Perhaps the most central of all Palestinian traditions is the planting of an olive tree. Even the poorest of farmers, possessing only a fragment of land, will plant a handful of olive trees. The tradition is that one plants olive trees not for oneself, but for one's children and grandchildren...

In this spirit of generosity and hope for the future, we would like to thank the following Palestinian individuals and institutions, for without their contributions this issue of Asalah would not have been possible.

• The Al-Mamal Gallery in Jerusalem, for its contribution of Issa Freij's photographs of Nablus olive soap factories. These photos first appeared in the Al-Mamal Gallery magazine, "What's Up?"
• "The Nablus Soap Factory", published by the Documentation Center at the Nablus Public Library.
• "Bethlehem 2000", published by Bethlehem 2000 and the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Tourism and Trade.
• "This Week in Palestine", published by the Jerusalem Media Communication Center (JMCC).
• Al-Najah University.
• The Bethlehem Olivewood Carvers Collective.
• Metropress website.

And special thanks to the Asalah Group, for their consistent, collective efforts to commemorate their history, culture and traditions.

Photo Copyrights

• "Olivewood Carving: A Bethlehem Tradition", "The Olive Tree in Religious Text" and "Tree of Grace and Mercy": color photos by Steve Sabella.
• "Olive Soap: A Nablus Industry": soap factory color photos by Issa Freij.