Souq al-Bizaar
The interior of Souq al-Bizaar house, where many gatherings like this one took place. The occasion here was Wafaa’s fourth birthday. From left to right around the table: Ibtisam Abdel Mohsen Daoud Dajani, Amineh Mohammed Hussein Dajani, Fatmeh Mohammed Hussein Dajani, Muna Hussein Mohammed Dajani, Itaf Mohammed Hussein Dajani and her brother Hussein, at the back Bassam Abdel Mohsen Daoud Dajani and Fouad Daoud Fayek Dajani. The boy in the middle is Mohammed Hussein Mohammed Dajani and to his left is his grandfather Mohammed Hussein Taher Dajani. Wafaa Daoud Fayek Dajani is standing and close to her, Rihab Abdel Mohsen Daoud Dajani. Behind them is Faihaa Daoud Fayek Dajani. Next is Fayek Daoud Taher Dajani and his daughter Khaddouj and Fayek Daoud Fayek Dajani (cropped). In front of the table from left to right: Fatina Daoud Fayek Dajani and Fadia Daoud Fayek Dajani. Jerusalem, circa 1962. Source: Fouad Daoud Fayek Dajani family photo collection.
Souq al-Bizaar (because for us it is Bizaar not Bazaar, Dijani not Dajani). A market and a landmark of Old Jerusalem (see map: Souq al-Bizaar). Post-1948 Fayek settles for the shop in Souq al-Bizaar. A shop that was one of many properties the brothers owned. Too many to count. A lot was lost, a lot was stolen. A lot was destroyed.
Amongst what’s left was this Souq al-Bizaar shop and the two-storey house directly above it. And this house becomes home post-Cairo: Fayek’s and Abu Suleiman’s families each occupying a floor. That’s two brothers and their wives, children and grandchildren. Too many to count, and too many to house in this archaic property. Abu Suleiman moves out first, followed by Suleiman. Fayek remains there. Until his wife Zohra dies. Then it was time to move out. The house still exists, and you can even stay there. You will be staying at the New Swedish Hostel in Souq al-Bizaar.
The house in Souq al-Bizaar: where the two brothers Fayek and Mohammed and their families lived after the return from Cairo.
- Salwa Fayek Daoud Dajani, Fayek Daoud Fayek Dajani, Mohammed Hussein Mohammed Dajani and Ibtisam Abdel Mohsen Daoud Dajani
Entrance to the Souq al-Bizaar house which, after Fayek and his family moved to Shu’fat, was rented out and converted into the Swedish Hostel. Jerusalem, 1998. Source: Adel Ahmad Daoud Dajani family photo collection.
←