The night began with a Qur’anic recitation that was followed by an introduction of the organization by Hassan Al-Haj, executive director of Baitulmaal

"Baitulmaal is for all Muslims and non-Muslims," he said, adding that the organization’s past accomplishments include relief missions after the Pakistan earthquake and Hurricane Katrina.

The current focus is to distribute food to the impoverished Palestinian victims, Al-Haj said, describing the dire situation of the Palestinians. "It’s very normal to see a lot of orphans and widows. More than 80 percent of the Palestinians live off of $1.50 per month."

Writer Osama Abuirshaid gave a poignant speech describing the Palestinian victims. He spoke of a 15-year-old Palestinian girl whose home was bombed by Israeli forces, saying that Palestinian children are at a different maturity level than most children. "They are grown up because of the tragedy and agony that they are going through now."

Abuirshaid also stressed that the Palestinian plight cannot be forgotten after the night’s event, adding that Palestinians should not be thought of as just mere numbers, but rather as human beings. "It’s about lives we are talking about," he said.

Hatem Bazian, lecturer at UC Berkeley, spoke about the situation in Palestine from a historical prospective, explaining the historical context of the Nakba – Day of Catastrophe.

Bazian said British forces had decided beforehand which places would be demolished and which people should be exiled. "The Nakba was a systematic and deliberate act that took place. There was a strategy," he said.

Bazian also said Palestinians must advocate the Right of Return because they must be compensated for what they lost.

Mahmoud Sabha of La Palma said he enjoyed the night because of the great scholars present. The talks "empowered us for the future," Sabha said.