Two brothers are unique in making the minarets and domes of the houses of God
The Tartir family..a rare imprint in the mosques of Palestine for 50 years
Youssef Tartir continues his father's journey in his only workshop.
Emirates today
Hand tools that are half a century old.
Emirates today
Mosque crescents are made in the sequin workshop for all the mosques of Palestine.
Emirates today
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In the middle of the old town in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, specifically on “Al-Saqia” Street, Youssef Al-Tartir (49 years) spends most of his time behind old manual machines, inside a small workshop he inherited from his father, along with his older brother Saeed, in order to manufacture mosques’ minarets and domes and her family.
What the Tartir brothers make is an image that is currently rare in Palestine. There is no mosque in the Palestinian territories where the Tartir family has left its own mark, specializing in the manufacture of mosque domes and minarets, which have been unique in their production for more than half a century.
The Tartir family, which lives in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, is famous for its rare specialization, and its uniqueness in this profession within the Palestinian territories. From 35 years ago until today, the two brothers Saeed and Youssef have completed the profession that their father Salim al-Tartir made his way to in 1968.
A legacy that never fades
The two brothers, Saeed and Youssef, made their way to the manufacture of domes and mosques in Palestine since their childhood, as they used to frequent their father’s workshop, which still bears the name “Al-Ikhlas” until today, to imbibe the love of this profession, which is based on decorating houses of worship in a literal way.
"Emirates Today" met Youssef Al-Tartir in the blessed month of Ramadan, after the work ended in his father's workshop in the center of the old town of Nablus, which still preserves its antique shape and old hand tools, over the past tens of years.
Youssef, who is two years younger than his brother Saeed, says, "Preserving the father's profession over the past decades was not an easy and easy thing. At first, we practice an ancient manual profession, burdened with the experiences we inherited from our father in the time of technological development, and we are striving with steady steps. It does not change so that the father’s workshop remains present over time, never disappears, intended for everyone from different parts of Palestine.”
He adds: "In the seventies of the last century, my brother Saeed and I accompanied my father daily to his workshop. After school, it was our destination until sunset, and over the days and years we were raised to love this profession, and we learned the rules of making mosque domes and their qualifications, which was established by our father 54 years ago. year.”
He added: "When we went into this profession when we were young, the cities of Ramallah and Jerusalem used to witness the practice of many people making the minarets and domes of mosques, but its legacy did not last long. As for us, we did our best to keep our father's legacy adorning the cities and villages of Palestine, throughout the ages and times."
only profession
Thanks to the preservation of the legacy of the father, Salim al-Tartir, an archaeological profession that carries a heritage artistic content within it, Saeed and Youssef became the only pioneers in the manufacture of crescent moons and the minarets and domes of God’s houses, in various cities of the West Bank and the occupied Palestinian interior as a whole, as well as the towns of the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
Youssef Al-Tartir says: “We are currently the owners of the only professional workshop in Palestine from the sea to the river, specialized in the production of minarets, domes and crescents in a manual way, for all regions of the West Bank and the interior, and all the mosques of Jerusalem.”
He continues: “It suffices for us to be proud that we leave our mark of decorating the houses of God in every town, village, camp, or neighborhood. Also, through our practice of this only heritage profession, we got to know Palestinian villages that we hear of their name and visit for the first time, for example, the village of Umm al-Tawt in The city of Jenin in the West Bank, the village of Sandala located between Jenin and the city of Nazareth in the Palestinian interior, and the village of Qais in the city of Salfit in the northern West Bank.
Youssef confirms that the demand for their production still exists on a large scale, as their only workshop in Nablus is intended for customers from the southern West Bank, such as Hebron, and from northern Palestine in the occupied interior, such as Umm al-Fahm.
And the owner of the unique profession continues: "To this day, we still practice our father's profession, just as we inherited it from him, as we rely in the manufacture of our copper and steel products on the same old manual machines, away from advanced machines."
• What the two Tartar brothers make is an image that is currently rare in Palestine.
• The two brothers, Saeed and Youssef, are practicing the profession that their father, Selim Al-Tartir, made their way to.
• The demand for the brothers' sequin production still exists on a large scale, as their only workshop in Nablus is intended for customers from the south of the West Bank, such as the city of Hebron, and from northern Palestine in the occupied interior, such as the town of Umm al-Fahm.
• Saeed and Youssef became the only ones who pioneered the manufacture of crescent moons and the minarets and domes of the houses of God, in various cities of the West Bank and the occupied Palestinian interior as a whole, in addition to the towns of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
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