of the Georgetown History Department and a co-founder of the University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, published more than 20 books during his prolific career, both in Arabic and English. A Palestinian by birth who spent his childhood in Acre and Jaffa, Sharabi became noted as a spokesperson for the Palestinian cause in the years following the 1948 creation of the state of Israel.

“Hisham’s pen was directed toward the liberation, physical and spiritual, of his people, and his writing enobled them and gave them hope,” School of Foreign Service Dean Emeritus Peter Krogh said.

The service was attended by Sharabi’s daughter Leyla and, a host of present and former Georgetown faculty members, all of whom counted themselves personal friends of the late professor. The Syrian ambassador to the United States delivererd a homily.

The speakers at the service praised Sharabi repeatedly for what they characterized as an unflagging commitment to honesty in the face of the complexities of the Middle East.

“In our own current climate of debate, the lesson we can draw from Hisham is his willingness to tell the truth with words,” Professor of History James Collins said.


Voice Staff
The staff of The Georgetown Voice.


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