Recap of The 1st Annual Palestine Educational Conference

I wanted to take a moment to share a recap of the Aref Educational Solutions 1st Annual Palestine Educational Conference, which was a fantastic success.

First image: Imam Tom Facchine who gave a keynote on the need for such an event. Second image: from left, Amaal Aref -Host, Dr Leila Shatara -ICI, Dr. Fawzia Tung -CISE, Br. Wadud Hassan -Muraqaba and Br. Sadeq Alhasan -CISE.

The event brought together an inspiring lineup of speakers who emphasized the importance of teaching about Palestine as an integral part of our Islamic identity.

Imam Tom Facchine set the tone by highlighting the significance of sharing our own stories and framing our narratives through an Islamic lens. This was followed by Dr. Samar Al Majaideh, who introduced the “Teaching Palestine Toolkit,” and Br. Hameem Rahman from Yaqeen Institute sharing a unit on Navigating Palestine’s Struggle Through Faith.

Dr. Leila Shatara from the Islamic Curriculum Initiative captivated us with her insights on K-12 resources that focus on personal stories and cultural representations, reminding us of the power of context in education. One of the most memorable moments was a beautiful presentation on Palestinian embroidery, or tatreez, which showcased the richness of our heritage. We also enjoyed a segment on “Fall in Palestine,” which transported attendees to the heart of the land, evoking a deep connection to Palestine.

Muraqaba’s co-founder, Br. Wadud Hasan, addressed the essential question of “How to cultivate Afiyah in the classroom?,” providing practical strategies for educators to foster resilience among their students. Additionally, Dr. Fawzia Tung shared an engaging unit from The Al-Aqsa Project, complete with lesson plans, graphics, maps, and videos that equipped us with comprehensive teaching tools.

Overall, the conference deepened our understanding of Palestine as part of our Islamic identity, sparking meaningful conversations that we are eager to continue.

This great work will continue as we collaborate and grow this amazing curriculum and curated resources for teaching about Palestine from an Islamic perspective.
Attached you will find all the links to the resources shared by our esteemed presenters.

Islamic Curriculum Initiative – Dr. Leila Shatarahttps://islamiccurriculuminitiative.com/
ICI Presentation Part 1
ICI Presentation Part 2
Muraqaba -Presented by Br. Wadud Hasan

Link to the Presentation: 3 R’s of Prophetic Afiyah Approach (Tools to help our kids manage their feelings about Palestine). –https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nPdQWOu56knnHZfbDtl0g_Q1L5HcCi1W/view?usp=sharing

CISE- Consultants for Islamic School Excellence

Presented by Dr. Fawzia TungThe Jerusalem Al-Aqsa project-

www.gocise.org
Jerusalem Al-Aqsa Curriculum

ISLA Islamic Schools League of America – Dr. Samar Al-MajaidehTeachingPalestine Toolkit
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUmyNNdRfdBYYWlC-pwPiXgnBIAx4IYgS1mVpXYQa9Ck7aZg/viewform

Yaqeen Institute -Br. Hammem Rahman
Yaqeen Institute Curriculum

Please be on the lookout for more communications from Aref Educational Solutions regarding upcoming events and additional resources. Iam grateful for your support, please keep in touch.

For more information accessing the resources shared during the conference or staying updated on future events and curriculum, please reach out to arefeducationalsolutions@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to welcoming you to the 2nd Annual Palestine Educational Conference scheduled for November 1st 2025, In Sha Allah!

Jazakum Allahu Khair
Amaal Aref
Founder, Aref Educational Solutions
Host & Organizer, The 1st Annual Palestine Educational Conference