Thursday nights
Amman-Jerusalem-Amman: What now seems to be a wildly unimaginable trip, Hussein and his family, who lived in Amman between 1957 and 1967, used to drive to Jerusalem (a drive of a mere 88 km) on weekends to visit family, including of course, spending Thursday nights at the house of Abdel Mohsen and Amineh. Hussein Mohammed Hussein Dajani, his wife Abla Houri and their children Muna, Mohammed and baby Hania. Jordan, 1962.
When I imagine those Thursday nights, I think of the late 1950s and early 1960s, a time of relative respite during which the nine brothers are rebuilding and enjoying their lives again, before being stifled by the Naksa, the Setback of 1967, when Israel occupied the rest of Jerusalem.
But for now, allow me to set the scene: it is Thursday evening, the end of a long working week. Abdel Mohsen is locking up his shop in Souq al-Attarin in Old Jerusalem and is making his way back home in Shu’fat, north Jerusalem. His brother Subhi has finished off his work at the ‘Ala-iya School in Ramallah and soon Lisa will be driving him to his brother’s house. Their cousin Hussein in Amman has had his siesta and is setting off with his family to Jerusalem in his DKW, a drive of 88 km that takes Hussein, a slow driver, over three hours.
We drove from Amman to Jerusalem on weekends to spend time with family.
- Mohammed Hussein Mohammed Dajani
Once everyone arrives at Abdel Mohsen’s house, they start off the night by nibbling on a spread of mezze and drinking, while exchanging their stories and latest gossip. And as the night progresses and everyone is having a great time, they sing and they dance. And of the many songs performed on Thursday nights, ‘ya ritni tir’ is a favourite, a song composed by Yahya Lababidi and sung by Farid al-Atrash. Those were the Thursday nights so vividly and fondly remembered.
About those jubilant Thursday nights.
- Mohammed Hussein Mohammed Dajani, Rihab Abdel Mohsen Daoud Dajani, Riad Abdel Mohsen Daoud Dajani and his wife Dyala Husseini
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