Isolated cave-dwelling Palestinian family attracts volunteers

With the help of some foreign volunteers, Om Baher prepares pekmez, one of the most famous traditional foods in this area.

“I make grape pekmez. We collect the grapes then wash and stem them. After that we separate the pulp from the skin then put the pulp on the stove. We don't add sugar or anything else,” Om Baher said.

Nassar's family was forced to lead a traditional life on the top of this mountain and had adapted to that for the past 100 years. Settlements surround the place from all four directions and deny the family access to water and electricity. The family is also unable to build a house instead of this cave in which its members have lived for 100 years.

“My grandfather lived in this cave. They told us we are not allowed to build a house. We have access to neither water nor electricity even though we tried a lot but they still refused. We filed a lawsuit 21 years ago against Israel because it is besieging our land and nothing has happened so far,” Mr. Nassar said.

The family succeeded in marketing itself on the international level. Foreign volunteers started flocking to the place not only to declare solidarity with members of the family, but also to experience this style of life. Francisca, for example, is a German girl who left luxury in the homeland behind and here she is now preparing food for her friends in the traditional way.

Volunteers stay here for months and learn from the family the ways to adapt to such circumstances. They prepare their own food and work in the land. They take part in several other activities that give the place a special flavor and at the same time guard it against occupation.

Nassar's family managed to turn its harsh living conditions on top of this mountain into a unique human experience that attracted volunteers from all over the world and who seek to learn from it.