Mutual Aid Literary Reading
In Solidarity with a Palestinian Family in Gaza
featuring writing by Munira El Najar and Dr. Hassan Al Qatrawy.

Bay Area writers and educators will read works that have been shared with us by Munira El Najar, one of Palestine’s most highly acclaimed teachers, and Dr. Hassan Al Qatrawy, celebrated author and university lecturer.  All funds raised at the event will directly support Munira, Dr. Hassan, and their four children. Donations can be made at our event and also at this link.

Doors for the event will open at 7pm for the reading, which will begin at 7:30pm. Reservations are available for those with mobility considerations. Masking is welcome if desired, and masks will be available at the event.

Munira El Najar has written the following paragraphs for an online fundraiser that has been established to help her and her family:

My name is Munira El Najar, an educator from Gaza and a mother of four beloved children. After enduring the challenges of war, my family continues to restore our lives. I’ve always taken great pride in my profession as a teacher, seeing it as both an honor and a responsibility, and now, I remain focused on moving forward with strength and resilience.

On December 25th, 2023, we faced the unthinkable, forced to flee our home in the north of Nuseirat amidst relentless shelling, for the first time in our life. Since then, we have been displaced and escaped from death more than seven times from our home, seeking safety in places like Mawassi Rafah, Deir al-Balah, and in some of our relatives’ homes in Nuseirat refugee camps.

This is my family: my husband Dr. Hassan Al Qatrawy, my daughter Lamis, and my sons Ali, Mohammad, and Aboud. We share a life full of love, joy, and cherished memories.

Dr. Hassan Al Qatrawy, PhD holder in Psychology and a former university lecturer at Al-Aqsa University, a place that has been completely destroyed. He is also a celebrated novelist, with two novels and numerous works published in prestigious literary magazines worldwide.

His second novel, “Rawan’s Café in Our Tent”, was written during our displacement in Rafah, under the harshest conditions. Amid the overcrowded tents, the loss, and the constant threat of bombardment, he found a way to turn our suffering into a story of resilience. The novel is a testimony to how creativity can survive, even flourish, under siege.

My 18-year-old son, Ali, is passionate about business and mathematics, dreaming of a future in finance. With limited educational opportunities, his path remains uncertain.

My 15-year-old daughter, Lamis, once filled our home with laughter and dreams. She loved studying, reading, and singing, aspiring to become a dentist. But with most schools in Gaza destroyed, she has lost a year of education, and her future remains uncertain

My 13-year-old son, Mohammed, known as “Newton” for his sharp mind, dreams of becoming a surgeon. He was a dedicated student, but with schools destroyed, his education has been put on hold. Despite the challenges, he remains eager to learn and pursue his goal.

Abood, our 4-year-old, embodies childhood innocence and resilience. Once full of laughter, he now clings to me for comfort, still dreaming of playing freely in our home.

Life in the tents has been challenging, with constant uncertainty and a lack of essentials. Our once peaceful life in Gaza, filled with dreams for our children’s future, has been disrupted. Although we’ve returned to our home, the war has changed everything.

The goal of this campaign is to provide us with the support we need to navigate through these challenges and forge a path towards restoring our lives.