The Hirbawi Factory will donate €1 from every Kufiya sold to Al Tkiya Al Ibrahimiya, to be used for the purchase and preparation of food for those in need. We tell the story of this wholesome organisation and its many centuries of service to those in need, of which not many even within Palestine may know about…
From the time of the Ayyubid Dynasty of Salah al-Din (Saladin), a renowned medieval military general and Sultan of Egypt and Syria, a “haven” for the poor has existed and been located deep within Hebron, Palestine. Al Tkiya Al Ibrahimiya, a community organisation located in the centre of Hebron City, has been providing thousands of people with hot meals since its establishment in 1279. A sanctuary for the poor, hungry, and needy for almost a thousand years, Al Tkiya of Hebron is a cherished part of the community of the city and Palestine. A symbol of national solidarity and an example of the principle of caring for one’s neighbors.
Feeding The Poor for a Thousand Years
The word tkiya is of Turkish origin and refers to any place created to accommodate the poor. The city of Hebron, often nicknamed “the city where no one is hungry,” first introduced the idea of a “Tkiya” and having “Tkiyas” within the Medieval Islamic world. Tkiya AlIbrahimiya is considered the oldest Tkiya in Hebron and one of the oldest in the world.
Established during the Ayyubid Dynasty era, which ruled the region between 1174 and 1250, the Tkiya has provided meals to the poor every year since.
Al Tkiya Al Ibrahimiya is named after the world-renowned Ibrahimi Mosque. The mosque lies at the heart of Hebron City and is considered a sacred location for all Abrahamic Religions. Below the mosque is a series of underground caves known as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, believed to be the resting place of the prodigal Prophet Abraham and his closest descendants.
Warriors of the Ayyubid Dynasty, which ruled the Levant Region (Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria) during the Middle Ages.
Al Ibrahimi Mosque, known also as the Sanctuary of Abraham, and Tomb of the Patriarchs. Considered the fourth-oldest mosque on earth.
Many Mouths to Feed
The Tkiya has been a symbol of goodness in the city of Hebron since the Ayyubid era, through the Ottoman era, and until the present day. In the past, the Tkiya had a wheat mill and bakery, serving three meals a day.
During the Nakba in 1948 and the 1967 war, it welcomed and fed thousands of Palestinians who came seeking refuge after being expelled from their villages by Israeli militias.
The Tkiya has never witnessed a higher number of people than in the recent period. In light of the policy of starvation and the siege imposed on the Palestinian people as a collective punishment for their democratic choice, a lot of Palestinian families have lost their source of living.
As the number of people in poverty increased, the number of people relying on Tkiya Al Ibrahimiya increased by more than 15%, as has the number of hot meals prepared.
During the holy month of Ramadan, the Tkiya prepares up to half a million hot meals for people to have during the morning Iftar.
An Eternal Moonlight
The cooks of Al Tkiya Al Ibrahimiya operate nonstop throughout the year. In their eyes, their purpose is to provide a meal to anyone who knocks on the Tkiya’s doors, and to make sure that every family in Hebron has food on their table. At the break of dawn, the cooks begin preparing meals to be given out by morning. All expenses are covered with the help of donations from people within and outside of Palestine.
All of the Tkiya’s expenses come from donations made by people within and outside Palestine.
With the current economic and financial difficulties that Palestinian families face, the Tkiya ensures that it works harder and provides extra meals for those who need them. Much of its contributions are earned during the first days of Ramadan, as people race to donate to feed the poor. With the help of the Tkiya, Hebron has earned a positive reputation as “the city where no one is hungry.” A city where every man, woman, and child sleeps a little easier, with one less worry on their mind.
How you can Help – Al Tkiya Al Ibrahimiya
Interested in helping the Tkiya of Hebron in its mission to feed those in need? For the remainder of the Month, in appreciation of both the Muslim Ramadan and Christian Easter, the Hirbawi Factory will be donating €1 from every Kufiya sold to Al Tkiya Al Ibrahimiya, to be used for the purchase and cooking of food for those without Ramadan and Easter are both considered months of charity and good deed, and since many Palestinians are struggling to prepare a decent meal for their families during this holy month, we have decided to help in some way and allow those of you who would like to help, to be able to do so. Thank you all for your kindness, wherever you may be.
Al Tkiya cooks making "Bamieh", a traditional Okra Stew that is generous with tomatoes, onions, and garlic.
