PUSH | Promoting Understanding of Shared Heritage
קידום הבנה תרבותית של המורשת המשותפת
تشجيع الفهم الثقافي للتراث المشترك
PUSH Project
פרויקט PUSH
פרויקט PUSH
פרויקט PUSH
פרויקט PUSH
פרויקט PUSH
פרויקט PUSH
פרויקט PUSH
The PUSH (Promoting dialouge and cultural Understanding of our Shared Heritage) project developed over many years of professional cooperation between faculty members and administrative representatives from Al Quds University and the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Strengthened by the addition of The Jordan Society for Sustainable Development (JSSD), the tri-lateral PUSH project aims to create a regional dialogue on issues of cultural and natural heritage, resulting in concrete benefits at the national and regional levels.
Utilizing the UNESCO recommendations for academic networking and dialogue to foster mutual respect for cultural and natural heritage, PUSH works to break down cultural prejudices by building greater understanding of the region's shared heritage as a means to respect and appreciate the region's diverse cultures and advance peace in the region. Furthermore, by identifying important sites of natural and cultural heritage, PUSH brings international attention to the rich heritage of the region in need of preservation. The PUSH project is not without obstacles. Developing mutual respect for the cultural heritage of the 'other' in the midst of conflict is not easy. There is an undeniable need for increased dialogue and tri-lateral coordination concerning the shared heritage of this important region.
The project is funded by the European Union's Partnership for Peace Programme and the Norwegian Foreign Ministry with additional support provided by the Beracha Foundation.
The contents of the PUSH project website are the sole responsibility of the PUSH project and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of its funders.
Project Manager: Prof. Yusuf Natsheh Tel: +972-50-5694321, Fax: +972-2-6289961
Expert Authors
Dr. Yusuf Natsheh is the Director of the Department of Islamic Archaeology at the al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem and lecturer at Al-Quds University.
Dr. Natsheh was recently nominated as the key Palestinian expert for the UNESCO mission to Jerusalem.
Dr. Marwan Fayaz Abu Khalef is a practicing archeologist specializing in Islamic Art. Currently, Dr. Khalef serves as the Director of the Institute of Art and Archeology and lectures at Al Quds University.
Architect Osama Hamdam is a practicing architect, specializing in the conservation and restoration of historical sites. He current serves as the Director of the Mosaic Center in Jericho and as a lecturer in the Department of Conservation and Restoration at Al Quds University.
Mr. Mohammad Jaradat is a practicing archaeologist, specializing in applying archaeological databases and geographic information systems to the field of antiquities.
* The best of life promises freedom, equality, justice, security, and well being. Yet these words are without meaning until people bring them into reality by integrating them into daily life. Al-Quds University contributes to this process by educating the whole person: socially, intellectually, and spiritually. We strive to give students the necessary tools to overcome overwhelming challenges and to shape a successful future. In a world where harsh realities deny our youth basic human rights and opportunities, what we give them in education and life skills will help to sustain them with foundations on which to build. Al-Quds University is "life itself" for more than 5000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from all over Palestine to study in Jerusalem. Though the different colleges were technically combined in 1984, the unification of bylaws and a single board of trustees did not happen until 1994. Since then, Al-Quds has been a dynamic catalyst for renewing the vitality of a people who want to leave behind the painful conditions of occupation and conflict. Its dedicated faculty and staff are committed to providing the kind of higher education that will empower individuals to assume meaningful control over their lives.
Project Manager: Prof. Michael Turner Tel:+972-2-2747948, Fax:+972-2-2745968
Expert Authors
Professor Michael Turner is a practicing architect, currently teaches in the Department of Architecture at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem holding the UNESCO Chair in Urban Design and Conservation Studies. He serves on many professional-academic bodies including being the incumbent chairman of the Israel World Heritage Committee.
Architect David Guggenheim is a practicing architect specializing in conservation and renewal projects. He is a senior lecturer, in the Department of Architecture at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem. He serves on many professional-academic bodies in Israel and abroad including the ICOMOS Scientific Committee on Vernacular Architecture.
Moshe Caine is a practicing photographer and multimedia producer specializing in digital imaging, virtual reality and interactive communications. He is a senior lecturer in the Department of Photography and Digital Imaging at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem and Head of the Department of Interactive Communications at the Hadassah College Jerusalem.
Dr. Doron Bar is a cultural-geographer, working of holy space and pilgrimage sites. He teaches at the Department of Theory and History at Bezalel, Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem and at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.
Assistant Students from the Department of Architecture
Josef Israelshvili, Anat Dror, Rena Wasser, Nora Akawi
Assistant Graduates from the Department of Photography & Digital Imaging
Melina Bromiguer, Tal Jabotinsky
Project Manager: Khaled Nassar Tel:+962-79-5120019, Fax:+962-6-5866604
Expert Authors
Mr. Khaled Nassar is the General Director of the Jordan Society for Sustainable Development and an ecologist and environmental management specialist. He served at the Royal Society for Conservation of Nature as the central ecologist for nature reserves in Jordan and is considered one of the key biodiversity and natural heritage consultants in Jordan.
Dr. Mohammed Waheeb holds a PhD in Archeology and Tourism and currently serves on the faculty of the Queen Rania Institute of Tourism and Heritage at the Hashemite University. Dr. Waheeb is considered one of the foremost experts on archeology and tourism in the region and has published numerous articles and books concerning Jordan's archeological and cultural heritage. Dr. Waheeb discovered and directed the excavation of the Bethany Beyond the River Baptism Site for six years. Dr. Waheeb is a board member for the Jordan Society for Sustainable Development.
