Birzeit Society

The Birzeit Society National Board of Directors held its annual meeting in Cleveland, Ohio during the weekend of February 13-14, 2010. The meeting was hosted by the recently established Ohio Chapter and was attended by representatives from all chapters in the United States.

The New York Chapter elected its new board members for the year 2010 and held a special celebration party with 178 Birzeitis and their friends in attendance. Santa Claus was also present with great gifts that brought cheers and drew big smiles on all the kids’ faces.

The ruins of an ancient Byzantine church have been discovered this summer at a local Birzeit mountain known as "Jabal Elkhirbeh".

Close to the site, Dr. Hamid Salem and his team from the History and Archeology Department of Birzeit University, unearthed what seems to be the ruins of a Roman cardo, a street which was lined with shops, and served as the center of economic life. The ruins of a smaller crusader church built on top of the Byzantine church were evident. Also, the place was settled by peasants from the Mamluk and the Ottoman period.

The New York Chapter recently held a bowling outing for its members.