Loading ...VIDEO: Keeping Palestinian Heritage Alive
BY SHARON GAETA
She is a woman of many talents, including designing and hand making two scarfs for two separate popes of the Roman Catholic Church. Maha Saca is not only creative but she is the founder of the Palestinian heritage center where she helps woman refugees.
NBC 24 ‘s Sharon Gaeta got the chance to sit down and talk with the Guinness world book of records winner in Bethlehem, whose children are living right here in Toledo.
Stepping inside the Palestinian heritage center you will find an array of Custom made items. From pillows, place mats, scarfs and dresses all with the traditional Palestinian markings.
“Here in the heritage center we can change the story. This land can Belong to people because this land is not a land without people through are deep Heritage, culture, houses and Human beings ” said Maha Saca.
Maha Seca, the founder and director of the Palestinian heritage center opened her shop in Bethlehem back in 1991 to help preserve the Palestinian identity, culture and existence. Here, Maha shows us every generation in her family dating back until 1885.
“From the roots of the wedding of my daughter, my mother, my grandmother, my great grandmother my great, great grandmother in 1903 and my father and his great father 1885.” said Maha Saca
Heritage proves to be throughout history, a document of land ownership that Maha says can be found through the traditional Palestinian costumes, which is considered to be a document of identity and a manuscript of what that person’s nature and beliefs are. In effort to help keep the culture alive, Maha employees dozens of woman from the Palestinian refugee camps.
” In the center there is more than forty families. Forty woman are working on embroidery because this is the only work they can do in their house, between their children and families. They also increase their income.” Said Saca.
Maha ‘s work is so unique that it has earned her an array of awards worldwide, such as creating and designing the world’s largest dress and is now in the Guinness world book of records. She has even been chosen to design and hand make two scarfs for two separate popes in the Roman Catholic Church.
“When I made the scarf and gave it to the pope, I spoke with him. I told him that I want the return of the refugees. ” said Saca
Maha tells NBC 24 she will keep the heritage center open, in hopes of keeping her heritage alive despite the violence and discrimination they are face every day. She is looking forward to The day when the large concrete wall that separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem will Be knocked down, once again … Delivering peace.