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Birmingham Chapter
July/August 2015 Issue 9

Highlights
Our Voice

Pg. 2

Ramallah Convention/
Back to School
Pg. 3
Why Recycle?

Pg. 4

Heath/Foods

Pg. 5

Dates to Remember

Pg. 6

Summer Fun Pics

Pg. 7

The name
Ramallah" is
composed of
"Ram", an Aramaic
word that means
"high place or
mountain", and
"Allah", the Arabic
word for God, or
"The Hill of God"

Ramallah

A word from our President...

Vacation

by local clubs. We will keep you informed

about this major topic.

Our Rummage Sale was a success. Thanks

to everyone who contributed items, helped
sort and arrange them, and worked the two
days of our sale. Special thanks to our social chair, Samya Shunnarah, and also Nellie
Shunnarah who toiled diligently for four
days to prepare for the sale. Also we are
indebted to Fuad, Reyad, and Zeyad Shunnarah should be thanked for the venue. We
had a great time and hope to do it again next
year.

Participation in club activities is another area

of particular concern in our club. Although
we sent out 185 Interest Surveys to determine how the club can meet community expectations, only 15 took part in the survey.
To those, we say THANK YOU. Your input
is valuable. The club seeks to perpetuate our
culture and heritage. Working together as a
cooperative unit will serve us all in the long
run. As I have said before, please let me
know how we can better serve our community. Offer suggestions to
bring us together rather
than pointing out our
failures.

time is here! I wish everyone a

safe and fun time this summer. To accommodate vacations, the Ramallah Club will
not meet again until September 6th.

A major topic of concern in our club has

been the dwindling interest in the Ramallah
Club, especially among our youth. I received a proposal from the Federation that
will be presented at the Convention to hire a
national director of youth among, other
recommendations, for enlisting their interest

Gods peace and blessings

on each of you.
Sincerely,
Helen Shunnarah Mills

The Family of Rashed Haddadin, The Original Ramallah Family

A sculpture of the Haddadin Family who is believed to have founded the town of
Ramallah. According to a traditional tale, this family was the first to arrive to
Ramallah in the sixteenth century coming from the Jordanian town Al-Karak in
the south. The family was fleeing as a result of an internal dispute after the
refusal to give their beautiful daughter as a wife to one of the tribe leaders.
Rashid Haddadin had one daughter and 5 sons who formed at a later stage the
five main families in Ramallah.
Ramallah developed since then gradually and its population grew constantly
especially after the Nakba of 1948 as it was a host to refugees from different
Palestinian towns and villages that were occupied by Israel. Today, Ramallah is
one of the major Palestinian towns and is considered a political, an economical
and a cultural hub.
This artwork is miniature of a sculpture which
artists Sliman Mansour and Nabil Anani are
completing upon a request from Ramallah
Municipality. Once finished, the sculpture will
be placed in the centre of a roundabout
adjacent to Ramallah Municipality.
Haddadin Family (Ramallah)
Artists: Nabil Anani and Sliman Mansour

Our Voice
ADVICE by Shadia

Traditions
Like many first generations, i grew up eating mlukheya, mulfoof, mashi and every other Palestinian dish
that starts with an M. I listened to Shadia (of
course), Abdel Halim, Nancy Ajram, Fares Karem and
so many more. I spoke Arabic with the fluency of a
child born and raised in Ramallah. Sadly, over the
years, language, culture and cuisine have faded into
the background of our modern day American lives.
With each generation, were losing more and more of
our Palestinian identity. Were forgetting our stories
that made us who we are to no ones fault but our own.
Dont get me wrong, we should embrace this American
life but, we cannot forget where we come from. It saddens me to see generations below me grow up without
the Palestinian culture and the beautiful Arabic language. Their parents dont care, so why should they.
They have no idea the feats and hurdles that their
great grandparents have gone through so that they
could enjoy the lives theyve been privileged to have. I
dont see that spark in their eyes when they hear a
classic Arabic song. I dont hear their stomachs rumble
at the smell of knaffeh.
We have to continue our traditions and provide a legacy that future generations will be proud to embrace.
Teach your children. Be enthusiastic about our beautiful culture. Explain the conflict. Teach empathy and
loyalty. Teach them how to cook our food! Speak to
them in Arabic from the time theyre born and dont
ever stop. Listen to Arabic music. Tell them stories of
home, we love to hear them! NEVER stop being proud
of who you are and where you come from! Lead by example and they will follow.
Raci min Amrika
Elbi min Ramallah!
Ana Falestineya

