My Grandmother and Other Stories: Histories of the Palestinians as ...
My Grandmother and Other Stories: Histories of the Palestinians as ...
My Grandmother and Other Stories: Histories of the Palestinians as ...
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Hanna <strong>and</strong> Mathilde Bisharat (holding infants), with o<strong>the</strong>r family members, in front <strong>of</strong> Villa Harun ar-R<strong>as</strong>hid,<br />
ca. 1929. The infants are Ibrahim (Fred) <strong>and</strong> his twin, Habeeb, who died <strong>of</strong> pneumonia in Villa Harun ar-<br />
R<strong>as</strong>hid <strong>as</strong> a toddler. Source: George Bisharat<br />
from <strong>the</strong> British M<strong>and</strong>atory government to purch<strong>as</strong>e surplus army goods. On returning<br />
to <strong>the</strong> barbershop, Hanna queried his friend about <strong>the</strong> document. Haqqi responded that<br />
he couldn’t read English <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>refore didn’t know. <strong>My</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>n <strong>of</strong>fered to<br />
interpret, on condition <strong>of</strong> being let into <strong>the</strong> deal. That began a pr<strong>of</strong>itable relationship<br />
between, on <strong>the</strong> one h<strong>and</strong>, my gr<strong>and</strong>fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> Ibrahim Haqqi, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> British<br />
M<strong>and</strong>atory Government on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. <strong>My</strong> uncles believe, in fact, that it w<strong>as</strong> this deal<br />
that secured <strong>the</strong> financing for <strong>the</strong> family home in Talbiyeh, an area <strong>the</strong>n virtually<br />
unsettled, <strong>and</strong> consisting <strong>of</strong> olive orchards <strong>and</strong> vineyards.<br />
<strong>My</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>fa<strong>the</strong>r, although a Christian, named his new home ‘Villa Harun ar-R<strong>as</strong>hid’, in<br />
honour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> celebrated Muslim caliph renowned for his p<strong>as</strong>sion for justice, generosity,<br />
<strong>and</strong> love <strong>of</strong> learning. These were principles that Hanna valued <strong>and</strong> emulated. <strong>My</strong> family<br />
lived in <strong>the</strong> Talbiyeh home for several years, during which several <strong>of</strong> my uncles were<br />
born. One, Habib, died <strong>as</strong> a toddler <strong>of</strong> pneumonia. His surviving twin, Alfred, still<br />
remembers watching <strong>the</strong> swirling heat waves rising from <strong>the</strong> kerosene heater in <strong>the</strong><br />
house, <strong>and</strong> wondering if that w<strong>as</strong> his bro<strong>the</strong>r’s soul rising to heaven.<br />
<strong>My</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> his bro<strong>the</strong>rs played in <strong>the</strong> slowly-disappearing fields <strong>and</strong> orchards<br />
nearby, <strong>and</strong> went to school at Terra Sancta College up <strong>the</strong> hill from <strong>the</strong> house. Facing<br />
Jerusalem Quarterly 30 [ 93 ]