Did you know that the Palestinian Heritage Museum stands as a testament to resilience? It actively defies erasure of Palestinian presence. Today, we explore its story.
The Palestinian Heritage Museum began as the Folkloric Heritage Center in 1962. Hind al-Husseini founded it. This followed the Palestinian Nakba in 1948. Hind converted her home into a shelter for children orphaned by the Deir Yassin massacre. The institution grew from there.
Hind al-Husseini began collecting heritage items from Palestinian villages after 1948. She aimed to preserve Palestinian heritage. This was to display it as proof of the Palestinian people’s deep roots in their land.
Rana Qutteineh said the museum shows the depths of the rootedness in Palestinian land. You can see Palestinian collectibles from the 1920s. Ceramic and pottery tools are present, as well as silver and copper items.
The Palestinian Heritage Museum boasts over 4,000 heritage pieces. These tell a story of the Palestinian people. Traditional dresses from different villages show what ancestors used to wear.
Dr. Mahmoud Hawari said the museum tells the story of Palestinian political and social existence in Jerusalem for hundreds of years. It refutes the Zionist propaganda that Palestinians only recently came to Palestine.
The museum’s history has been tumultuous. Its name changed. Its collections were housed by different institutions. It shut down during the First Intifada. It reopened in 2012 as the Palestinian Heritage Museum/Dar Al-Tifel Al-Arabi Association.
The Palestinian Heritage Museum is located in a 200-year-old Ottoman building. This building dates back to 1882. Salim al-Husseini started its construction. It features three floors.
The ground floor displays multimedia. You will see exhibits on Der Yassin and destroyed villages. Displays include Hind Husseini, straws, pottery, and agricultural tools.
The first floor features traditional costumes and jewelry. A Jerusalem Salon and an Ottoman room are also there. The third floor houses the library and workshop.
The museum owns a rare collection of heritage tools. You can find Palestinian traditional dresses and silver jewelry. Metal, copper, pottery, and straw utensils are on display too. Furniture completes the collection.
The Palestinian Heritage Museum’s collections are original and rare. They provide an important source of knowledge for researchers. Most pieces were accumulated in the 1920s and 1930s.
The museum’s goal is to safeguard and exhibit Palestinian heritage. It affirms the people’s profound connection to their land. The museum includes a collections and documentation section. There is also a conservation laboratory and a research section.
The Palestinian Heritage Museum faced closure due to financial constraints. The Jerusalem Municipality imposed high city taxes. It hopes to reopen with funding to maintain this important department.
Maryvelma Smith O’Neil called it a beautiful house. It possesses a history of the Palestinian Jerusalemites. It records the memories of the Deir Yassin massacre. The Palestinian Heritage Museum stands as a symbol, preserving history and identity.