The Domari Society of Gypsys in Jerusalem

My first source of information about the Dom of Jerusalem was this Website: http://www.wix.com/domarisociety/domari-society-website

It's the representation oft the Domari Society Center, founded by Amoun Sleem. Once I started looking for further information it was quite impressive how much knowledge about the Dom comes directly from the center - a newspaper article was signed by a coworker of Amoun Sleem and another scientist thanks her in the introduction to his work on the Domari Language. She published some Essays about Dom history, live and beliefs, too.
Even though I have the impression to know a lot by now, my interest ist growing and I look really forward to meet this woman who seems to be one of a kind in her society and so amazingly open and trusting with facts about herself and her relatives.

Since there are so few Dom in Jerusalem I would expect them to be more secretive about their habits, rituals and customs. Because it might occur to them that involving strangers into those private parts of a culture, it becomes like a "show" in a museum. Or it might be difficult to keep the next generation still identify as "Domari" when there are other ways of live to choose from. At least those things come to my mind when I try to imagine how live must be like to a cultural minority...

But within the Domari Society Center there tend to be two directions: One ist to empower individuals, especially women and children with special schoolings that make it easier for them to get a good job and to earn their own money. This seems to be quite a modern idea within the Domari Society because otherwise it wouldnt be neccessary.
On the other hand the Homepage of the Center shows the Dom identity as something to be proud of: The language and traditional preparation of food, handicraft and special holidays are mentioned. So the center preserves as well as it modernizes.

Amoun Sleems memorys of her own family, childhood and upbringing reflect the same image: She is greatful for getting the opportunity to learn and study and she sees the need of adapting to certain structures, but still she respects the "old" ways to organize live, family and relationship. After all - those are the things that made the Dom a strong community living in the whole middle east and northern egypt today.

I'm looking forward to get the first impression of the Dom houses, streets and the Center in a week from now. And I hope I can be open and observing eanough to not offend anyone with any assuptions, images or prejudices my culture uses to pretend to be facts...