Rabbi Nitzan Bergman and Rawan Osman
Tragic Awakening: Film and Forum
Summary
Please note this special event will be an extended session.
A screening and discussion of the recent documentary Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred (2024), which looks deeply into the roots of antisemitism in light of the explosion in Jew-hatred since Oct 7th. The post-screening forum features Rawan Osman, the Syrian-Lebanese star of the film who grew up hating Israel and all Jews and became an activist advocating peace with Israel, and Rabbi Nitzan Bergman, director of Aseret Global, the international division of Aseret, presenters of the film.
Rabbi Nitzan Bergman
Rabbi Nitzan Bergman is a master educator and the Director of Aseret Global, dedicated to uniting the Jewish world through the transformative values of the Ten Commandments. Originally from South Africa, Rabbi Bergman studied in England and Israel, received rabbinic ordination, and has over 20 years of experience in Jewish education and outreach. Now based in Baltimore, he continues to lead Aseret Global with passion, creativity, and a vision of elevated Jewish life and unity.
Rawan Osman
Rawan Osman is a Syrian-born, German-based activist, content creator and writer who advocates for peace and dialogue between Arabs and Israelis. Raised in Lebanon and educated in Germany, she studied Islamic and Jewish Studies at Heidelberg University. Her journey—from being raised in an antisemitic environment to becoming a self-described “Arab Zionist"—has inspired her work with organizations like Sharaka, the Center for Peace Communications and the Aseret movement in Israel.
Rawan founded “Arabs Ask,” a social media channel to combat the misinformation propagated about Israel in the Arab World. She has participated in delegations to Holocaust memorial sites and peacebuilding events around the world. Rawan is the CEO of Brit Shalom, an upcoming virtual platform designed to connect Israelis with Syrians and Lebanese eager for peace in the Middle East. As she puts it: “to achieve peace, we must start by imagining it “. She is currently working on a book about her evolving relationship with Judaism and Israel. She is also the main figure in "Tragic Awakening“, a documentary on the roots of antisemitism.