JAKARTA – Dompet Dhuafa invites the people of Indonesia to contribute through their works in the series of actions of One Million Letters to Palestine through an open call to the public and the Literacy Class event-a writing training-with Santri Nulis and Shaykh Ibrahim Ali Hasan in September 2024.
The Literacy Class was held with students as participants from three different schools, namely Al Syukro Universal Islamic College South Tangerang on Tuesday (10/09/2024), Syarif Hidayatullah Development Madrasah Jakarta on Wednesday (11/09/2024) and Islamic Bilingual School Al Ikhlas Bekasi on Tuesday (17/09/2024).
Nearly 400 young contributors voiced their concern for the genocide in Palestine through letters, poems, illustrations and photographs. Every stroke of the work is the fruit of thoughts and feelings for the impact felt indirectly and encouragement of strength for Palestine.
Delivering the Literacy Class activity, Shaykh Ibrahim Ali Hasan, a preacher from Gaza, Palestine, said that even though he lived and never left Gaza until 2019, he really wanted to experience praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is difficult to do because it has been restricted by the Zionists since 75 years ago, even though his residence is only about an hour from Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“Palestine is the place where we will gather on the Day of Judgment, come and pray there (Al-Aqsa Mosque) because one prayer is equal to a thousand prayers elsewhere. This is the dialog of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and Maimunah. What if you can’t? Send something, there are many ways to defend and help Palestine,” said Shaykh Ibrahim.
“Al Aqsa Mosque is mentioned 11 times in the Qur’an and it is always mentioned with the comparison of the blessed land. The door to heaven is open there,” explained Shaykh Ibrahim again.
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In the Literacy Class event at the school, Ahmad Hilda as Santri Nulis Literacy Activist explained, “Writing makes us not disappear from history, is good for health and as an emotional outlet. Friends don’t need to write better, but just write more differently”.
Sure enough, the Literacy Class participants, who are school students from elementary to high school, poured out their thoughts and feelings in various ways. Besides writing letters, some wrote poems and even made illustrations. Interestingly, in addition to the beauty of pouring out their thoughts and feelings, they also made it very honest and brave, typical of children.
One of the participants from Al Syukro Universal School in South Tangerang, Rafif Fatih Mu’afa (17), felt loud, emotional and shaky when expressing his thoughts and feelings.
“I felt very mixed up. It was all natural,” said Rafif.
Dompet Dhuafa published the book One Million Letters to Palestine to continue to encourage the spirit and attention of Indonesian citizens and the people of Palestine to the problems in Palestine. The presence of this book is a positive forum in conveying aspirations, ideas, perspectives and support from Indonesian citizens, especially the next generation, for their brothers and sisters in Palestine.
Read also: Voices from Gaza: A Novel of Struggle and Truth
This was said by the Chairman of the Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation Board, Ahmad Juwaini, “Children are the generation that will be the successor to the Indonesian nation in the future. Therefore, children from an early age need to get information and be able to understand, and then be given the opportunity to channel their feelings and thoughts. As well as accommodating their creativity, and their creative work is channeled appropriately, one of which is making letters for Palestine.”
He also hoped, “Hopefully this activity can provide many benefits and a form of support for the struggle of the Palestinian people”.
One Million Letters to Palestine anthology is an initiative organized by Dompet Dhuafa. In collaboration with Gueari Galeri – an independent publisher & gallery from Jakarta & Bekasi, the works will not only be curated and compiled into a book, but also become a bridge of kindness to help Palestine.
Also supported by DDTV, the book of One Million Letters for Palestine will be launched in the musical theater action “Tanah Yang Terpenjara – Lantangkan Suara untuk Palestina” with Titimangsa at the Jakarta Arts Building on October 03, 2024. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Dhika Prabowo
Editor: Dedi Fadlil