Qbibeh - Emmaus Guesthouse

Al-Qubeiba is one of Jerusalem’s villages located near the demarcation line (Green Line). It is surrounded by the following villages and towns: Biddu, Beit Duqqu, Qatanna, Beit ‘Anan, and Abu Ghosh. 

“Qubeiba” is the diminutive of “Qubba”. The eponym of the village, “Al-Qubeiba”, according to the residents, came from little dome shaped high ceilings of their homes in the past. Or, because the center of town was established on a dome-like hill. The name “Al-Qubeiba” is so often used in naming villages and places in Palestine, that there are many named Al-Qubeiba, Al-Qubaab, and Al-Qubeibat. 

As stated by the town’s locals, the town was called Emmuas. Historians and people have argued about the meaning of Emmuas. I.e., Saint Jerome (347- 420) AD elicited that the word Emmuas is derived from the word “Aam” meaning “The people” and the word “Maus” meaning “Repudation”, namely “The repudiating nation/people”. 

The town’s residents worked in agriculture and livestock, which was their main income. They were famous for olive, fig, grape, and plum trees in addition to field crops. They owned parts of Salbit’s and the surrounding villages' land before it was occupied in 1948*. 

Before the apartheid wall was built in the year 2000, the village was governed politically, administratively, and geographically by the Jerusalem governate. Its people’s daily affairs and trading were handled there. They diverted their activities to Ramallah, once the road blockades were established. 

The archeological excavations and diggings indicated the importance of the town during the Roman Empire. The town has an archeological site where the Church of Emmuas/Al-Qubeiba was built. Many oil mills, arches, stones, residential buildings, remains of old buildings, and parts of the old cobble-stoned Roman road were found in the town. In addition to some caves and carved stones.  

125 years ago, a man called Ahmad Samara started constructing the first phase of his house, as a part of the family’s courtyard that includes many surrounding houses. He was one of the most important elders in the village and he worked as a farmer where he used to ranch livestock and cultivate the land. After he died, 70 years ago, one of his sons continued building the house including the vaults.   

The house of Samara family (Emmuas homestay) is considered now as a unique and prominent example of traditional Palestinian architecture containing important and special stone elements. On the other hand, it reflects itself as a witness to the social Palestinian life that was affected by many social and economic changes that the Palestinians have faced. 

 The Palestinian Heritage Trail has renovated this notable place in the middle of the Old City to inspire a new chapter of life for the village. Inside these renovated walls, many Samara family members from different generations have lived. Thus, this building is full of memories and unforgettable life events for the current family’s generations who are seeking to share this history with people through their modern but also historical homestay that is also inspired by the village’s rich and special traditions.