Foreword the Idea Behind This Guidebook Was Born at Diyar Within the Framework of a Project Called “The Palestinian Youth Leadership Training Project – Phase III”
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Foreword The idea behind this guidebook was born at Diyar within the framework of a project called “The Palestinian Youth Leadership Training Project – Phase III”. This project, supported by the Representative Office of Finland in Ramallah, aimed at identifying, motivating and cultivating young Palestinian leaders as informed, engaged and proactive citizens by empowering them to articulate and organize around significant civic issues through using the powerful medium of culture. As part of this initiative, Palestinian youth were challenged to come up with innovative cultural ideas that they would like to implement to enhance the culture of their cities and villages. Ghadeer Najjar, a young Palestinian Christian female architect, who worked at the Center for Cultural Heritage and Preservation and was finishing her MA in Tourism Studies, was eager to develop a guidebook that will show Bethlehem as seen through the eyes of its own people. Diyar provided for Ghadeer an incubator to develop the idea and provided her with the needed mentorship, expertise and funding. The outcome was stunning: a first-of- its-kind guidebook that gives a unique insight into the cultural, social, religious facets of the little town and its oral history that got placed it on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. No wonder that the project was able to win one of the three awards on social innovation by CAFCAW “The Christian Academic Forum for Citizenship in the Arab World” in 2016. This book would not have been possible without the dedication of Ghadeer Najjar, and the many working hours by graphic designer Engred Khoury. Thanks goes also to Mr. Andreas Kuntz for reading the manuscript and providing valuable feedback. We owe Ms. Karen Mann for providing the English language editing of the book. Last but not least our thanks and gratitude goes to the Representative Office of Finland in Ramallah that funded this Project and to Ms. Rana Khoury, who was responsible for the overall management of this initiative. Bethlehem, July 2017 Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb Tourist GUIDE BOOK_July_FINAL Mounir2.indd 6-7 8/13/20 10:13 AM Beit Jala Bethlehem Holy family University Hospital Jerusalem Hebron St. Catholic action square David Wells Star Street culturalManger St. Pope Paul VI St. Salesian Street Route mapBus Madbase square Station Star Street Beit 7 Sahour Dar Pope Paul VI St. Annadwa Beit Sahour St. Quos Fawaghre St. Zarara 9 Manger St. 8 5 6 1 12 2 4 3 Peace 10 11 Star Street Center Market 14 Najajre St. 16 Manger Nativity Muni- Square Church Convent of Carmelite 15 cipality Sisters in Bethlehem 13 Milk Grotto St. 17 19 Milk Grotto Church 0 25 50 100 150 18 8 Ki 9 20 Tourist GUIDE BOOK_July_FINAL Mounir2.indd 8-9 8/13/20 10:13 AM Heritage Route a large room) to discuss houses formed a protective arriving from the Diaspora the issue of the day, and barrier with a larger gate started to build their hous- Bethlehem, a town ap- would remain there until a at the main routes to other es alongside the convents. proached from the main decision was reached. Each towns. Gradually, Bethlehem road connecting Jerusalem clan appointed a Sheikh started to develop outside with Hebron, gained impor- (leader), usually one of the its old core and clan mem- tance when pilgrims began elders. The Sheikh, later The building of convents bers built new houses in to flock to the town, espe- known as the mukhtar, and churches by mission- gardens and along the key cially after the construc- was not only the person to aries coming from Europe roads and paths to neigh- tion of the Nativity Church whom clan members would strongly influenced the boring villages. over a cave. Just after 150 turn to solve a problem, but expansion of the urban AD, Christian philosopher also acted as a conduit be- fabric and architectural and martyr, Justin of Nab- tween clan members and styles. Urban expansion The Heritage Route guides lus, was the first to refer the authorities. started towards the west the visitor through the sev- to a cave where Jesus was after the German Luther- en quarters in the dense born. an Church built a school core of old Bethlehem and the mansion houses of the Seven clans, six of them within the Madbaseh area early 20th century. Start at Christian and one Muslim, in 1860. The large con- lived together peacefully in vent buildings sited next the taxi stop sign and as- In the past, society was their own distinctive neigh- to the local Palestinian cend the Deik stairs within ordered by family clan and borhoods or harat in the old vernacular architecture the Tarajmeh quarter, it is these clans that have core of Bethlehem. altered the context of the close