Shadia
Shunnara

FaceBook Posts.
As I read the news feed on FB I come across
many videos in Arabic. I open them up and watch
them or just listen. I can't tell you how many
times they have resonated with me. I hear my
culture in every word and body gesture as well as
the reflective tones in the voices. Sadly I can't understand it all and for that I am ashamed. However, the passion in the videos evoke a nostalgic
feeling. Perhaps it is just hearing the sound of
Arabic, be it song or speech, that reminds me of
who I am. I love my culture and want you to desperately love it also. Pray for Peace...please!!!
Posted July 11 by Dr. Peter Sami Harb
When you cherish something, you place value on
it because you think that it is real or because it
defines who you think you are. This cherishing of
thoughts and opinions is what the false self
thrives on. It is what the false self is made of.
When you realize that none of your ideas about
truth are real, it is quite a shock to your system.
It is an unexpected blow to the seeker and the
seeking.
The task of any useful spiritual practice is therefore to dismantle cherishing the thoughts, opinions, and ideas that make up the false self, the
self that is seeking. This is the true task of both
meditation and inquiry.
Through meditation we can come to see that the
only thing that makes us suffer is our own mind.
Sitting quietly reveals the mind to be nothing but
conditioned thinking spontaneously arising within awareness. Through cherishing this thinking,
through taking it to be real and relevant, we create internal images of self and others and the
world. Then we live in these images as if they
were real. To be caught within these images is to
live in an illusory virtual reality.
-Adyashanti
Posted July 4 by Nabella Salama Shunnarah
We are all born the SAME, the only differences is
the ignorance we are subjected to that influence
our being....if we were ALL taught only to love
and care for other people, I guarantee the world
would be a happier place!!! Let's get ignorance
out of the equation to purify our souls!! Get
Smart People!!!
Posted July 14th by Samya Shunnarah

Ramallah Convention 2015

BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Its almost that time of year again. Yes, in a few weeks school will be back in session.
Is your child ready to succeed? Are you ready to help? Its a fact: Parents who play an
active role in their childrens education make a huge difference in their success. Here are
some things you can do to help your child prepare for the upcoming school year.
1. Get the children to bed on time. During the summer, children arent always on a schedule. But, proper rest is essential
for a healthy and productive school year. Help your child get used to the back-to-school routine: start the transition now to
earlier wake-up times and bedtimes. For more information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/parents/countdown-success
2. Communicate with teachers and the school. Contact your childs teachers at the start of the school year. Get acquainted with them and let them know you want to be an active partner in helping your student to learn and grow. Plan to
keep track of your childs subjects, homework, activities and progress throughout the school year. And, consider serving on
your local PTA or joining other parent groups that engage with and support your childs
s c h o o l . F o r
a d d i t i o n a l
i d e a s ,
g o
t o :
http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/succeed/succeed.pdf
3. Provide for healthy meals. Hungry kids cant concentrate on learning, so good nutrition plays an important role in your childs school performance. Studies show that children who eat healthy, balanced breakfasts and lunches do better in school. Fix nutritious
meals at home, and, if you need extra help, find out if your family qualifies for any Child
Nutrition Programs, like the National School Lunch Program. Learn more at: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Back-to-School.shtml
4. Take your child to the doctor, and make sure your child has health insurance coverage. Its a good idea to take
your child in for a physical and an eye exam before school starts. Most schools require up-to-date immunizations, and you may
be asked to provide paperwork showing that your child has all the necessary shots and vaccines.
5. Prepare a study area. Set up a special place at home to do school work and homework. Remove distractions. Make it
clear that education is a top priority in your family: show interest and praise your childs work.
6. Read Together. Take the pledge to read with your child for 20 minutes every day. Your example reinforces the
importance of literacy, and reading lets you and your child explore new worlds of fun and adventure together.

Summer time is great for vacations and fun. We get

hot, thirsty and reach for a water bottle. Although
they are convenient and refreshing please keep in
mind some important factors to consider before
tossing them in the garbage. According to ConserveEnergy-Future.com when we asked Why should we
recycle? here is what they had to say:
Several reasons exist as to why we should
promote recycling. Recycling helps us to convert our
old products into new useful products. In other words,
it is good for the environment. Since we are saving
resources and are sending less trash to the landfills,
it helps in reducing air and water pollution. Listed
below are few reasons why we should all recycle old
products.
1. Reduce pollution: The more you recycle old
products the less you will require the need of buying
new products. As a result there will be energy saving.
Reduction in the harmful gasses will not only help in
cleaning the environment but will also clean the air
we breathe. The more clean air we breathe the more
positive impact it will have on our life.
2. Reduction in Landfills: Size of the landfills can
be significantly reduced if we reduce our daily waste
and recycle more. If we dont recycle the product the
landfills site will become more common around the
city which will certainly affect wildlife and environment. So to reduce it we must recycle as much as we
can.

3. Conservation of materials: All the new products

are made from the raw materials which are procured
from harvesting the earths natural resources. for
e.g.: you need wood to make paper and wooden products. If more trees are cut down to make such products it will affect wildlife and environment in a significant way. This can be reduced if recycle more and
more paper and rely less on new products.
4. Save Energy: When there will be less demand for
new products then of course less products will be produced which will help in saving the energy. Conservation of energy is the key element for the fight against
climate change.
5. Save Money: When you will recycle old products
and have less dependency on new products the obviously you will end up in saving some money. That
money can then be used for some other purposes.
When recycling is done on large scale the money
saved can have huge impact on your monthly
expenditure.

