November Community Events explore Middle East through politics, culture, and cuisine

Five November Community Events will examine the Middle East through multiple lenses—from Turkey’s political transformation and regional diplomacy to the hidden history of Iran’s women rug weavers, the region’s culinary heritage, and the challenging work of Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilders. These free public talks are hosted by our Maine Public Library partners.

Turkey’s Politics and Regional Role

On Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m., Bates College political science professor Senem Aslan will examine How Populism Works: Erdogan’s Path to Authoritarianism in Turkey in a virtual presentation via Zoom. Aslan, who is currently writing a book on the politics of emotion, will explore Turkey’s shift toward authoritarian rule. The program is presented by Prince Memorial Library in Cumberland in collaboration with Baxter Library in Gorham and Scarborough Public Library. Register at https://princememorial.libcal.com/calendar/16477/Camden-PML to receive the Zoom link.

The following evening, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., Camden Conference Program Committee Chairman Bill Hall examines Turkey’s current role as a key player in Middle East peacemaking. His talk, Turkey: A View from the Middle, will be presented in person and live-streamed via Zoom at Rockland Public Library. For the Zoom link, email [email protected]. Hall, a former president of the World Affairs Council of Maine, served as a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer specializing in Middle East affairs. He will also present this talk at Kennebunk Free Library on Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Iran’s Women Weavers

On Nov. 13 at 3 p.m., longtime Yarmouth oriental rug collector and dealer Tad Runge offers a unique lens into Middle Eastern culture through the art of hand-woven rugs at Merrill Memorial Library in Yarmouth. Focusing on villages near Hamadan in central Iran and drawing on early 20th-century letters from a rug buyer, Runge introduces the women who wove on small looms at home—stories that inspired his book One Woman, One Weft. The program provides a rare opportunity to see examples up close, learn about the art, history and care of oriental rugs, and engage in conversation with a passionate expert.

The Food of the Middle East Is On Your Table

On Nov. 15 from noon to 2 p.m., food historian Sandy Garson will take attendees on a culinary journey through the region while enjoying a luncheon featuring Middle Eastern dishes at Patten Free Library in Bath.

The land stretching from Iran to Egypt—including Turkey, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon—was humanity’s original “garden of eating,” where wheat was first domesticated, grapes fermented into wine 8,000 years ago, and recipes bursting with flavor traveled east to become Indian cuisine and west to influence Greek, Spanish and Moroccan cooking. These traditions gave us beloved dishes like hummus, falafel, pilaf and even macaroni. Garson, a former caterer and food entrepreneur, has published numerous articles and two cookbooks. After closing her Maine bakery and catering business, she helped establish a restaurant in Ulan Bator, Mongolia; taught cooking in Kathmandu, Nepal; and lectured at New York’s Rubin Museum. She now teaches Maine seniors how food reveals the secret ingredients of history.

The luncheon menu may include lamb and rice stuffed grape leaves, Palestinian cauliflower fritters with minted yogurt, Anatolian bulgur with dates and nuts, lavash with muhamarra and baba ganoush, chickpeas with maftoul, and Noah’s Pudding—one of the world’s oldest desserts. Registration is required as space is limited. https://patten-lib.libcal.com/event/15516719?hs=a