AL-BUSTAN NEWS
Covering Philadelphia’s Southwest Asian and North African communities
Tatreez Workshop Helps Keep a Palestinian Tradition Alive in South Philly
By Elissa Odeh
For Samar Dahleh, the community element of tatreez is what draws her to it the most. “You are supposed to sit like the khaltos (aunties) used to, do tatreez together, chatter and enjoy a cup of tea,” she said.
The Mirage of Freedom: Reflecting on Elia Suleiman’s “It Must Be Heaven”
By Ragad Ahmad
After years of American individualism, where success is measured by self-sufficiency and connections often feel transactional, the interdependence I found in Palestine felt like rediscovering a language I had forgotten I knew.
Threads of Identity: Keeping Clothing Traditions Alive in a Fast Fashion World
By Ragad Ahmad
For many Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) women across Philadelphia, cultural garments serve not merely as clothing, but as living threads connecting them to their ancestral heritage.