AL-BUSTAN NEWS
Covering Philadelphia’s Southwest Asian and North African Communities
In the Occupied West Bank, Eid Offers Little to Celebrate
By Haifa Ali
As a child, Shilbae did not have to consider the ethics of celebrating Eid in the midst of widespread violence, loss and destruction.
The St. Maron Lebanese Festival Serves Up Food, Music, Dance and Joy
By Elissa Odeh
Organized by church volunteers, the festival has become a highlight of the year for both the Lebanese American community and Philadelphians interested in Middle Eastern culture.
A Golan Heights Baker Finds Community and a Calling in Philadelphia
By Elissa Odeh
At Majdal Bakery, Kenan Rabah strives to serve Philly a taste of his heritage, helping him reshape his identity from one lost in political conflict to one rooted in history and tradition.
Tatreez Workshop Helps Keep a Palestinian Tradition Alive in South Philly
By Elissa Odeh
For Samar Dahleh, the community element of tatreez is what draws her to it the most. “You are supposed to sit like the khaltos (aunties) used to, do tatreez together, chatter and enjoy a cup of tea,” she said.
The Mirage of Freedom: Reflecting on Elia Suleiman’s “It Must Be Heaven”
By Ragad Ahmad
After years of American individualism, where success is measured by self-sufficiency and connections often feel transactional, the interdependence I found in Palestine felt like rediscovering a language I had forgotten I knew.
Threads of Identity: Keeping Clothing Traditions Alive in a Fast Fashion World
By Ragad Ahmad
For many Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) women across Philadelphia, cultural garments serve not merely as clothing, but as living threads connecting them to their ancestral heritage.
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