Bios

Palestinian Jerusalemites have made myriad and diverse contributions to their city’s history and community fabric. Here we profile some of those people—past and present; famous and obscure—whose lives and work and stories have helped shape the larger Jerusalem Story over time.
Health and Health Care Samah Jabr

A psychiatrist, writer, and public intellectual whose work emphasizes collective trauma, resilience, human rights, and dignity

Who Are the Palestinians of Jerusalem? Amin al-Khatib

A beloved doctor who served his city and his people, especially those in need, for seven decades

Health and Health Care Tawfiq Canaan

An epidemiologist, ethnographer, and institution builder who made foundational contributions to medicine and health care in Jerusalem and Palestine

Find alphabetically by first letter of last name

Hassan Sidqi al-Dajani

A prominent politician, lawyer, and journalist whose political views and activism led to his assassination during a turbulent time in Palestine’s history

Education Mahera Dajani

An educator who has been leading Dar Al-Tifel for over 30 years

Health and Health Care Mahmoud Dajani

A doctor who offered his services widely, helped establish hospitals and clinics, and taught himself to play the piano

Subhi Taher Dajani

A blind educator from Jerusalem who made substantial contributions to the education and vocational training of blind people in the Arab world

Institutional Capacity Ibrahim Dakkak

A talented and dedicated engineer who devoted his life to institution building, Jerusalem, and the Palestinian national cause

Culture, Art, and Heritage Taleb Dweik

A Palestinian painter and art educator whose work keeps the spirit, color, and memory of Jerusalem alive