BANI ZEID: DEIR GHASSANEH AND BEIT RIMA

Bani Zeid is a municipality with 6,000 inhabitants, located 27 km north-west of Ramallah. It was created in 1966 merging the administrations of two villages: Deir Ghassaneh and Beit Rima.

DEIR GHASSANEH

PLACES OF INTEREST:

PALACE OF SALIH AL-BARGHOUTI

One of the oldest and most powerful clans which took part of the Bani Zeid tribe was the wealthy noble family of al-Barghouti, that traditionally provided the leaders of the sheikdom. Its members were generally referred to as Baraghithah and the clan consisted of nine branches whose collective power extended beyond the Bani Zeid sheikdom to the coastal plain of Palestine.

In 1602 they built their one-floor palace in the center of Deir Ghassaneh as a sign of their power.

MAQAM AL-KHAWWAS (MOSQUE)

Maqam al-Khawwas is a double-domed building, situated on a hilltop 500 meters west of Deir Ghassaneh, in an isolated area. It was considered being the meditation site of al-Khawwas, a Sufi holy man from Egypt who often visited the community.

Its eastern dome was constructed by the residents of Deir Ghassaneh, while a local legend claims that the western dome was completed by angels. The interior of the domes is simple, with a mirhab and has a two-door entrance on its northern end. The interior walls are whitewashed, reflecting the Muslim tradition of heavenly light and spirit in the color white. A few verses from the Quran were written on parts of the walls.

Maqam al-Khawwas was reserved for women whereas the mosque is for the men.

AL-MAIDHOUB SHRINE

The shrine of al-Majdhoub, about an hour’s walk from the village of Deir Ghassaneh, is among the most beautiful and evocative of Palestine’s rural shrines.

Standing alone on the hillside, its garden is the ideal place for a picnic, and allows views all the way across the valleys around. In fact, the shrine is situated on top of al-Thaher Mountain and lies opposite Maqam al-Khawwas. It is called al-Majdhoub (= attraction to the divine), and refers to a kind of spontaneous calling of the heart towards God, without struggle and sometimes even without learning.

Al-Majdhoub was a Sufi man enticed to the mystical divine presence. The place where the Maqam was built, namely al-Thaher Mountain is referred to as Rijal Sufa (men of Sufi) to remind the holy men buried in the shrine.

SHEIK KHALED SHRINE

Just beyond the center of the village and near the Women’s Association seat, there is the domed shrine of Sheikh Khaled, an Ottoman building dedicated to a local holy man whose story is long forgotten.

DEIR GHASSANEH WOMEN SOCIETY

The Deir Ghassaneh Women Society is an association that collects 40 women under the coordination of'Ansaf Alsheyby.

The society creates opportunities for girls and women in what is still a conservative rural community. They produce herbs, local food in jars, cook meals for the children of two village schools, and have a dressmaker's workroom to teach and realize dresses.

STREET FOOD AND SWEETS: TASTE AND EXPERIENCE

Like in most of the villages, also in Deir Ghassaneh the traditional restaurants are absent but there are a lot of shops and fast food cooking with the usual variety of offers: falafel, shawarma, sandwiches, freekeh, pita bread, baklava, knafeh, kullaj.

ACCOMMODATION AND GASTRONOMIC MEALS ORGANIZED BY THE WOMEN ASSOCIATION OF DEIR GHASSANEH

In Bani Zeid there are not yet structured homestays or hotels for tourists, but there are other chances offered by the Women Association.

MUSIC AND DANCE: A NICE EVENING

In one of the palaces of Deir Ghassaneh downtown, some rooms on the court are dedicated to music and dance. It is one of the seats of Al Khamandjati, group, which has its headquarter in Ramallah.

The group organizes, after prior notice, an evening of music, song and dance where the participation and training of the guests about the local version of the Dabka typical dance is the main component.

 

BEIT RIMA

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

CULTURAL CENTRE OF BANI ZEID

In an old building of the Ottoman-Palestinian style with a garden and a kindergarten, the Cultural Centre is going to be restored.

NABI SALEH SUFI SHRINE

In the surroundings of Beit Rima an interesting visit brings to the shrine of Nabi Saleh, which probably dates back to the last Mamluk or early Ottoman period, around 1500 AD.

It has been extended and restored several times since then, most recently in 2003. The archaeological record suggests that it was built on top of a twelfth-century Crusader church, later replaced a Byzantine monastery before definitively become an Islamic shrine.

This is a pattern typical of Palestine’s sacred sites. During the centuries, the shrine became the focus for an annual pilgrimage that took place every May, and which included, until recently, popular songs and dancing.

The name Nabi Saleh refers to a pre-Islamic Arab prophet.

The Shrine consists of two rooms in the form of an Iwan, a square or rectangular shaped area closed from three sides whereas the fourth side is open with an arch.

On the east side of the shrine, lies the burial chamber adorned by the tomb, which is similar to other Islamic sanctuaries. An opening in the roof of the shrine enables the visitors to enjoy a view from above.

PRIVATE AND HOSPITABLE HOUSE OF ABED AL-RAZEQ

Led by the local guide, the visitors can be welcomed in the Abed Al-Razeq Al-Alali palace by the landlord.

Al-Alali is an expression which means, in the local sense, an architectural unit that indicates the high social status of its owner. The palace is a large complex of Ottoman-Palestinian buildings which still holds the premises of the complete cycle of treatment of olives until the oil. It reminds of the old source of wealth of the family, owners of large extensions of land with olives.

The visit of the house offers the opportunity to live for some moments the atmosphere of the end of the 19th century, witnessed by rooms well furnished with original furniture. The terrace of the upper floor offers a view at 360° on the village and the surroundings.

FATIMA ABED ALI FOR EXPERIENCES OF EMBROIDERY WITH STRAW

In a large room on the main street of Beit Rima, the visitor can meet, after prior notice, Fatima Abed Ali who will introduce the guest to her sister Eideh.

Eideh will show the products of embroidery made with straw from palm trees and olive branches. Scarves, carpets, bags, baskets, of good quality, are produced and the artist is willing to teach how to make them.

After the lesson with the inevitable Arabic coffee, the teacher will give the participants also some straws and branches and the “mikhraz”, the special needle for the straw and branches, to invite them to continue the exercises at home.

BAKERY ABED ALI: HOT TABOON WITH CHEESE OR ZA’ATAR

In the same premises of the embroidery, the family cooks in a fired wood oven and prepares with the guests a delicious taboon with za’atar or cheese, known as manaqeesh, and the usual Palestinian herbs and spices.

STREET FOOD AND TYPICAL SWEETS

Walking along Beit Rima, near the main square, the visitors see shops for local specialties of fast and cheap meal.

The best suggestions are:

• Abu Jawadt, open every evening (8 pm – 12 am) from Sunday until Thursday.  Friday, Saturday and other holidays from the morning until midnight. It offers a wide range of street food.

• Same excellent offer by ShamShown , open every evening (8 pm – 12 am)

• Yazeed, is open all day (6 am – 12 pm) of the whole week.

• Al Khal restaurant too is open 6am - 12 pm 7days.

HOMESTAY AND GASTRONOMIC MEAL

The homestay and meal listed in Deir Ghassaneh are also adopted for the visitors of the adjacent Beit Rima.