Arab Community Events in New York, NY

In Arabic, Ziyara (زيارة) means visit to the saints. Celebrated filmmaker Simone Bitton embarks on a personal road trip across Morocco, tracing the remnants of the country’s once-thriving Jewish community. In the 1950s, Morocco was home to 300,000 Jews; today, only a small fraction remain, yet their saints’ tombs endure—cared for by Muslim guardians who preserve their memory. Through close examination of synagogues, shrines, and village records, Bitton uncovers stories of coexistence, loss, and endurance. Ziyara is both a meditation on migration and a hopeful reflection on shared heritage, revealing a delicate thread between past and present, tradition and modernity. As the camera gathers stories, smiles, and blessings, it patiently repairs connections long thought severed.

At the City University of New York School of Law in Long Island City, NY, the Middle Eastern and North African Law Society represents a vital community within the law school dedicated to centering the experiences and legal needs of Middle Eastern and North African populations. This student organization reflects CUNY Law's foundational commitment to diversity, equity, and using legal education as a tool for addressing systemic injustice. CUNY Law's mission—to graduate outstanding public interest attorneys while enhancing the diversity of the legal profession—directly informs the work of this student organization. The school, founded in 1983, has consistently been recognized among the top law schools for diversity across both its student body and faculty. The Middle Eastern and North African Law Society continues this legacy by creating inclusive spaces where students can explore how law intersects with their own communities' experiences and concerns. The organization operates within a community that values equity, inclusivity, and the sustained pursuit of justice. Members are drawn together by a shared understanding that legal education must address overlapping and intersecting injustices, including those affecting Middle Eastern and North African communities. By bringing together law students passionate about these issues, the organization builds solidarity, shares knowledge, and develops the next generation of advocates committed to transforming what justice looks like. Located in Long Island City's vibrant and diverse Queens community, the Middle Eastern and North African Law Society benefits from CUNY Law's position within one of the world's most culturally rich boroughs. The organization serves as both a support network for students and a platform for advancing legal understanding and advocacy that centers community voices and experiences.

The Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations embodies Kuwait's commitment to peaceful diplomacy and international cooperation since joining the global organization in 1963. Based in New York, NY, the mission represents the values and interests of the Kuwaiti government while actively contributing to the United Nations' noble principles and purposes. Since its establishment, the State of Kuwait has pursued a balanced foreign policy grounded in dialogue, mutual respect, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. The mission in New York, NY serves as the embodiment of this commitment, fostering relationships with countries and peoples worldwide based on principles of sovereignty, common interests, and shared cultural understanding. Kuwait's approach emphasizes dialogue over force, promoting tolerance and coexistence among different civilizations, cultures, and religions through its UN representation. Kuwait's humanitarian legacy distinguishes its role in the international community. The nation made history in 1961 by establishing the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, becoming the first developing country to create such an institution. This pioneering spirit continues through the mission's work in New York, NY, where Kuwait actively participates in sustainable development initiatives and supports international mechanisms for economic, social, cultural, and intellectual cooperation. The mission demonstrates Kuwait's multilateral depth through memberships in regional and international organizations including the Gulf Cooperation Council, League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Non-Aligned Movement. Through its presence in New York, NY, the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations continues advancing the nation's vision of international partnership, peaceful conflict resolution, and shared prosperity among nations and peoples.

Representing the State of Kuwait in New York, NY and throughout the northeastern United States, the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait serves as a vital bridge between two nations. This governmental institution extends its reach across Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, demonstrating Kuwait's commitment to maintaining a strong diplomatic presence throughout the region. The consulate embodies the values of international cooperation and mutual respect that define relations between Kuwait and the United States. The Consulate General works to foster understanding and strengthen connections between the Kuwaiti government and the communities it serves across the northeastern United States. Based in New York, NY, the institution plays an important role in addressing the needs of Kuwaiti citizens and interests within its jurisdiction while promoting positive relations at the governmental level. The consulate's expansive territorial responsibility reflects the strategic importance of the northeastern states to Kuwait's diplomatic agenda. Serving as an official governmental presence, the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in New York, NY is dedicated to upholding diplomatic traditions and advancing mutual interests between the two nations. The institution's commitment extends across the entire ten-state region, ensuring consistent representation and support for governmental matters. Through its work, the consulate contributes to the broader framework of international relations that connects Kuwait with communities and government officials throughout the northeastern United States.