By Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.
During the 5th Annual Taybeh Oktoberfest, 3 and 4 October 2009, the Taybeh Beer tour is surely to be popular. Amazingly, people from all over the world somehow discover Taybeh and actually visit without having been enticed by major advertisements. Taybeh Beer tours are given daily but even when the brewery is closed on Sundays, if a family member is available, the brewery is immediately opened when we see visitors outside our kitchen window since we live with the famous beer in the Middle East.
We coined the slogan, “The Best in the Middle East” since every successful company has to have a great motto. But truthfully speaking, after the Oslo Agreement (1993) we had the dream that, if the world recognised Palestine and we had freedom, we, too, could make excellent products like other countries. The message came loud and clear from the master brewer, Nadim Canaan Khoury, my brother-in-law, by his personal signature on each and every Taybeh Beer bottle reflecting the high quality and premium status of the Palestinian brew. He is proud to craft the best product made in Palestine.
Oh! Dear Lord! Palestine and Beer? Now that does not sound proverbial. To the shock of many international visitors, we too in Palestine want to be normal people, and like human beings all over the world, want to have a chance to excel in all fields. We Palestinians in Taybeh produce excellent beer, thus keeping a tradition since before the time of Christ, who in his first miracle changed water into wine at the Wedding in Cana.
Cana to Taybeh is a fairly long way whether geographically or historically, but either way we invite all to join us in Taybeh for an incredible open day called the Taybeh Oktoberfest, which has been happening every year since 2005 and has inspired festivals in other locations. As one creative way to survive under strict closure, the Oktoberfest was originally held in order to boost the economy since it’s so difficult to take Palestinian products into Jerusalem (although Israeli products flood the Palestinian supermarkets and take advantage of the lack of awareness regarding the support of local Palestinian products). Thus, Taybeh Beer, using its good name for high quality and excellence in Palestine, started to invite people to the village for a day of fun. While spending the day there, visitors actually buy honey, olive oil, and all of the natural and local products made in Taybeh. As a consequence, the ailing economy – with 50 percent unemployment – experiences a tremendous boost.
Along with the Taybeh Brewery, you can visit the factory that makes ceramic lamps, the Old Palestinian House of Parables, the Old City of Taybeh, recently renovated by Riwaq in cooperation with the Taybeh Municipality, which displays the beauty of Palestinian architecture, and the most amazing historical site of all, the fourth-century ruins of St. George Byzantine Church, now a precious archaeological site. The church was built by St. Helen, the Mother of Constantine the Great, when she built the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
SAVE THE DATE
The Taybeh Oktoberfest will be held Saturday and Sunday, October 3 & 4, 2009 in Taybeh-Ramallah, Palestine, both days, 11 am to 10 pm. Taybeh, being one of the most ancient places in Palestine will welcome visitors from all over the world to experience local Palestinian dance and music while highly inspiring people to travel to this tiny village where Taybeh Beer, the Finest in the Middle East is produced. Please come and experience Oktoberfest, Palestinian style.
