Sponsored by the Municipality of Charoun and in cooperation with Charoun Official Intermediate School, a book signing ceremony was held for “The Gift of the Storm” by author and visual artist Sheikha Jamila Youssef Al-Ahmadiyya. In attendance, alongside the Mayor of Charoun, Mohanna El-Banna, were the Vice President of the Union of Municipalities of Upper Jord and Bhamdoun, Mayor of Shanay Hussein Abi Al-Muna; Karim Chaya representing the Municipality of Sawfar; Lilian Abdel Khalek representing the Municipality of Majdel Baana; former mayors of the Municipality of Charoun Melhem El-Banna and Youssef Al-Sayegh; Principal of Charoun Official School Salim Al-Ahmadiyya; Brigadier General Najm Al-Ahmadiyya; Choueifat Civil Registry Officer Assef Al-Sayegh; Mukhtars Sheikh Youssef Al-Sayegh and Sheikh Asaad El-Banna; artist and media figure Raja Nicolas; Engineer Mahmoud Al-Ahmadiyya; journalist Youssef Al-Sayegh; representatives of civil and women's associations and leagues; and a crowd of sheikhs and residents of Charoun and the Mountain region generally who are interested in literary and cultural affairs.
The ceremony commenced with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a speech by Ms. Mounira Al-Dimashqi, in which she welcomed the attendees and introduced the speakers.
The speeches began with Sheikha Neemat Al-Sayegh, who presented an explanation of the book “The Gift of the Storm” and its literary content, which combines prose and poetry and reviews various milestones in the life of Lebanon and the town of Charoun, crafted by the author in a distinctive and elegant literary style.
Then, Mr. Salim Al-Ahmadiyya delivered the speech of Charoun Official School, in which he stated:
"Dear loved ones, we gather today to share the morsel of the word, and the eloquence of wisdom unites us from those who have made giving a form of wisdom." He added: "Dewdrops from the brow of nostalgia have fallen in the pathways of fields and orchards, chanting prayers of belonging to a humanity that still wanders in the depths of a time that will not return, longing for a truth stripped of the anxiety written upon breezes, carried by bewilderment from place to place across the stages of time and sorrows; scented melodies from a cedar, an oak, a blossom carried by the flowers of the word on the wings of hope, crossing distance to alight in hearts thirsty for remembrance and longing for the past, desiring it as a renewed state to carry in the present and contemplate in the future."
In turn, Mayor Mohanna El-Banna delivered a speech that stated the following:
"Eminences, Excellencies, and Dignitaries, each according to title and position; virtuous Sheikhas, esteemed ladies, dear attendees:
Welcome to your town and your land, in places that resemble your hearts in their pulse and pride.
Ancient as the cedars and the oaks—here is the opening letter in describing Charoun as Sheikha Jamila saw it.
Ancient as the grains of soil of this blessed, giving land—here is the opening letter in describing Sheikha Jamila as we see her.
Charoun, that land dyed with olives, which cascades gracefully over the Jord like a phoenix, embracing Lebanon in symmetry and charm, creativity and vigor.
Charoun, this land that produces culture, arts, and literature; that produces thought, poetry, and beauty; that produces goodness and generosity.
Today, this Charoun opens the door of its cultural heritage to a newcomer joining it: a book read joyfully by today's generation, and read by the new generation tomorrow as part of its history.
The talented Sheikha Jamila, with her creative hand and brilliant mind—I first knew her as a painter when I was young, before knowing her as a writer, before reading prose that reaches the level of poetry through what she paints with words.
My first encounter with her was when I stood before a mural in the Al-Banna family hall. I dreamed of climbing atop the old house in the large painting crowned by one of the exquisite hills of my country; I dreamed of rolling its earthen roof. I asked then, 'Who painted this?' The answer was, 'Sheikha Jamila Al-Ahmadiyya.' Since that time, an immense image of her was painted in my imagination, matching the greatness of her work, unforgettable from my memory.
Today, I took up my pen to write my speech at the book signing of our creative Sheikha Jamila, inspired by the history, stories, stances, and many questions she penned on her pages—questions that surged through me after my first reading of her book, hoping I might find answers to them one day.
It is truly 'The Gift of the Storm'; and is there anything more profound than a storm that sweeps over the barrenness of the earth to grant it a new spring?
And is there anything more truthful than a storm that uproots those shaken in their faith to plant the children of faith firmly in their land?
In her book, I read a spirit writing, and a heart beating with its ink upon pages of love, pride, and honor; I read an imagination weaving hidden essences with the spindles of the sun.
I read a lifetime spanning eight decades, radiant with youthfulness.
I read a dialogue with Abu al-Alaa al-Ma'arri about women and their role.
Behind the prose, I read poetry and rhyme; I read meaning not written by hands, but written by the soul for a bright tomorrow.
I read and re-read because I was astonished that the one who wrote had not attained university degrees, yet she ascended the path of self-knowledge through questioning.
And questioning in everything is the beginning of the journey.
Let us all ask ourselves who we are, and launch our spirits toward a knowledge society and social advancement.
In conclusion, in my name and on behalf of the Municipality of Charoun, and Charoun across past and present generations, we congratulate ourselves on you, Sheikha Jamila, a creator from our land in painting and literature. We congratulate ourselves that we are a generation living in your era, following the virtues and values you represent and your yearning for more."
In conclusion, Imad Al-Ahmadiyya delivered a speech of thanks on behalf of his aunt, the author Sheikha Jamila Al-Ahmadiyya, in which he thanked everyone who attended and participated in the book signing ceremony and expressed the pride of the town of Charoun in the talents and potentials it possesses across various fields.
In appreciation of her contributions, a collection of commemorative plaques was presented to the author by the Municipality of Charoun and several cultural associations and forums. Later, the author Sheikha Jamila Al-Ahmadiyya signed copies of the book for the attendees, who expressed their appreciation for the literary effort exerted by the author to bring her cultural work to light.
