Christmas Eve
A tale of two cities
As we in Ireland, prepare for our Christmas Day celebrations, we have just received news from a group we in Irish Quaker Faith in Action know well. Abdeljalil Ghorab is the director of the Nour EL Marifa el Kharia School in Nusirat, Gaza, unfortunately, his house was destroyed when it was targeted last night in a land offensive. Thankfully he survived and sent this video of what remains of his home.
In the video, he says “In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to God.” As he surveys his now destroyed home.
Abdeljalil told Richard in a WhatsApp message “that by a miracle of God he and his family all survived.”
Noor Al-Marifa is an independent, non-profit, non- partisan and charitable organization founded in 2000 in the Gaza Strip. The main goal of the Noor Al-Marifa association is to support and develop the abilities of Palestinian students like talented, outstanding, disabled and students with learning difficulties. The most important right from NMA’s point of view is to grant safe access to education where all children can enjoy their right to education. The need for their work is evident everywhere in Gaza, how the directors and staff still manage to perform their daily tasks, while living in the centre of a conflict is amazing.
In the second clip, Abdeljalil’s nephew is singing the call to prayer with the debris of what used to be a thriving neighbourhood all around. The scale of the destruction and damage is immense.
Thanks to the Galway Shotokan Karate Club!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Galway Shotokan Karate Club for organizing a fundraiser to support the children of Gaza, raising an impressive €2,350. These funds were entrusted to IQFA, which collaborates with organizations in Gaza, such as the Noor Al-Marifa Association. This association is dedicated to supporting and nurturing Palestinian students by enhancing their abilities, including those who are talented, outstanding, disabled, or face learning difficulties. Noor Al-Marifa offers assistance from early childhood through to the completion of their education. Such support is especially vital during these challenging times of ongoing conflict.
Our friend in Gaza,
This year’s IQFA* Festive FUNdraiser will take place in Rathfarnham Meeting House, D14 PY99, on Saturday 7th December from 11am – 2.30pm. All welcome!
The FUNdraiser is the perfect opportunity to get your Christmas shopping underway, enjoy lunch/refreshments in The Friendly Café and catch up with old and new F/friends. There will be a great selection of art, crafts, gifts, books, plants, cakes and home produce, Christmas cards, hand-knitted children’s clothes, and a Kids’ Zone with toys, games and art activities. To make the FUNdraiser a success, WE NEED YOUR DONATIONS! Donations of home-baked cakes, biscuits, jam, chutney, paintings, crafts, unopened gifts, house plants, and good quality books and toys can be dropped off at Rathfarnham Meeting House, 62 Crannagh Road, between 6pm and 9pm on Friday 6th or between 9am and 10am on Saturday 7th. Please note we will NOT be accepting any CDs, DVDs, magazines, periodicals, clothes or bric-a-brac (e.g. crockery, jewellery, furniture etc). If you would like to offer help or if you have any queries, please get in touch with Fiona Murdoch via Quaker Office
