Actress Debra Winger reads Refaat Alareer’s new book “If I Must Die” on Anniversary of his Death
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- UPDATE: Journalist Ryan Grim (Dropsite News, The Intercept) has started a movement to make Refaat Alareer’s book a global bestseller. It has already soared into the top 50 worldwide. This is truly unprecedented for a book of poetry, from a Palestinian poet no less. There’s obviously a pent-up demand for voices like Refaat’s. Let’s build on this momentum. Let’s make Refaat Number 1 in the rankings.
Royalties go to Refaat’s surviving family in Gaza.
UPDATE ii: Demand for this book “If I Must Die” is so strong the publisher is worried they will sell out on publication day - December 10 2024.
Best thing to do is PRE-ORDER IT NOW. Pre-orders count toward the rankings.
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LIVE ON AVENUE C, a conversation series by OR Books
Readings from the newly published book “If I Must Die” and reflections on the legacy of the author Refaat Alareer - Palestinian poet, writer, professor - on the anniversary of his death by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. With Rashid Khalidi, Norman Finkelstein, Mosab Abu Toha, Sara Roy, Najla Said, Debra Winger, Helena Cobban and Yousef Aljamal.
Debra Winger is an American actress. She starred in the films An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment, and Shadowlands, each of which earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. In later years, she became involved in Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation efforts and public health advocacy.
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About the Book:
IF I MUST DIE
Poetry and Prose
By REFAAT ALAREER
Compiled with an introduction by
YOUSEF M. ALJAMAL
Foreword by
SUSAN ABULHAWA
This rich, elegiac compilation of work from the late Palestinian poet and professor, Refaat Alareer, brings together his marvelous poetry and deeply human writing about literature, teaching, politics, and family.
“Refaat left us, but his word must not.”
-Mosab Abu Toha
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About the Author:
The renowned poet and literature professor Refaat Alareer was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City alongside his brother, sister, and nephews in December 2023. He was just forty-four years old, but had already established a worldwide reputation that was further enhanced when, in the wake of his death, the poem that gives this book its title became a global sensation. “If I Must Die” is included here, alongside Refaat’s other poetry.
Refaat wrote extensively about a range of topics: teaching Shakespeare and the way Shylock could be appreciated by young Palestinian students; the horrors of living under repeated brutal assaults in Gaza, one of which, in 2014, killed another of his brothers; and the generosity of Palestinians to each other, fighting, in the face of it all, to be the one paying at the supermarket checkout.
Such pieces, some never before published, have been curated here by one of Refaat’s closest friends and collaborators. This collection forms a fitting testament to a remarkable writer, educator, and activist, one whose voice will not be silenced by death but will continue to assert the power of learning and humanism in the face of barbarity.
Refaat Alareer gained his PhD with a dissertation on the poetry of John Donne. He taught English Literature at the Islamic University of Gaza, now destroyed. He is the editor of two collections of writing by his students, Gaza Writes Back and Gaza Unsilenced (both published by Just World Books). His journalism featured in The New York Times, and he appeared on the BBC, ABC News, and Democracy Now. He was a volunteer at the Gaza Zoo.
#refaatalareer #gaza #palestine #israel #orbooks
Thank you Debra Winger for standing on the right side of history
The first thought that came to mind is your statement, “Thank you Debra Winger for being on the right side of history!” when I saw the title of this feed, thank you for saying it! It is refreshing to see her giving voice to Rafaat Alareer’s story & life! 🙏🙏
Thank you for reading this to your peers: your support means alot!
Thank you Debra Winger ❤
Thank you. Thank you. I can't stop crying enough to think, but thank you.
You and me both. My heart breaks, and these words make it feel so much more personal.
I agree it is heartbreaking
Such a loss to the World, but his legacy lives on. I've read the stories in Gaza Writes Back and some of his poems I really like Over the Wall about his Grandma which in a short poem tells you all you need to know about the Nakba and its lasting impact on the Palestinians. I cant wait to get this book.
He is right of course, thank you for the glimpse into this mans soul.
Debra Winger has said in the past that she volunteered on a Kibbutz as a teenager and even trained with the IDF. She has clearly and rightly come a long way. Good to see her giving voice to Palestinians.
Wonderful❤❤❤thank you for this beautifully sad story,i read this book with tears in my eyes i had to read it 3 more time to to absorb this story which remain with me always,❤❤❤ to Palestine, from South Africa,
Thank you Debra Winger. Lots of respect coming your way. A big loss to the world
Thank you Debra and thank you the listeners: in our billions and growing. Thank you all the story tellers. Ireland is also a land of story tellers and story singers, and there is so much to compare between the peoples of Ireland and Palestine when we think of occupation, exploitation, cruelty, deportation, starvation, forced emigration, robbery, pollution, mocking and cultural annihilation. Thank you Refaat Alareer, his mother, land and kin. The very land of Palestine is an Academy on humanity and how to be carers of the Planet They are tutoring us through their sacrifice. Thank you to the martyrs. Free Palestine and free the World. Long live the Resistance. And please, let's make sure we buy the book from a decent, honest retailer and not from a giant corporation..! BDS
Love these awesome people and the writings from them. They've been telling their story for decades. The world is listening now..
It's to bad that the "entire" world isn't listening.
