Hebron, occupied West Bank – Sari al-Jabari wakes up early to work at Tikkiyah Ibrahimiyah in Hebron. Founded in 1279, this facility is one of the oldest in the area and is a refuge for the poor and needy.
Tikkiyah is a charitable foundation based in the Islamic tradition, established to provide shelter, food and aid to those most in need.
The 37-year-old explains that he oversees Tikiya's cold storage, a critical part of the supply chain when preparing thousands of meals a day.
Al Jabari passionately believes in the mission he volunteered for for three years before being hired a year and a half ago.
He explained his role to Al Jazeera, explaining how the next day's needs are determined so that all families who come there, regardless of their size, have enough food to get through the day. I explained about it.
“We work hard to provide enough food for everyone who comes here,” he added, gesturing to his team of nine other full-time staff and countless volunteers. Ta.
Tikkiyya has been in operation since the 13th century, but is now located next to the Ibrahimi Mosque instead of its original location.
In 1963, the building in which it was located had to be demolished and the foundations relocated, but in 1983 it was moved again to its current location, a few meters away from the Israeli checkpoint, but still a place where people in need is accessible.
Like many other cities in the occupied West Bank, Hebron is held back by Israeli checkpoints, preventing the movement of its people and making intercity travel nearly impossible.
But the Tikkiyya team perseveres every day.
keep people alive
Before October 7, when Israel launched a relentless assault on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for attacks by Palestinian militants from the Israeli territory of Gaza, Tikiya was serving about 1,000 meals a day.
They rely on donations to produce this much food, with the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs funding salaries and administrative costs.
It comes as the Gaza war has triggered a chain reaction of economic hardship, leaving tens of thousands of Gaza workers trapped in the occupied West Bank, unable to return home or work as trade has almost completely stopped. That was until it was gone.
The Palestinian Authority needs to increase Tikkiyeh funding given the need to feed thousands more hungry people.
Hatem Daoud Al Rajabi, 55, and his family have relied on Tikkiyeh ever since Al Rajabi lost his job as a plumber after the outbreak of war.
“I had no choice but to go to Ibrahimiya,” he said, adding that he had a wife and 11 children.
Thankfully, he and his family are among them, and said, “Tikkya is helping people.”
Hebron is “a city where no one goes to bed hungry,” he added, a saying about the city.
It's bubbling
The Tikkiyah team is determined not to disappoint people like Al Rajabi, taking care of administrative tasks, setting up dining areas for women and men, and preparing containers for some families to carry. They are busy moving around in different parts of the building. Their food is inside.
These families will begin lining up at 10am, so the team will begin work between 5:30 and 6am, just after the dawn prayers.
The menu on the day Al Jazeera visited included chicken, soup and fresh bread. Different meals are served each day depending on season, availability, and donations. Some days the team cooks beef, other days they cook sheep, and other days they make simple dishes like beans and soup.
In the spacious kitchen, complete with giant cooking cauldrons and utensils, our chefs are busy preparing everything you need for the day.
Teams are distributed according to their tasks. Some put the pot in place, some prepare the chicken, and some light the stove.
Ataya al-Jebrini, 56, one of Tikkiyya's longest-serving employees, looks around happily, enjoying the activity.
He spent 23 years on a salary, but then decided to volunteer for free for the past nine years.
Al Gebrini says that despite the decades that have passed, the nature of his work hasn't changed much, with the same rhythm of life continuing at dawn each morning and his team remaining in a frenzy of activity throughout the day. explained.
Tikkiyah director Hazem Mujahid estimates operating costs to be around 35,000 shekels ($9,700), a figure expected to double as Ramadam approaches.
Responsibility for raising the funds rests with the chairman of Tikkiyah's Supervisory and Support Committee, Mr. Wissam Al-Kurdi, who is responsible for maintaining Tikkiyah's 745-year-old mission.
He has already started looking for donors to get the tikiya over the next few days.