Ms. Haifa Abdel-Haleem graduated from the Hashemite University with a M.A. in archeology, tourism and cultural resource management. Furthermore, Ms. Abdel-Haleem served as a Research Assistant to Archeologist Dr. Mohammed Waheeb for three years developing skills in GIS, graphic design and the auto-Cad systems prior to joining the PUSH team.
Ms. Rawan Haddad is responsible for the day-to-day administrative duties of the JSSD team. Ms. Haddad holds a diploma in Administration and has many years of experience with JSSD in a variety of fields including public.
The Jordan Society for Sustainable Development (JSSD) is an environmental non-governmental organization established in Amman, Jordan, in 1997. Under the guidance of HRH Prince Firas ben Raad, founder and president of JSSD, the organization is dedicated to promoting the principles and policies of sustainable development in Jordan. JSSD has adopted the U.N. definition of sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Through ongoing research, public awareness campaigns, international, and public policy recommendations, JSSD hopes to foster a thoughtful approach to ensuring Jordan’s socioeconomic development within a framework of protecting its rich natural, cultural, and economic resources for future generations.
Objectives
1) Conduct research to further refine the principles of sustainable development and their specific application to Jordan and the surrounding region
2) Establish and maintain a database to assist local efforts for sustainable development
3) Coordinate with international organizations to keep informed about developing sustainability techniques, increase the visibility of the challenges Jordan faces and ensure comprehensive solutions, and participate within the global community to share information, resources, and benefits
4) Conduct awareness campaigns to educate the public schools, communities, businesses regarding the principles and benefits of sustainable development 5) Establish a dialog with local governments to elicit their participation, support and implementation of policies that respect both the need for socioeconomic growth and the principles of sustainable development.
Link to Web Site
Dr. Marwan Fayaz Abu Khalef is a practicing archeologist specializing in Islamic Art. Currently, Dr. Khalef serves as the Director of the Institute of Art and Archeology and lectures at Al Quds University.
Dr. Doron Bar is a cultural-geographer, working of holy space and pilgrimage sites. He teaches at the Department of Theory and History in Bezalel and at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.
Moshe Caine is a practicing photographer and multimedia producer specializing in digital imaging, virtual reality and interactive communications. He is a senior lecturer in the Department of Photography and Digital Imaging at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem and Head of the Department of Interactive Communications at the Hadassah College Jerusalem.
Architect David Guggenheim is a practicing architect specializing in conservation and renewal projects. He is a senior lecturer, in the Department of Architecture at Bezalel, Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem. He serves on many professional-academic bodies in Israel and abroad including the ICOMOS Scientific Committee on Vernacular.
Ms. Rawan Haddad is responsible for the day-to-day administrative duties of the JSSD team. Ms. Haddad holds a diploma in Administration and has many years of experience with JSSD in a variety of fields including public relations and project coordinator.
Architect Osama Hamdam is a practicing architect, specializing in the conservation and restoration of historical sites. He current serves as the Director of the Mosaic Center in Jericho and as a lecturer in the Department of Conservation and Restoration at Al Quds University.
Yehudah Hofshi is a graphic designer in the Visual Communications Department at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem.
Mr. Mohammad Jaradat is a practicing archaeologist, specializing in applying archaeological databases and geographic information systems to the field of antiquities.
Ms. Elizabeth Koch serves as Project Coordinator for the PUSH project.
Mr. Khaled Nassar is the General Director of the Jordan Society for Sustainable Development and an ecologist and environmental management specialist. He served at the Royal Society for Conservation of Nature as the central ecologist for nature reserves in Jordan and is considered one of the key biodiversity and natural heritage consultants in Jordan.
Dr. Yusuf Natsheh is a specialist in Islamic Architecture and the architectural heritage of Jerusalem's Old City. Dr. Natsheh is a lecturer at Al Quds University.
Professor Michael Turner is a practicing architect, currently teaches in the Department of Architecture at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem holding the UNESCO Chair in Urban Design and Conservation Studies. He serves on many professional-academic bodies including being the incumbent chairman of the Israel World Heritage Committee.
Dr. Mohammed Waheeb holds a PhD in Archeology and Tourism and currently serves on the faculty of the Queen Rania Institute of Tourism and Heritage at the Hashemite University. Dr. Waheeb is considered one of the foremost experts on archeology and tourism in the region and has published numerous articles and books concerning Jordan's archeological and cultural heritage. Dr. Waheeb discovered and directed the excavation of the Bethany Beyond the River Baptism Site for six years. Dr. Waheeb is a board member for the Jordan Society for Sustainable Development.
Professor Abdel Aziz M. Abdel Aziz, Al-Albeit University
Mr. Adnan Budieri, Environmental Consultant
Professor Henry Cleere, Former World Heritage Coordinator, ICOMOS
Professor Simon Goldhill, King's College, University of Cambridge
Dr. Nazmi al-Jubeh, Director Riwaq Center
Professor Ora Limor, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Open University
Dr. Claudia Liuzza, Ename Center
Professor Daniele Pini, University of Ferrara
Neil Asher Silberman, Chair of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Interpretation
Dr. Saleh Lamei, Director of the Centre for Conservation and Preservation of Islamic Architectural Heritage Cairo
Dr. Muna Hendieh, Department of Environmental Science, Jordan University of Science & Technology
