Visitors to Palestine and hikers on The Palestinian Heritage Trail may stop and visit women at the Center as they pass through Burqin and arrange to a meal of local cuisine ready for them as they visit the Jarrar Palace.

The Ladies Center Society in the village of Burqin is fortunate to use the the kitchen and large meeting room in the rehabilitated Jarrar Palace and have the support of the local municipality. The magnificent stonework and tiles were restored with the support of USAID funding.

In the large meeting room the women are able to serve meals of local specialties to tourist groups and for local festivals, as well as prepare meals for school programs. In the adjacent kitchen, Omaima Khlouf, contact for the Society, demonstrates, with the assistance of other members, the process of preparing za’atar (duqqa), which is milled thyme blended with sumac, cumin, toasted sesame seeds, olive oil, and salt. These ingredients are locally raised in this rural community, which the women either raise themselves or purchase from local farmers.

The women also prepare humus, maftool (cous cous) and jam. Their embroidery and beadwork are displayed and sold in the municipality’s office in another area of the beautifully renovated building.
Visitors to Palestine and hikers on The Palestinian Heritage Trail may stop and visit women at the Center as they pass through Burqin and arrange to a meal of local cuisine ready for them as they visit the Jarrar Palace.

Contact Omaima Khlouf at 05590464445 to make arrangements for your visit.