Altakiat Al'iibrahimia

The Ibrahimiya Soup Kitchen, also known as the Ibrahimiya Charity Association, is located near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. It provides free meals to the poor and needy throughout the year, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. This has earned Hebron widespread fame as "the city that never knows hunger."

The history of the soup kitchen dates back to 1279 CE when it was established by Sultan Qalawun al-Salihi during the time of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. Hebron locals claim that the tradition of the soup kitchen dates back to the era of the Prophet Ibrahim, described as the "Father of Guests," as he would only eat with guests and provide food to travelers from the same location where the soup kitchen distributes food today.

Before the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000, the soup kitchen served hundreds of families, but the number increased after Israeli incursions into the West Bank. The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs confirmed that the work of the soup kitchen expanded due to the siege and closures imposed on Hebron. Approximately 500 needy families receive daily meals, equivalent to 2500 meals per day.
 

 

Presidential Committee for the Restoration of the Church of the Nativity

The Presidential Committee for the Restoration of the Church of the Nativity began its work in 1999, with the launch of the Bethlehem 2000 project, following coordination with the late President Yasser Arafat. Under the agreement that has been in place since the days of the Ottomans, the responsibility for the Church of the Nativity and the Church of the Resurrection falls on the three Christian denominations. The restoration of the church coincided with preparations for the second millennium of the birth of Jesus Christ.

In the winter of 2007-2008, concerns about the deterioration inside the church increased. President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree handed over to the heads of the three denominations on Christmas 2008, forming the Presidential Committee for the Restoration of the Church of the Nativity composed of reputable and professional figures, and establishing a fund for the restoration of the church. Restoration work began thereafter.

The restoration was carried out according to the full specifications of the ICCROM, a UNESCO-affiliated organization responsible for the restoration of ancient buildings. This was done prior to UNESCO's subsequent decision to include the church and Star Street on its list of endangered world heritage sites.

The committee completed most of its work and was dissolved by presidential decree.