to Manger Square. defined the traditions, ar- west of the city, especially Don’t miss the tiny vault chitecture, and urban con- after the construction of that covers part of the text of the seven different the Franciscan Antonio staircase before you reach quarters within the historic The dense old core of Beth- Beloni orphanage school the Palestinian Bible Soci- center of Bethlehem. The lehem consists mainly of (1863), the Frères (De ety and the clan square. En- square around which family traditional architecture that La Salle) school (1892), joy the shade of the loquat houses were clustered was dates from the Ottoman and the French hospital (askidinia) tree planted at the site of the clan’s daily period of Palestine (1515- (1890). These construc- the Dabdob house, which activities, special events, 1917), constructed over the tions prompted develop- houses the Baituna Talhami meetings, and feast days. remains of buildings from ment of the streets (light- Museum. In good times and bad, the Roman, Byzantine, and Cru- ing and cleanliness) and men of the family would · The route includes stairs and is sader times. The city was provided a safer environ- not accessible by people with meet in this square (or in designed in such a way that ment for residents; people disabilities. 10 11 Tourist GUIDE BOOK_July_FINAL Mounir2.indd 10-11 8/13/20 10:13 AM 1. Tarajmeh Quarter 2. The Palestinian Bible 3. Bethlehem Folklore Mu- Society-Bethlehem seum – Baituna Talhami The Tarajmeh family is said to be descended from Branch (PBS) French, Italian and Brit- The Christian cultural cen- ish Crusaders who stayed ter in Bethlehem was es- on in Bethlehem and later tablished in 1993 and is worked as translators to one of eight branches of Franciscan monks and pil- the United Bible Society grims. They married wom- (UBS) in the West Bank, en from Bethlehem and Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. Bethlehem Folklore Museum – blended into local society, The UBS began its work Baituna Talhami forming their own family; in the region in 1816. The they were called Tarajmeh center promotes the Holy Established in 1972 by the (translator) in reference to Bible and performs social Bethlehem Women’s Union their main profession. The Qos Deik work with different social to reflect the heritage of blond family members were groups, especially young late 19th to early 20th century multilingual and excelled in people and children. Bethlehem houses, Baituna carving mother of pearl and Talhami (Our Bethlehem olive wood. Hanna Mansour House) attempts to convey Abu Khalil (the first mayor www.pbs-web.com, 02 5850086. the daily lives of Bethlehem of Bethlehem municipality) residents at that period in (Mansour House - Heritage rooms furnished with tra- Route) and Morcous Nassar ditional items, old pictures, (the first Bethlehem archi- clothing, and jewelry. Don’t tect) (Cultural Route) were miss the traditional crochet descendants of this family. embroidery decorating the The women of the family first floor bedroom. Regu- perfected the art of needle lar Palestinian embroidery embroidery and were de- work and the unique Beth- scribed by travelers as sit- lehem qasab embroidery, ting in front of their houses decorated with gold-col- and creating pieces of nee- ored thread, by Bethlehem dlework. craftswomen are all sold in The Palestinian Bible Society-Bethlehem Tarajmeh Quarter Branch the gift shop. 12 13 Tourist GUIDE BOOK_July_FINAL Mounir2.indd 12-13 8/13/20 10:13 AM www. bethawu.org, 0 2 2742453. Mon-Sat 8:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00. A cup of Arabic coffee Tickets available. or a glass of sweet mint tea served with some traditional sweets is Bethlehem women are un- an essential part of the rivaled in their embroidery Bethlehem walking tour skills and the use of gold- experience. Enjoy a walk colored thread to decorate around the commercial their dresses. The traditional area with the smells Bethlehem woman’s dress of coffee beans freshly was famed for its qabbe, the ground with cardamom, or visit the spice shops embroidered panel over the Palestinian Embroidery chest. Embroidery with gold- to see the colorful array colored thread became so of zatar (wild thyme), pepper, turmeric, and popular in central and south- Turn right onto Star Street ern Palestine that an entire other spices. and after 20 meters you industry developed in Beth- Crochet Work lehem. In 1930 up to 336 reach the Orient Mill, women were employed by an original coffee shop leading ladies from the Nasir that has been in business family, and by Rohina Nas- continuously since 1936. 4. Orient Mill sar and Hilani Salameh. Only On both sides of Star Street small changes have been in- The Orient Mill shop was are two striking mansion troduced over the years such first established by Tawfiq houses built by prominent as developments in the mal- Jamal Ama in 1936 to grind Bethlehem residents.