Event at Cambridge University will showcase for ‘The Jew Who Rowed for Palestine’ author

The American-born athlete, author and business leader, Mark Gerban, will be giving his first Cambridge talk at the Department of Sociology next week (13 February).

Mark’s first book, The Jew Who Rowed For Palestine: An Israeli-Palestinian's Search for Identity, was published in October last year. Born to an Israeli-Arab Muslim father and a Jewish-American mother, Mark represented Palestine at the 2005 World Rowing Championships.

The talk in Cambridge was arranged by Dr Wesam Amer, a visiting researcher and Cara/SRF fellow at the University of Cambridge. (The Council At-Risk Academics UK Fellowship scheme was launched in 2006, initially for Iraqi academics. The SRF - the Scholar Rescue Fund - was established by the Institute of International Education in 2002.) Dr Amer has been the dean of the Faculty of Communication and Languages at Gaza University in Palestine since 2020. He has known Mark Gerban since studying in Hamburg for his PhD in 2011.

Mark was happy to take part in a Q&A for the Cambridge Independent.

How did the event come about?

Mark: “This event came about following the completion of my memoir, The Jew Who Rowed For Palestine. The book explores my experiences growing up with a mixed Jewish-Muslim background, my evolving identity as American, Israeli, Palestinian, and German, and my path from Zionism to ultimately representing Palestine at the World Championships and nearly the Olympics.

“Wesam and I have been in touch for years, supporting each other on projects related to Palestine. We first connected through a mutual acquaintance in Hamburg, Germany, after he learned about my journey competing for Palestine. Our discussions, particularly around media and identity, have always been insightful, and we’ve built a strong friendship over time.”

Is it your first visit to Cambridge?

“Yes, it’s my very first time visiting the university.”

Will there be time for a Q&A?

“Yes, questions, regardless of perspective or difficulty, are welcome.”

Are you still an athlete for your country please? Have others been inspired to make the same or similar journey?

“I retired from elite rowing in 2008, but in 2023, I returned to the sport in a new role as team manager for the Palestinian national rowing team. This was attributed to the emergence of Palestine’s new single sculler, Amel Younis. Seeing his dedication and talent, I felt compelled to support his journey as an athlete and someone carrying a peaceful message through sport. I am incredibly proud to help him navigate the challenges of international rowing and work toward becoming a world-class athlete.”

Your work in automotive and at Apple Payments and R&D work at Mercedes-Benz [Mark is a seasoned business leader with nearly two decades of experience across the payments, automotive, innovation, fintech, and digital sectors] sounds awesome. Did you have to park up your backstory to get on at work, or were you able to take a deep dive into your history with support from your workplace?

“Interestingly, my book focuses more on my personal journey rather than my professional career. However, I’d be happy to share insights from my work experience during the talk if it interests the audience.

“At Apple, I contributed to shaping aspects of the payment ecosystem, and at Mercedes-Benz, I filed nearly 50 patents while achieving significant success. Throughout my career, I’ve always been open about my multicultural background. Rather than concealing it, I’ve found that embracing my identity fosters authenticity and meaningful discussions at work. This openness has often helped build trust and strengthen professional relationships.”

- Mark Gerban will be at the Sociology Seminar Room in the Department of Sociology on Free School Lane on February 13, 4-5.30pm, admission is free for the event - titled ‘The Jew Who Rowed For Palestine: An Israeli-Palestinian's Search for Identity’ - upon registration here.