Nestled in the outskirts of Jerusalem, Lifta uniquely remains intact today while most Palestinian villages have been destroyed or repopulated during the 1948 Nakba.

Lifta retains its original architectural structures and layout - a rare glimpse into what was. Before 1948, Lifta was known to be a community with bustling trade, distinctive embroidery, and lush fruit trees. Today, it is known as an empty village serving as a poignant reminder of Palestinian forced displacement.

With its winding roads and overgrown wild flowers and shrubs climbing every inch of limestone walls, for us, it is our home and it is very much alive. Lifta is the experience of hearing stories from our grandfather about basking in the shade of a mulberry tree while picking its ripe fruit. It's the taste of rosewater from a fresh slice of the Palestinian dessert, Mutabbaq, from down the road. And as we explore Lifta, it is in the imagination that we hope to create…