On the occasion of the second anniversary of her passing, and at the invitation of the Cultural Committee of the Druze Unitarian Community Council, the Lebanese Writers Union, the National Library in Baakline, and the Lebanese Book Club - Dr. Nazek Abu Alwan Abed Branch, a symposium titled “The Guidance and Awareness Approach” in the thought of Dr. Nazek Abu Alwan Abed was held in the theater hall of the National Library in Baakline.1.
The symposium was attended by the Sheikh Aql of the Druze Unitarian Community, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, represented by Sheikh Imad Faraj; Sheikh Dr. Makram Al-Masri; a group of sheikhs; Head of the Diwan Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ms. Ikram Shaya; Commissioner of the Shouf Interior in the Progressive Socialist Party, Dr. Omar Ghannam; former Director General Anwar Daou; Director of the National Library Ghazi Saab; Head of the Upper Shouf Municipalities Union Roger Al-Ashi; Head of the Shouf Al-Suwayjani Municipalities Union Engineer Yahya Abu Karoum; Head of the Physicians Sector at the Progressive Graduates Association Dr. Zuhair Omar; Baakline delegate of the party Engineer Wael Al-Faraji; journalist Sobhi Al-Dubaisi; educator Rabia Daou; educational figures; professors; and a crowd of interested attendees.
Hani
Beginning with the Lebanese national anthem, the symposium was inaugurated and moderated by Ms. Rehab Hani Khattar, who said, “In the beginning was the word, and for the word, God Almighty chooses messengers to spread it into the conscience and the soul together. Today we meet with you in this prestigious edifice to honor the second annual anniversary of the passing of a messenger of the word.”
Abed
Then, a speech was delivered on behalf of the family by the late writer's son, Engineer Mazen Abed, which included the following: “The atmospheres of thought and culture were enveloping us through her, we her children; and allow me to return in memory to those generous sessions, even in our childhood, where entertainment was, for example, through the challenge of competing in poetry from the poems of famous poets...”
Abu Hamdan
In turn, the director of West Hill College, Ms. Wafaa Abu Hamdan Nasr El-Din, spoke, saying, “Dr. Nazek Abu Alwan Abed strove diligently to build a society wrapped in safety, stability, and modesty; she wanted a society where the pockets of corruption and hypocrisy fade away.”
Raidan
She was followed by a speech delivered by lawyer Jalal Raidan on behalf of the people of Mukhtara and friends of the family, which stated: “Of course, it is impossible to cover in this brief time all the aspects of the thought and works of Dr. Nazek, the social, cultural, educational, and political activist, and the lecturer in many symposiums, the author of numerous works... Dr. Nazek, the human being par excellence, the humble, loving, and cheerful one.”
Saab
Then, the Director of the National Library, Mr. Ghazi Saab, spoke, saying, “It is also known that the text of Dr. Nazek and the style in everything she said, wrote, and published always distinguished itself from other literary and various texts for many people.”
Arbid
For her part, the director of the Dr. Nazek Abu Alwan Abed branch at the Lebanese Book Club, Ms. Abeer Arbid Al-Shaar, said, “We are used in all our meetings to discuss a book in a type of literature, or a specific cultural topic; we discuss, dialogue, and exchange experiences and knowledge. But now we are discussing a thought with five dimensions: the emotional, spiritual, awareness-raising, guidance, and social aspects. All of which combined in the thought of Dr. Nazek Abu Alwan Abed.”
Daou
As for the speech of the Lebanese Writers Union, it was delivered by the writer and poet Bassam Daou, who concluded it with poetic verses dedicated to the soul of “Dr. Nazek,” including:
“Ears of the soul, if their merits were counted
They surged over the universe with kindness and blessings
Adorned with irrigations, her inkwells sing
To write the soul on paper and in the text
Lebanon honored her, as the cedars she towered
Embracing glory in your heights, O my homeland.”
Zeidan
The closing speech was by Dr. Firas Zeidan, who delivered the speech of the Cultural Committee of the Druze Unitarian Community Council, explaining, “Dr. Nazek was not just a passing citizen and was not just a writer, but was a social and educational activist who strove hard to raise the level of awareness and education in society... And through her cultural and literary works, she succeeded in conveying the message of struggle and liberation to many generations, and her works were like lighthouses illuminating the paths of those searching for truth and justice...”
The symposium concluded with valuable interventions from the attendees.
