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Music and speeches at an event, 1966
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posted on 2019-05-30, 15:02 authored by Freja Howat-Maxted, Leila Sansour, Jacob NorrisJacob NorrisThis is a digital reproduction of an image held in the private collection of George Harb.
These images were taken at an event in June 1966 and show a band playing music, the audience and George Harb giving a speech. George Harb became famous all over Bethlehem as a “khatib”
(orator/public speaker) due to his specialism in the Arabic language and
his talent for oratory. Arabic was the main subject he taught in his
career as a teacher. As such he was often selected, and often still is,
for any event requiring a public speaker, especially for the various
marriage rituals. These include the “tulba” (formal request of hand in
marriage – usually a private affair within the families’ homes); the
“khutba” (engagement ceremony/party where bride and groom exchange
rings); the “sahra” (evening party for the groom and male
friends/relatives); and the actual wedding reception/party (which
includes the “zaffa” – wedding procession).
George
would be hired as a speaker at all these events, especially for
Bethlehem’s notable and elite families. He would also be hired for
funerals, especially during the First Intifada when he was regularly
called out to Bethlehem’s refugee camps to commemorate individuals
recently martyred.
These images are part of the George Harb Photos collection, within the George Harb project of the Planet Bethlehem Archive.
