UPDATES as of 09/17/24:

Infinite Gratitude to all your unwavering support ~ Jalal is now back Home in Jerusalem with his beloved family <3
"Unite for Palestine" was a Blast! We sold 92 tickets on Humanitix + ~50 tickets at the door (total revenue of $2932.50) !!! The performance line up was so beautiful and potent ... all the vendors were so sweet and kind ... Brother Waheed blessed us with Moroccan food from www.Kouskous.com which was so delicious ... Cacao & Elixir medicine by brother Pato from www.Yamcacao.org was so hearty and medicinal <3
Some Videos of the performance shall soon be uploaded online and will be linked here <3
Thank you to all the organizers that made this wonderful event possible ... especially my Crew: Bella, Madhura, Jenny, Ayah, Selena, & Sabrina
Now we are planning next year's tour ... we will send an email newsletter stay tuned <3 Thank you so so so so so much <3 <3 <3

UPDATES as of 09/8/24:

Jalal is now back in Boston after visiting his family in Chicago where he had a wonderful much needed family time.
Final stages of preparation are in progress for the Boston event "Unite! For Palestine," which is happening on September 14th at the First Congregational Church of Cambridge
Jalal is super grateful for the way people have shown up in solidarity to assist him on this well-needed journey of recovery and recalibration (especially Emerson & Suffolk College SJP organizers) ... Needless to mention all the new amazing connections he's made on this journey so far... <3 <3 <3

UPDATES as of 09/2/24:

With the relentless support of our awesome valley community, we were able to have a wonderful evening that is so rich and potent on the full spectrum of human experience, and we raised a total revenue of $1265.00 !!! - Watch livestream recording of Embracing Palestine here: https://youtube.com/live/mzfDT1wDyDA?feature=share
Jalal is currently visiting family around Chicago
Organizing is in progress for the Boston event "Unite! For Palestine," which is happening on September 14th at the First Congregational Church of Cambridge
Jalal is very very very grateful for all the support and solidarity... he has been visiting friends and attending his favorite festivals, where he sat in ceremony, danced a lot, and recharged through old and new connections </3 <3 </3

UPDATES as of 08/15/24:

Jalal has finally made it to the US at the end of June - he's been in Western Mass and around - it's been great being back ... Huge Thanks to all who supported this well-needed journey
The road trip plans have shifted - Jalal chose to lay low in the valley amongst old friends & lovers ... basking in the summer sun and exotic forests... while attending weekly community events <3
We are now organizing fundraising events where Jalal can have the space to perform and tell his story
Upcoming Events:

The Hidden Temple in Florence, MA @ 6PM on Aug. 25th

Boston Area late August - Early Sept. (still planning)

New York City - Early Sept. (still planning)

Jalal is very glad to see all his old friends and enjoy the mountains and the summer in the Valley ~ so much love and gratitude <3

Summary

~ Salam ~

~ Namaste ~

Greetings ! :)

My name is Jalal Akel Jr.. I was born and raised in Jerusalem in 1996. I spent my childhood between Jerusalem and the West Bank as an Arab Palestinian until I left to attend college in the US in 2014. I achieved an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Cape Cod Community College in 2018. In 2021, I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Environmental Engineering and Permaculture Design. I consider myself a creative individual with many passions such as music, art, dance, and painting. I am also a yoga instructor, and a simple human who enjoys life and freedom. I had countless life changing experiences in Turtle Island, and I proudly consider the Pioneer Valley (Western Mass) my second home.

I was enjoying life peacefully in my abode in Bethlehem, West Bank when everything changed on October 7th, 2023. All the entry points and military crossings between Bethlehem and Jerusalem shut down, so I had to quickly move out of my place and move back to my family’s house in Jerusalem. That shocking experience struck deep. It felt familiar in my body somehow; I realized later on that it was very similar to my grandfather’s experience at the age of 11, who was forcibly kicked out of his home village Lifta in 1948 during the Nakba.

Since then I’ve been feeling suffocated, fearful, and frozen; not really able to have the space to do what I love freely. Moving back to my family's home at the age of 28 has been quite challenging especially with such a unique lifestyle.

Realizing that I've literally been in survival mode (thankful to be well and sane after surviving one of the toughest winters yet), I knew that I need to start recovering so I can take care of myself and serve my community properly. I began seeking space to breathe despite all this turmoil. In mid April 2024, I was catching up with my brother Andrew on the phone, whence I realized it would be a great idea to visit the US for a summer reset. Thus, this campaign is to raise funds to support my 2 month trip to my second home.

