Telling Dr. Refaat’s story is an honor and a duty

Graffit on wall: "If I must die, you must live to tell my story." — Graffit with first lines from Dr. Refaat Alareer’s last poem, on a wall in Beirut. Image circulating on social media.

Dr. Refaat in his now-famous poem challenges the reader, “If I must die, / you must live / to tell my story.” It is his story that I would like to try and tell.

Dr. Refaat Alareer was my friend and mentor before he was martyred in Gaza. He was a dedicated teacher who taught his students skills and values far beyond the usual university curriculum.

I started my freshman year as an English education major attending most university lectures with relative indifference— that is, until I attended a lecture by Dr. Refaat. This was in the spring semester of my first year, and it was life changing.

His enthusiasm, enlightenment, professionalism, and passion for teaching were truly inspiring. He invited critical thought about the great literary works, and he encouraged us to share our own perspectives without fear or hesitation. After that first lecture, I remember going home to tell my mother, “What a genius! Dr. Refaat is a literary giant walking amongst our classes!”

I decided to go to his office to learn more about his passion for literature. Until that point, my academic plans were uncertain. His logical responses to my questions helped me see all my academic plans clearly laid out in front of me. I mentioned to him that I wanted to change my major from education to English literature. He said, “I can totally respect your decision and it should be taken based on your own interests, but you would be very welcome in the world of English literature.” After that meeting, I saw that I could aspire to be something more — a passionate, enlightened, and humble teacher, much like Dr. Refaat.

“If anyone needs help, just let me know; I am always ready to help.”

Dr. Refaat was always the first one who offered to help. He helped me choose my modules before traveling and becoming an international student studying in the U.S. He was even eager to match their university courses with our own university courses, so that I would get credit and it would not postpone my graduation. He warned me about the culture shock that international students can initially suffer. Still, he encouraged me to go for it, saying, “Your host institution is lucky to have a student like you. Take care.” Dr. Refaat was truly our academic father. His last words on our WhatsApp group, before he was killed, were, “If anyone needs help, just let me know; I am always ready to help.”

Like his own sons and daughters

Figs, fruit, and other treats on a classroom table. — *Figs and fruit shared by Dr. Refaat with his students. Photo: Malak Reyad Alhaw*

Dr. Refaat was our professor, father, and sincere friend. You would always find kindness, humility, strictness, toughness, humour, humanity, and clemency in Dr Refaat’s countenance. While strict and tough in the lecture hall, he was a very warm and humble person outside the classroom. He cared deeply about his students, as if they were his own sons and daughters. In the last gathering of Dr. Refaat and his students, he brought us figs, strawberries, kiwis, and grapes, since he adores the fruits that our land produces. He was holding the tray of fruit and made sure all his students got some in case any were feeling shy.

The power of storytelling

I saw a post on the English Department Facebook group announcing there was a workshop for developing creative writing skills. I was honored to be selected for this competitive workshop and be better trained by my role model, Dr. Refaat. He introduced us to all types of writing including short stories, poems, articles, features, and personal narratives. He believed in the power of storytelling.

He was always eager to listen to his grandparents’ stories. He believed that by listening to the older generation’s stories, we learn so much more about our own lifestyle, heritage, history, and culture. His passion for storytelling was very obvious in his last words that are included in his now famous poem, “If I must die.”

Dr. Refaat felt that he would be killed because he spoke the truth about our people. He was assassinated because he defended the many oppressed generations of Palestinians. He lived under an illegal rogue state that occupied and openly threatened him. They finally killed him, alongside his sister and his sister’s children, with impunity. But they were idiots: they killed Dr. Refaat but in doing so created a million more Dr. Refaats at the same time.

A paper never signed

Many English literature students consider the course on Shakespeare the toughest one that they could take. Yet, Dr. Refaat’s style of teaching gave the students the desire to read more and more beyond the courses. Dr. Refaat’s devotion to teaching his students about the genuineness of Shakespeare and his literary works was quite contagious. Despite my many classes, I found myself studying Shakespeare all the time.

After my Shakespeare course was completed, I was excited to register for more courses with Dr. Refaat. Soon, I started a new poetry course. Our last lecture was on October 4. This was of course never completed. Neither was the recommendation letter he promised to write for me. My internship paperwork was to be signed on October 7.

Despite, Dr. Refaat’s martyrdom, he had imparted his love of literature and Shakespeare to many others, who will continue his work for as long as even one student of his remains alive. For we have all accepted the challenge he put before us in his poem, and will continue to “live to tell his story.”