Visit for more information:

http://www.conserve-energyfuture.com/Why_Should_We_Recycle.php

Pacific Garbage Patch

Something you should know...
According to NOAA, The Great Pacific
Garbage Patch is one of many areas in the
ocean where marine debris naturally
concentrates because of ocean currents.
Dianna Parker from the NOAA Marine
Debris Program explains what a garbage
patch is and isn't, what we know and don't
know, and what we can do about this oceansized problem. This problem will only get
worst, please do your part.

Visit the website below to learn more and

view episodes on the Pacific Garbage Patch
and what we can do as individuals to help.
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast/june14
/mw126-garbagepatch.html

Kefir vs. Yogurt

eat more labne

Kefir

and yogurt are both cultured milk productsbut they contain different types of beneficial
bacteria. Yogurt contains transient beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive system clean and provide
food for the friendly bacteria that reside there. But
kefir can actually colonize the intestinal tract, a feat
that yogurt cannot match.
Kefir contains several major strains of friendly bacteria not commonly found in yogurt, Lactobacillus
Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter species, and
Streptococcus species. It also contains beneficial
yeasts, such as Saccharomyces kefir and Torula
kefir, which dominate, control and eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body. They do so by
penetrating the mucosal lining where unhealthy
yeast and bacteria reside, forming a virtual SWAT
team that housecleans and strengthens the intestines. Hence, the body becomes more efficient in resisting such pathogens as E. coli and intestinal parasites.
Kefirs active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by helping digest the foods
that you eat and by keeping the colon environment
clean and healthy. Because the curd size of kefir is
smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which
makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for
babies, the elderly and people experiencing chronic
fatigue and digestive disorders.
For more information: http://www.kefir.net/kefir-vs-

What we eat all the time

is actually very good for us!! Who Knew!!

Nutritional information for our favorite morning or

ah-surna Zate n Zaatar or Zaktar was originated
in Middle East. Depending on the size of Zaatar
bread (zaatar manakeesh) may weigh about 85g.
Each zaatar or zakhtar bread has about 377 calories
(162 calories from fat). Each zaatar contains 7.1g
protein. It is not a significant source of vitamins but
it is high in iron. Zaatar has no cholesterol. It is also
very low in sugar. Each Zaatar bread contains 18.0g
total fat (2.6g saturated fat), 293mg sodium, 116mg
potassium and 47.7g total carbohydrates.

Zatar Nutritional Facts

Serving Size 84g

Amount Per Serving
Calories 377
Calories from fat 162
Daily Value*
Total Fat 18.0g
28%
Saturated Fat 2.6g
13%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 293mg
12%
Potassium 116mg
3%
Total Carbohydrates 47.7g
16%
Dietary Fiber 2.6g
10%
Protein 7.1g

Newsletter
Sponsored by

Peter S. Harb
DMD, PC
See featured ad on page 7

DATES to Remember...
JULY BIRTHDAYS
John Riley Meeks 6th
Raymond Shunnarah 10th
Fuad Shunnarah 11th
Elizabeth Shunnarah 18th
Boulos R. Shunnarah 20th
Lori Shunnarah 21st
Brian Bateh 22nd
Gregory Shunnarah 26th

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
Jennifer Shunnarah 13th
Marie Bateh 17th
Erica Shunnarah 18th
Michael S. Shunnarah 18th
Joey Danforah 23rd
Salem Shunnarah 28th
Boulos F. Shunnarah 31st

Frank & Rena

Shunnarah, July 14th
Bishara & Tina
Shunnarah, July 16th
Fuad & Samira
Shunnarah, July 18th
Saliba & Nadia
Shunnarah, July 18th
Jamel & Rita
Danforah, July 22nd
Zeyad & Mona
Shunnarah, July 24th
Mike & Hala
Kassis, July 25th
Victor & Katherine
Shunnarah, July 29th
Boulos & Rania
Shunnarah, August 10th
Rita & Dan Cash
August 18th
hes4353@aol.com
elizshahid@gmail.com
crshunnarah@gmail.com
shunnarahf@bellsouth.net

rshunn9759@aol.com
boulos720@aol.com
gkshunn@aol.com
RamallahNews@aol.com

Summer Time Fun in the Sun!!!

Newsletter Sponsored by:

Congratulations to
Christina Shunnarah & Jack Rayyan
for their Engagement on June 14th

Peter S. Harb DMD, PC

Doctor Harb & His Staff
Welcome YOU!
Call for an appointment
or visit us online today!
205.871.9244 info@Doctorharb.com
1023 Oxmoor Rd Homewood, AL 35209

DoctorHarb.com

See featured ad on page 7

DMD, PC

Peter S. Harb

Newsletter
Sponsored by:

Club of Birmingham
P.O. Box 55631
Birmingham, AL 35255

American Ramallah

We are all a big part of the Original Ramallah Family Tree.

Which branch are you from?