During my trip I intend to source a vehicle in which I can travel across the country. That way I can visit my father and aunt in Chicago, take a break, see my friends in several states, fetch the rest of my belongings (music instruments etc.), and earn some money along the way.

Details

Trip goals:

Visit family, friends, and loved ones
Have a refreshing break where I can settle my nervous system, return to myself, and renew my perspective
Earn some money
Fetch my items
Have some time and space to work on independent creative and business projects

Costs:

Flight ticket: $1000-$1500
Groceries, gas, and travel expenses: ~$1000
Miscellaneous and unexpected costs: $500 - $1000

P.S.: Also seeking a decent vehicle or preferably a mini-van for traveling (if you know anything around inbox me <3)

Ambitions and desires:

As an individual, my mental and emotional wellbeing are a priority. I love traveling and having the space I need to freely create, flow, and be in my bliss. I miss my beautiful community in Turtle Island. I miss the forests and mountains and animals. I miss my father and extended family living there.

During my journey, I intend to continue working on some projects I’ve been struggling to work on here due to the lack of space, such as:

Starting a podcast
A workshop series (in the West Bank) aiming to hold safe spaces for healing and recovery (integrating yoga, movement, meditation, emotional liberation and processing)
My second upcoming music album.

Nevertheless, I plan to market and sell vintage authentic Palestinian jewelry from Jerusalem while attending festivals and events across the country.

Quite honestly I feel the need to zoom out, and find some space away from this tense environment. So many insane events have happened consecutively and it's exhausting to be in the midst of it all. I need to clear my mind, reflect, and process my emotions so I can work on my projects and continue my life.

Long version of story

After my return home from the US in April 2023, I moved to Bethlehem, West Bank. I was living a beautiful and peaceful life. I had come back from participating in the first ever Palestinian obstacle course race in Kufr Ni'mah near Ramallah, West Bank on October 6th, feeling physically tired and yet feeling nourished from the amazing vibes and wonderful people there. I had an early dinner and slept very deeply that night. Behind my place there was construction happening for a new building, and so at 7 AM on October 7th, I heard some thuds and crashes, and I assumed it was the construction activities, so I went back to sleep. At 8:30 AM, after the phone rang a few times, I picked up my sister’s call, only to learn that a war had begun and there were rockets falling nearby. It took me a few minutes to wake up from my deep sleep and realize that the thuds I had thought were construction noise, were actually rockets falling nearby Bethlehem.

Between phone calls with friends and family, following the news, and hearing the constant thuds and slams of rockets all around me, I found myself in a fearful state of numbness. I could not really do anything. It was terrifying. I started having visions of armed Zionist settlers invading my home. This feeling lasted for a few days. All the checkpoints around me were getting closed, blocks of cement were put to block entry points to Bethlehem, and I was afraid of being stuck in the West Bank away from my family in Jerusalem. In addition, everything was closed. People were locked in their homes, nobody was able to go to work due to the curfews everywhere. It felt very apocalyptic, and fear was very dominant.

On October 11th, I had decided to move back to my mother’s place. I could not take all my things. I was in a rush, and my friend and I barely managed to escape the apartheid barriers through Mazmooria checkpoint (Eastern Bethlehem). I was very thankful to have passed, excited to see my family, and to finally be home.

However, the feelings of being in danger and fear did not stop. Even when I got to my mother’s place, I still did not feel safe. I had heard that the Israeli government was providing lots of firearms to their citizens. I started imagining our neighborhood being attacked by armed settlers any moment. I became very anxious. I could not sleep nor eat properly.

After two weeks I went back to my place to retrieve the rest of my belongings. I barely made it in and out. I was in fear the whole time. I went back to my mother’s place for 2 more weeks, then decided to leave my place in Bethlehem. I left my flat and went home to stay with my mother and siblings.

Since then, I have spent my time feeling lost, and unable to navigate these circumstances. I realized I had been living in survival mode (still am), and I am simply doing the most I can to maintain my sanity. So I spend most of my time traveling between Ramallah and Bethlehem, seeking safe spaces such as my friends’ places in the mountains, where I can feel safe and free to create and be myself.

Now Spring has bloomed and it’s time to move. Time for a recharge. A refresh. Visiting my second home is a great idea. The only obstacle I've had is the traveling expenses.

I am sincerely grateful and I deeply thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story and supporting my cause. I can’t wait to see all of you lovely people <3

Peace, Love, and Liberty ! <3 =)

Support a Palestinian Artist Visit Family in the US

Help a brother take a summer break away from war and visit family & loved ones