A living hub for the people of Palestine — those who shaped it, and those who stood with it.

Suggest a profile
Portrait of Mona Hajjar Halaby

Mona Hajjar Halaby

Preserver of Palestinian History

Born
1950
Born in
Alexandria, Egypt
Read Mona’s storyWatchAsk about Mona

Why Mona is here

Mona Hajjar Halaby is recognized for her dedication to preserving and sharing Palestinian history and culture, particularly through her memoir and educational work that highlight the Palestinian experience before and after 1948.

Their story

Mona Hajjar Halaby is a Palestinian-American educator, writer, and social historian. Her work focuses on documenting and sharing the social history of Palestine, particularly through her memoir In My Mother’s Footsteps: A Palestinian Refugee Returns Home. This book intertwines her mother’s stories of pre-1948 Jerusalem with her own experiences of returning to Palestine to teach, offering a deeply personal perspective on the Palestinian narrative.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Mona’s path.

  1. 1950s

    Born in Alexandria, Egypt

    Halaby was born to a Palestinian mother and a Syrian father, growing up with stories of her mother’s life in Jerusalem before 1948.

  2. 1970s

    Moved to the United States

    After marrying a Palestinian man from Berkeley, Halaby settled in California, where she began her career in education and writing.

  3. 2021

    Published In My Mother’s Footsteps

    This memoir became a significant work, documenting her journey to Palestine and her mother’s history, providing a vital link between past and present Palestinian experiences.

    Read more

  4. 2007

    Taught at Ramallah Friends School

    During a sabbatical year, Halaby taught conflict resolution in Ramallah, deepening her connection to her Palestinian roots and witnessing firsthand the impact of the Israeli occupation.

    Read more

  5. Created the British Mandate Jerusalemites Photo Library

    Halaby established this online archive to preserve and share photographs of Jerusalem before 1948, helping to document and maintain Palestinian cultural heritage.

    Read more

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Preservation of Palestinian History

    Through her memoir and archival work, Halaby has played a crucial role in preserving the history of Palestinian families and their experiences before and after the Nakba.

    Read more

  2. Educational Advocacy

    Halaby’s work in education, particularly her efforts in teaching conflict resolution in Ramallah, has contributed to fostering a culture of non-violence and understanding among Palestinian youth.

    Read more

  3. Promotion of Palestinian Cultural Heritage

    Through her writing and the creation of online archives, Halaby has promoted the rich cultural heritage of Palestine, making it accessible to a global audience.

    Watch

  4. Narrating the Palestinian Experience

    Her memoir provides a personal and poignant account of Palestinian displacement and the ongoing struggle for justice, contributing to the global narrative of the Palestinian experience.

    Read more

  5. Engagement in Cultural and Historical Documentation

    Halaby's active involvement in documenting Palestinian history and her participation in cultural events highlight her commitment to preserving and sharing the Palestinian narrative.

Ask about Mona

Curious about something? An AI guide answers from Mona’s profile.

Mona’s guide AI

Answers come from Mona’s profile on this page. It isn’t Mona, and it can make mistakes.

What would you like to know about Mona?

Ask in your own words about Mona’s early life, work, the moments that shaped them, or their legacy. The guide answers only from this profile, so if something isn’t covered, it will tell you.

AI-generated from this profile. Spotted something wrong? Correct or add information.

Watch

Mona in interviews, talks and coverage.

  • 01Promotion of Palestinian Cultural Heritage↗

Further reading

Something wrong or missing?

Help improve Mona Hajjar Halaby’s profile. Send a correction, a source, a photo or missing information. An editor checks every update before publication.

Correct or add information

Keep exploring

More faces from Palestinian Americans

All 78 in Palestinian Americans