Sulha

Does one honour one's country, or one's heart? This classic dilemma is the theme of this lyrical and passionate first work of fiction by Malka Marom. Drawn from Marom's experiences as an Israeli and Canadian citizen, Sulha is the story of Leora's search for answers for her only son's future, through a reconciliation with her past. Sulha means peace in both Arabic and Hebrew, and against this backdrop, Leora returns to the desert in her homeland and stays with Abu Salim and his wives,a remote Bedouin tribe. In the course of her stay Leora is offered a glimpse of the other side of the conflict to which she lost her husband, Arik, during the Sinai war, and to which she may lose her only son Levi.

In the proud tradition of Amos Oz, Isak Dineson and Joseph Conrad, Sulha paints a broad expanse of an all-encompassing land, and the sacrifices demanded of its people in an endless conflict for which there seems no resolution. The first section of Sulha won the Ontario Arts Council Award, for the most promising work of fiction in progress.

MALKA MAROM catapulted to success with Joso in Canada in the seventies, with the unique blend of the folk songs of forty countries, which she sang in fourteen languages. She appeared in numerous stage and TV appearances all over the world, and recorded four albums with Capitol EMI. She also went to the desert during these years and produced the documentaries The Bedouins which won the Ohio State Award, Desert Diaries, My Jerusalem, and The Holocaust which was nominated for the Actra Award in the category Best Writer of a Radio Documentary. A Bite of the Big Apple won the Actra for the best program in Radio and Television.