Jerusalem Notebook

Rediscover Jerusalem through a Palestinian lens.
Cancer Patients from Gaza Being Treated at Jerusalem Hospitals Appeal Israel’s Deportation Order

They have cancer; they struggled to get to Jerusalem for treatment; now they face deportation to a war zone without health care.

Closure and Access to Jerusalem Palestinian Jerusalemites Invent Apps to Navigate Unpredictable Checkpoint Statuses

The hazards of driving while Palestinian

Spiritual and Religious Life al-Barazeq al-Maqdisi, a Ramadan Treat

Nowhere can you find barazeq as scrumptious as you find it in Jerusalem during Ramadan.

Blog Posts

Spiritual and Religious Life A Breath of Respite: Impressions of a Local Jerusalemite on the First Day of Ramadan

What was the scene around al-Aqsa Mosque on the first night of Ramadan after months of wartime closures?

Spiritual and Religious Life No Public Celebrations or Decorations in Jerusalem This Ramadan

As Gaza starves, Jerusalemites can’t imagine a festive Ramadan as usual.

Palestinian Cultural Organizations in East Jerusalem Face Hardships and Uncertain Future

A hoped-for post-pandemic revival slammed into a wall on October 7, 2024

Layali al-Tarab fi Quds al-‘Arab Festival Closes Its 2023 Season

Palestinian Jerusalemites usher in the fall season with a splendid Arabic music festival.

Who Are the Palestinians of Jerusalem? In the Heart of the Old City, the African Community Society Unites Jerusalem’s Afro-Palestinians

The society brings together Jerusalemites of Chadian, Senegalese, Nigerian, and Sudanese descent to build communities and provide opportunities.

The Third Annual Jerusalem Arab Film Festival Held in Summer 2023

An annual festival of Arab cinema in Jerusalem presents an expanded program for its third edition, bringing the Arab world to the city. 

Who Are the Palestinians of Jerusalem? A Visit to Bassem’s Gallery & Café: Celebrating and Preserving Palestinian Culture

Bassem’s Gallery & Café is filled with Palestinian artifacts curated by Issam Bayan and his uncle, Bassem Hallak, both of the Palestinian African community.

The Palestine Festival of Literature Hosts a Unique Conversation on “Surviving Colonialism” in Jerusalem

The Palestine Festival of Literature returns after a four-year hiatus.