Program and Events 2008
Four Schools Compete in American-Themed Ramadan Quiz Organized by American Corner Jericho
Continuing a tradition of Ramadan quiz events for local students, the American Corner in Jericho organized a four-way American-themed quiz competition involving two public schools and two private schools from Jericho. The four teams, each comprised of four members, were joined by dozens of supporters from their schools and for two hours, the American Corner resounded with cheers and school chants as teams scored points. The winning teams from the first two rounds squared off in a duel presided over by visiting State Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, who asked the teams a variety of multiple-choice questions about the U.S. – in Arabic – including such teasers as who invented the lightning rod (Benjamin Franklin), what presidential candidates McCain and Obama have in common (both senators), and who wrote the American Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson). Feltman awarded each member of the winning team, from the Fatima Zahra public school, with three gift-wrapped American children’s books in Arabic translation, obtained from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo through a government funded translation program. Members of the other competing teams also received a translated American classic. The event was attended by the Mayor of Jericho, Consulate Public Affairs Officer Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm and other Consulate staff, and received positive coverage in the Palestinian newspapers.