Debra, still as beautiful as you were in Officer and Gentleman ❤ but courageous and moral too ? You are a treasure 🙏 🇨🇦
Thank you for your voice,
Thank you for your humanity.
From Ireland 🇮🇪
My favorite Debra ❤ Thank you 🫶🏽
Such a brilliant actress,a strong woman and a sensitive person would never be in the wrong side of history. Thank you,Debra Winger!
I literally got chills! Thank you Debra. I 😢always loved you and your beautiful movies! Please go to congress and plead for the Palestine people’s freedom.
didn't have my glasses on & thought this was "debra messing reads refaat alareer" & choked on my coffee. THANK YOU, DEBRA. you rock
I pray that he is looking from paradise with joy and peace. He did his part for justice, may God accept from him and may we do ours.
I cried 😢after passing of my Beloved Refat Alarere
Thank you for this.
Sounds like a Amazing book. I order it release date is Dec 10 can’t wait. Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Thank you for the stories
I miss Debra Winger I enjoyed her movies tremendously and to find out she is freedom fighter is best news I could hear from her. Debra you have my respect. Salute .
Thanks Debra. I always wonder how you are . Great reading , free Palestine.🇯🇴
Love you, Debra Winger. ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Debra Winger is such a badass ❤ Been a fan since Urban Cowboy
Thank you Debra Winger for sharing this moving story. Free Palestine. 💙
Thank you❤🙏
The Power of the Pen 🖊️🇵🇸⚖️☝️🤲
When propaganda becomes obvious, it looses its grip on the narrative. By now, the greater majority of people worldwide sees through the smoke screens build up by false narratives to prevent us from knowing of,- and feeling empathy with the palestinian people.
But our empathy is the greater superpower and will be the driving force for tomorrow's big changes which will ensure that this atrocious injustice is brought to an end!
We will continue to bring the voices and words of the palestinian people to the world stage,- and forever carry them with us in our hearts,- the beautiful poetry from Re. Al. which they, themselves,- the upholders of this suffocating and unlawful occupation,- found to be too powerful a reminder to the world that if he must die, so will our collective humanity...
I shared 50 times on blue sky
A fine actress reading the work of a fine poet who has been martyrd recently.
Bless u Debra Winger.
Please order this book- we must make it a bestseller 🙏🏻
Thanks
Thank you Ryan Grim, Debra Winger and all who are working to bring justice to the Palestinian struggle against those wanting to rewrite the narrative from the oppressors point of view!
Such a brave and honorable thing for Winger to do, knowing that her industry would retaliate against that bravery.
Thank you ❤
Thank you, Ms Winger for the much needed support. I pre-ordered the book and am excited/terrified to read it!
Thank you ❤
Stories and storytelling matter. ✨
Thank you Debra❤❤❤
Just prepurchased.
Thank you. From the rind to the seed.
Thank You Debra❤
Thank you Debra Winger. Free Palestine🇵🇸
Thank you, Debra. In our millions, in our billions, we are all Palestinians.
this is so beautiful.
Buy his book tomorrow Dec 10th. There's a movement to make it a best seller.
Thank you ms winger i didn’t know that you had this in you
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Free Palestine ❤
Such a peaceful piece in war time
From the river to the sea Palestine inshallah will be free 🇵🇸❤️🇵🇸
One of the universal laws of literature is that a man's works should always be read aloud by a woman. But never vice-versa.
This was beautiful. I’m weeping. I have the book on back order from an independent bookstore in Hamtramck MI. I’m going to need alot of tissues, I think.
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Well done.
RIP
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Please buy his book today12/10, “If I Must Die” to put it on the best seller list!
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🫶 I miss DEBRA WINGER soooo much in film!❤‼️
she has been out of prime light for so long that dictation even does not pick up her name, instead of Debra it spells Deborah every time! Annoying, indeed.
That is the main reason why I spelled her name in capitals.
❤loved her uncredited cameo as a male angel in the 1987 film Made in Heaven. Winger appeared largely unrecognizable in the role.
✊🇵🇸🍉♥️🍉🇵🇸✊
💔💔💔💔💔 🇵🇸
Free Palestine!!!! I just got into Refaat. Buying the book soon. But I am so fucking moved. My tears are war paint. And we shall stand in solidarity with the oppressed and with the Palestinian people. I was about to type Palestinians, but I think there is something powerful about saying 'people' and not just Palestinians. Make them all remember that these are people, not just numbers. Love you all
I would love to see an accurate transcript. This would make it more accessible. There should also be an opportunity to correct the words.Stories and words are so important for our world.
The end to such an inspiring soul. Terrible.
There is a lack of action and a morbidity to this that I find deeply uncomfortable
shame on most people from hollywood and in america who allow only one side to tell a story! SHAME! It is time to understand jewish and american influences must no longer destroy the stories of Palestine!
☮⚖💡 I don't know whether links can be shared, here? If they can, could anyone who hasn't already seen this suggestion, consider this idea:
th-cam.com/video/VjtqKP-0GDA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=zPxNeecBdsu6QXPE
The request is for anyone who can, to buy a copy of this book, on 10th December, 2024; in order that it may top bestseller lists and show that the author, Refaat Alareer and the plight of Palestinians is not forgotten.
Thank you to Debra Winger for this reading.
There is no if with death. Think logically.
Barnslig fortelling!
Venue, get a better sound recording system. This is embarrassing in 2024.
Thank you Debra Winger!
Thank you❤
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