Commemorating 100 years since the publication of Gibran Khalil Gibran’s magnum opus ‘The Prophet’, Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) hosted a symposium on the Lebanese-American writer and poet’s legacy and influence, with primary focus on his most celebrated book. The event, a joint effort launched by the Institute of Lebanese Thought (ILT) at the NDU Libraries, the Department of English and Translation, the Benedict XVI Endowed Chair at the Faculty of Humanities, the Gibran National Committee, the Gibran Museum, and The Cedars Institute, combined art, music, and sculpture, depicting prominent and recurrent themes in Khalil Gibran’s book. The conference consisted of three panels, with each uncovering different viewpoints from guest speakers. It also took place on two consecutive days, the first being at the University’s main campus and the second at Le Notre Hotel at the Cedars, Bsharri.
Throughout his speech, Dr. Tony Nasrallah, Researcher at the ILT, conveyed the gratitude engulfing him upon participating in this interdisciplinary initiative. Involving ambassadors, academic scholars, and notable keynote speakers from countries like Bulgaria, Dr. Nasrallah maintained that the program of this polyglot conference, a tribute to one of Lebanon’s greatest writers, is a mere reflection of Gibran’s inimitable words and character. Similarly, Mr. Fady Rahmeh, President of the Gibran National Committee, thanked the University, the ILT, and all individuals involved in the launching of this symposium. Rahmeh’s address reflected our need for Gibran’s thoughts and spirituality, particularly at an age of digitalization, fast transformational change and the resurgence of extremism and wars. Rahmeh then reitereated the perennial nature of Gibran’s themes, in which modern readers might find solace and answers to existential crises and crucial issues like generational conflicts.
As for Fr. Bechara Khoury, the NDU President grasped this opportunity to acknowledge the existing disparity between concepts explored in The Prophet and contemporary prevailing ones within society. Fr. Khoury’s delivery represented a reminder of our failure as a Lebanese community to incorporate Gibran’s dogma and approaches – ones that transcend the boundaries of time and place – in our daily lives. A humble tribute to one of Bsharri’s finest, Fr. Khoury asserted the notion that this symposium unarguably serves as a heartfelt apology from attendees to the mastermind himself, notably for failing to adhere to moral principles that resemble his very own.
The stage was then yielded to Mr. Matthew Goshko, US Embassy in Beirut representative and Acting Public Affairs Officer. Goshko expressed his appreciation towards the event’s organizers, noting that the conference, a living embodiment of Khalil Gibran’s enduring legacy, serves as a crucial, long overdue wake-up call. In the midst of surging wars and global conflicts, Gibran’s words remind us of what it means to be human – that what unites people together is far greater than what divides them. As such, Goshko addressed the crowd, recognizing the need to cherish the Lebanese-American’s innate genius and writings encapsulating the essence of humanity.
Preceding the event’s first panel was an insightful on-stage exchange between Dr. Maya El Hajj, Chairperson at the Department of English and Translation, and guest of honor Mrs. Maya Tsenova, Leading Arabic Translator and Professor at the Arabic Language Department of Sofia University, Bulgaria. As someone who worked on translating Gibran’s Al-Mūsīqá (The Music) into Italian (“La Musica”), Dr. El Hajj expressed the gratitude she felt upon hosting Mrs. Tsenova, a fellow researcher and translator who took part in a collaborative translation project of Gibran’s The Prophet into Bulgarian. Considering that Gibran’s take on spirituality and existential matters tugs at the heartstrings, Tsenova detailed her humbling experience as a translator working on transmitting The Prophet’s intrinsic themes within the Bulgarian community. Tsenova concluded by acknowledging the Arabic language’s influence, noting that it has long been the bearer of reflective writing and spiritual discourse. Tsenova and Dr. El Hajj’s dialogue was later followed by a captivating musical interpretation of Gibran’s work by pianst Mr. Joe Khalife and singer Ms. Rebecca Mikhael, as well as live artwork on stage by Mr. Fadi Balhawan. The audience then headed to the Exhibition Hall, where paintings of Gibran were displayed.
The event’s first panel revolved around embracing the profound sentiments of joy and sorrow, as well as pleasure and friendship, found within Gibran’s writings. During the panel, guest speakers Mr. Walid Abboud, Mr. Yazbeck Wehbe, and Dr. Tony El Hajj took turns sharing their insightful thoughts on the aforementioned themes. Lebanese presenter and journalist Walid Abboud first explored the timeless nature of Gibran’s works. Stating that The Prophet captures some of the Bible’s most recognized themes, Abboud notes that this book remains one of the most influential ones today. In his turn, news anchor and reporter Yazbeck Wehbe explored the theme of friendship, a recurrent one in Gibran’s writings. As Wehbe mentions, the celebrated author’s pieces often guide readers as they navigate their own friendship journeys. From examining elements of authentic friendships to providing much-needed and sought-after advice, it seems that Gibran’s books do it all for readers worldwide. Bringing the panel to a close, Dr. Tony El Hajj analyzed the themes of joy and sorrow, given their prominence in Gibran’s books. Citing the acclaimed writer’s works, he maintained that joy and sorrow often come together, constituting therefore an indispensable aspect of human life.
The second panel saw the participation of Lebanese journalist and TV personality Mr. Jean Nakhoul, alongside Dr. Desiré Sakkal, Instructor at the Lebanese University, and Dr. Chadi Saad, Dean of Law at Sagesse University. Discussing the topic of liberty and its impact, the three guest speakers explored the themes of freedom, good and evil, and laws, all while referring to Khalil Gibran’s texts. Nakhoul's compelling narratives, Sakkal's philosophical insights, and Saad's legal acumen converged to offer attendees a deep analysis of such complex and controversial themes, providing the audience present with valuable insight on the matters at hand.
The final panel, moderated by Dr. Reine Nassar, Lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, involved discussions centered on religion, prayer, and giving, as per Khalil Gibran’s pieces. Dr. Nassar began by introducing the panel’s content, highlighting Gibran’s inspiration from multiple religions across the world. She then yielded the floor to Dr. Naji Oueijan, Lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities and Dr. George Trad, who each examined Gibran’s take on religion and giving. Leading the conversation, Dr. Oueijan explained that Gibran’s works cannot be attributed to a sole religion, especially since he frequently uses themes of mysticism that often do not correspond to any of the three Abrahamic religions. Dr. Oueijan then studied Gibran’s spiritual philosophy and the extent of its alignment with Christian values, further enabling Dr. Trad to weigh in on the conversation. In his intervention, Dr. Trad went over Gibran’s personal approach to religion – one that has often caused the latter to receive backlash and criticism. Dr. Trad discussed some writings that were considered problematic by religious figures, comparing them to beliefs adopted by the said entities.
As for the second day of the conference at the Cedars, additional insights into Gibran’s writings were provided, with keynote speakers and ambassadors of Bulgaria, India, and Germany delivering excerpts from the Lebanese writer’s texts in their respective native languages. The prominence of themes like beauty, love, pain, and time were also studied with reference to the writings, uncovering new perspectives and enlightening viewpoints.
In summary, the symposium served as a vibrant tribute to the enduring influence of Gibran Khalil Gibran, commemorating a century since the publication of his masterpiece, The Prophet. By engaging in enlightening discussions exploring the book's myriad themes, attendees were immersed in Gibran's timeless wisdom, finding resonance in his words and grappling with some of today's most pressing questions.