After its destruction in the Yarmouk camp .. "Sadin heritage" rebuilds the "Aqsa Library" in Gaza

Ola Moussa-Gaza

After years of authoring books, in-depth research, writing poems and historical novels, especially the origins of ancient Arab heritage, the Palestinian writer Abdel Karim Al Hashash returned to his world after settling in Gaza, where he lived as a child and adolescence, and a long journey between Arab countries and more than thirty years Yarmouk camp in Syria, which destroyed his library.

The author is 73 years old, and currently resides in the area Alhashashin north of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, was born in the city of Beersheba before the Nakba 1947, but after that his family emigrated to Sinai - as he points out - and then forced to go to the Rafah camp in 1950 in the south of the Gaza Strip, and studied Arabic literature Damascus University.

Memories
He sits next to his small library in his house he built seven years ago in Rafah. He still remembers the last moments that forced him to leave the camp after the events of October 15, 2011, but he still feels the distress of his library, which was under the rubble of the destroyed camp. Later.

He collected in his library more than three thousand diverse books ranging from historical, political, literary, scientific and religious, including rare books on ancient and modern Arab cultures and researches, and strengthened the existence of his research, which spent nearly fifty years in researching the ancient and modern Arab heritage, he says - along with thirty An author he wrote in the Arab, Palestinian and Bedouin heritage.

"I worked with the Palestine Liberation Organization in Jordan after the Arab setback, and I began to move between Arab countries, I was interested in the ancient Arab culture, terminology and forms of heritage, especially the Palestinian ones," he told Al Jazeera Net. "I am proud to have written what can preserve Palestinian and Arab heritage and its interdependence, but I still feel very sad for The library, which rests under the ruins of the camp and has all the beautiful memories and rare books. "

Al-Aqsa Library was established in Al-Taqadim neighborhood in Yarmouk Camp and became at the time one of the most prominent landmarks there. It was a kiss for researchers, writers and students from all Syrian governorates. The Palestinian writer points out that the library was the source of many important books that were issued in the Arab world Literary figures are important for his research and books.

Sadin folklore
He wrote a number of important books in literature, culture and folklore after lengthy research among several Arab countries, including the book "Arts of literature and rhyme among the Negev tribes, the family in the Palestinian and Arab popular ideals, judges of custom and habit, tribes and tribes of Palestine, Libyan proverbs and their analogues."

He participated in the publication of the book "Aniz Abu Salem Turbani" and wrote "Glossary of spoken words in the Arab countries, imprint on the sand, Zwadp the present and Badi, reflect the verses of the Koran, the King just martyr Nur al-Din Mahmoud (Zanki)" and novels "Land of the Moon, Palm barren" In addition to dozens of important research and articles.

The Syrian Ministry of Culture nicknamed him "Sadin Heritage" for his specialization in the study of Palestinian folklore.

The title, he explains, came after he presented books, articles and researches in the Arabic encyclopedia issued by Damascus and articles in the Syrian newspapers such as Tishreen newspaper, and articles in the newspaper Sabeel published in Amman on language and culture, and articles in the magazine Khafji Saudi Arabia, television and radio interviews and lectures and seminars related to culture, language, customs and traditions .

Library in Gaza
The moment he left the camp, he kept five books he had written because he could not carry other important books in his bags. Small he designed in his house.

He told Al-Jazeera Net, "For eight years in Gaza, I was able to collect books that were buried under the rubble of the camp. I collected my research and articles through several sources, because I revived my library, but this time in my house. Some intellectuals in Gaza began to come to see my books." Some of the books I collected through libraries in Gaza or through travelers who came to Gaza or through booksellers on the sidewalk. "

Sadin Al Turath was able to collect nearly 400 books in his library, in addition to acquiring some of the old Arab heritage costumes from Deir Ezzor and the town of Azaz and Idlib in Syria, but he pointed to the obstacles of expanding his library as it was in the camp to double due to lack of money to bring books and expand its headquarters. Cultural support in Gaza, especially for libraries, although it has become a kiss for intellectuals and researchers from the Gaza Strip.

"This small library gave me an impetus to continue my scientific career. There is some research that I have not completed for years now I am reviewing and updating information to accomplish it. I also intend to write new books related to Palestinian heritage, Arabs and spoken Arabic."