In Sidon, inside a Palestinian kitchen named "Zawadetna, the Jerusalem ka'k (bagel) becomes more than just a breakfast. The aroma of hot dough and sesame wafting from the oven evokes distant memories—and a sense of the homeland—for many Palestinians.
.jpeg)
The project launched in 2016 with the aim of employing Palestinian women and preserving Palestinian identity through traditional cuisine. Among the many dishes the kitchen offers, the women chose the Jerusalem *ka'k* as one of the main symbols.
They learned how to prepare it from a renowned Jerusalem chef through Skype, eventually mastering it until it became part of the kitchen.
Zahiya Fraijeh, who has been making this Jerusalem ka’k for years, "Every time I make it, I feel close to Palestine," she says. She adds that her favorite moment is seeing people taste it for the first time. "Some people smile the moment they eat it, saying, 'How wonderful it is to taste and smell Jerusalem and Palestine right here in Sidon, prepared by the hands of Palestinian refugee women.'"
.jpeg)
"Zawadetna" began as a modest kitchen serving daily meals and breakfast. Over the years, however, the project evolved; in 2023, it relocated to the Sit Nafisa area of Sidon, transforming into a restaurant that celebrates Palestinian heritage and cuisine.
In addition to Jerusalem ka'ak, the kitchen offers Palestinian dishes and sweets, such as Musakhan served on Taboon bread, Qidra*, Nabulsi Kunafa, and Maqrouta.
.jpeg)
Today, the kitchen employs nine Palestinian women who handle cooking, marketing, cleaning, and the preparation of various dishes and desserts. Despite economic challenges, the kitchen has successfully carved out a place for itself in the market.
.jpeg)
For many Palestinians, it is not just about the food; it is about striving to maintain an enduring and deep-rooted connection to Palestine, even through the simplest details. Sometimes, a hot Jerusalem ka’k is enough to make one feel that the homeland remains close and present.
.jpeg)
This story is part of a visual storytelling project within the Untold Sham program, by photographer Rawan Sayyed
.jpeg)
