In her study, Mermelstein tracks down 34 of the thousands of Palestinian books collected in 1948 by the Israeli national library in Jerusalem. The study places the story in the larger context of colonization in Palestine, and discusses recent efforts to shed light on this case. It explores examples of Nazi looting of Jewish cultural property and ongoing efforts to return this property, in order to suggest ways in which the case of the “Abandoned Property” books in Jerusalem may be returned to their Palestinian owners.


Hannah Mermelstein is a Palestine solidarity activist and radical librarian based in Brooklyn, NY.  She is co-creator of Birthright Unplugged, and has led more than 25 delegations in Palestine through a variety of organizations.

Mermelstein will present the results of the study, as a basis for thinking of ways to promote the return of the books to their original owners.



The evening will be held in English, with volunteer-translation if needed.

Free entrance. Recommended contribution: 20 nis.