A legacy from the heart of Bethlehem

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April 20: Birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Bethlehem was believed to be in the spring, in the period between March 9 and May 4, 4 BC. This date is consistent with the available evidence including a reference in Luke to there being shepherds out in the fields at night.

A NAME IN BETHLEHEM HISTORY

March 23: Olga Assaf Wahbeh, resident of Beit Jala, died on February 25, 2006, spent 60 years in the field of education under the British Mandate, the Jordanian rule, and finally the Israeli occupation. She worked as a teacher, a principal, and a consultant for a number of private and public schools.

Olga studied at the Secondary British School in Jerusalem and continued her education at the British School for Girls where she received a teaching diploma.

In 1925 Olga received a scholarship to pursue her education at the American University of Beirut (AUB) where she studied History with people like Constantine Zreiq and Adel Eseirat.

When she graduated in 1929, Olga became the first Jerusalem student to ever graduate from the AUB, after which she returned to Jerusalem and was appointed as a lecturer at the Girls' Teachers' College.

She later received another scholarship for further studies in London. Upon her return from London, Olga was appointed Assistant Director and later Director to the Woman's Training College.

In 1950 the Jordanian government assigned Olga as Supervisor for all the girls schools in the West Bank. She later became Deputy to the Assistant Minister of Education in Jordan.

Olga was the founder of a girls' training school in Ramllah to which she served as principal until 1965.

After her retirement, Olga still worked as advisor and board member of a number of educational institutions such as Bir Zeit University, the Good Shepherd School in Beit Jala, the YMCA, and the Mennonites School in Beit Jala. She was also a member in the advisory council of the Orthodox Palestinian Society and a member in the Jordanian Council of Higher Education.

Olga holds the King Hussein Medal for Education, the King Gustav of Sweden medal of the North Polar Star for Education.

September 19: Jamil-Rafael Zacharia Abu Fheileh (BK# 592) born in Bethlehem.

February 13: Victoria-Miladeh Zacharia Abu Fheileh (BK# 593) born in Bethlehem.

A NAME IN BETHLEHEM HISTORY

October 13: Shafiq Handal born in El Salvador to Bethlehemite parents who had previously migrated to El Salvador. As a university student there, Shafiq became the leader of the Students' Communist Party which aimed at ridding El Salvador from the governing dictatorship at the time. This caused the Salvadorian government to exile him in the 1950's. In 1970 Shafiq became the Secretary General of the Salvadorian Communist Party leading the Varabando Front for the National Freedom which, over twelve years from 1980 to 1991, waged the popular war against the Salvadorian regime and its US baked forces. In 2004 Shafiq nominated himself for the Presidency of El Salvador against his Bethlehemite right-wing rival, Antonio Al Saqa, to whom he lost the elections. Shafiq died and was buried in El Salvador in January 2006 at the age of 75.

September 14: Christiane Anton Dabdoub (BK# 254) born in Beit Jala at the Beit Jala Government Hospital (known today as King Hussein Hospital)

November 10: Andre Anton Dabdoub (BK# 272) born at Al Khaldi Hospital in Jerusalem. Delivering doctor was Dr. As'ad Bishara.

September 7: Philippe-Antoine Charles Dabdoub (BK# 270) born in Bethlehem at the Holy Family Hospital (formerly known as the French Hospital).

October 27: Sami Albert Giacaman (BK# 321) born at the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem.

July 22: Saro Albert Giacaman (BK# 322) born at the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem.

March 31: Claude-Marie Charles Dabdoub (BK# 271) born at the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem.

December 4: Nadim-Yousef Andre Dabdoub (BK# 276) born at the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem. Delivering doctor was Dr. Sahar Al Araj Marzouqa.