ALT October 31, 2024 How you can help: — Follow @Kundiman.community on Instagram and @KundimanUnity on Twitter for updates. — In the interest of accountability and fairness, Rana Tahir no longer remains a part of the Kundiman Community group. As new Kundiman Board President, Rana invites you to connect at rana@kundiman.org with feedback and ideas about best ways to move forward PACBI NOW!

ALT Heba Abu Nada, an acclaimed Palestinian poet and novelist, was killed by an Israeli airstrike on her [aunt’s] home in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on October 20, 2023. She was thirty-two years old. One year on from Heba’s death, Somaia Abu Nada pays tribute to the life and work of her beloved sister. * Dear Heba, Do you know how difficult it is for an ordinary person like me to describe a distinguished writer like you? My English vocabulary feels too limited to capture your essence. Yet I know how much you cherish these scattered letters when they come together to create something meaningful. From “Somaia Abu Nada Remembers Her Slain Sister, Heba Abu Nada, Palestinian Poet and Novelist” By Somaia Abu Nada LitHub (October 2024) (Photo of Heba Abu Nada)

ALT It feels almost unfair for me to have grown up admiring your every step, holding your hand, and always dreaming of getting closer to your level of perfection. As your younger and only sister, your courage to speak out about yourself and our people has inspired me to become who I am today. You were the first person to teach me who we are as Palestinians, and why it is so important to write about our lives. I still remember you were the first hand that held mine on my way to kindergarten. I remember how you used to save part of our pocket money so we could buy sweets after school. It’s been a year since I last talked to you. I find myself asking how I can reach out to you. When I look to the sky, I think about sending my voice to you. Sometimes, I try to speak to you when I’m alone or even in the middle of a crowd. I whisper, “How are you today?” “Are you happy?” “Have you found your everlasting paradise?”

ALT I try to talk to you whenever I see a butterfly, a flower, a sunset, a sunrise, a beautiful baby, or a cute kitten; whenever I feel a cool breeze or warm sunshine; when I come across a lovely notebook, an elegant pen, an interesting recipe; when I smell an enchanting perfume, hear a silly joke, discover a new song, or stumble upon a classic place, or simply when I gaze at the night sky. Everything genuine reminds me of you, Heba. I feel delighted when you visit me in my dreams. But there isn’t enough time in a dream to fill you in on all the details of a year packed with life. It’s been a year! 365 days without your smile, without your boundless kindness, without our sisterly bond. I might be getting better; recently, I found myself able to cry over you. I want to cry every second. Life has become endless shades of black and white without you. From “Somaia Abu Nada Remembers Her Slain Sister, Heba Abu Nada, Palestinian Poet and Novelist” By Somaia Abu Nada LitHub (October 2024)

ALT "With a heavy heart, I mourn the loss of my great professor and dear friend, poet Dr. Refaat Alareer, who was killed with a number of his family members by an Israeli airstrike on his sister's home in Gaza on December 6, 2023. Refaat was a professor of English literature at the Islamic University of Gaza for more than fifteen years, during which he taught thousands of students. His influence on the person I am today is immeasurable. I met him in 2017 when I was just a shy student, reluctant to speak in front of an audience, especially in English. He encouraged me to read my poems aloud and write short stories that he helped publish with Novell Gaza, the American Friends Service Committee, and other outlets. From "Remembering Dr. Refaat Alareer" By Nadya Siyam Words Without Borders Complete text: https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2024-01/remembering-dr-refaat-alareer/