Ancient Oak Forests in Bireen: A Natural Heritage Facing Challenges - Jordan News
(Petra)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Jordan News
17-07-2025
- Jordan News
Jordanian Dish Mansaf Added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List - Jordan News
Jordanian Dish Mansaf Added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List Amman – On a hill facing the ancient Karak Castle, thirty-something Amani Al-Bashabsheh and her family have established a training academy to teach the culinary art of Mansaf, Jordan's iconic national dish. The academy also produces discs of jameed, the dried yogurt essential to preparing Mansaf, a dish closely associated with the city of Karak in southern Jordan. اضافة اعلان Mansaf has a uniquely Jordanian method of preparation, distinct from similarly named dishes in neighboring countries in terms of ingredients, cooking method, type of yogurt used, and even how it's presented and eaten. According to Al-Bashabsheh, what sets Jordanian Mansaf apart is its use of natural ingredients sourced from the local environment—local lamb, traditional bread made from native wheat, jameed from the milk of local sheep, and wild herbs that add flavor and depth. A Historic Milestone for Jordan In a historic first, Jordan succeeded last week in registering Mansaf on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, surpassing a number of prominent Arab and international dishes and drinks, such as Moroccan couscous, Italian pizza, and Saudi Arabic coffee. This achievement adds to Jordan's growing portfolio of recognized cultural practices: the Jordanian palm tree (2019, in partnership with other Arab countries), Arabic calligraphy (2021), the Samer dance (2018), and the cultural space of Petra and Wadi Rum Bedouins (2008). Historical and Cultural Roots According to historians, Mansaf dates back more than 3,000 years, to when the Moabite king Mesha in the 19th century BCE instructed his people to cook meat in yogurt—a practice deliberately in contrast to Jewish dietary laws, which forbid mixing meat and dairy. This helped distinguish the Moabites culturally and religiously from the Jews. Mansaf remains the centerpiece of Jordanian gatherings—especially weddings—deepening family and societal ties, and serving as the ultimate gesture of hospitality for guests and dignitaries alike. Jordanian heritage specialist Naif Al-Nawaiseh emphasizes that Mansaf is not just a dish but a living tradition, preserved for over 200 years. The finest Mansaf, he says, is made entirely with traditional 'baladi' (locally sourced) ingredients—lamb, jameed, traditional bread, and cracked wheat (jareesh). Social and Symbolic Significance Mansaf is closely tied to cherished values such as generosity, honoring elders, maintaining family bonds, feeding the needy, and reconciling conflicts. As Al-Nawaiseh told Al Jazeera, Mansaf is far more than a celebratory meal—it is a deeply rooted social and cultural expression of Jordanian solidarity. Jordan's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO announced the official inclusion of the file titled 'Mansaf in Jordan: A Celebratory Meal and Its Social and Cultural Significance' in March 2021, during Jordan's participation in the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Preparing Mansaf To prepare Mansaf, lamb is cooked in jameed. The jameed discs are first broken into small pieces, soaked in water for several hours, ground into a smooth mixture, and combined with spices and the cooked meat in a large pot. While the lamb cooks in the yogurt sauce, traditional shrak bread—a thin flatbread baked over wood fire—is prepared using nothing but salt and whole wheat flour. Mansaf is served in a large platter called a sider, where shrak bread is layered at the base, followed by a spread of the jameed broth, a layer of rice, and finally the meat. The lamb's head is often placed at the center—a traditional symbol of honor and hospitality. In the past, cracked wheat (jareesh) was used instead of rice. Today, the platter is often garnished with roasted almonds and pine nuts. In northern Jordan, it may also be topped with stuffed kibbeh balls. Mansaf is traditionally eaten by hand, using the right hand only, with the jameed sauce poured over the rice. A Living Symbol of National Identity Mansaf preparation is a shared endeavor between men and women. Men often contribute by lighting the wood fires for the large pots used during communal events. According to Makram Al-Qaisi, Jordan's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Mansaf reflects Jordan's intangible culinary heritage and serves as a cultural identifier. It also represents the generosity and pride of Jordanians, helping introduce the country's values and traditions to the world. In the city of Karak, tourists are regularly invited to enjoy Mansaf in local guesthouses, experiencing firsthand the flavors and rituals of this ancient dish—now officially recognized by UNESCO as a treasure of humanity. Source: Al Jazeera
Jordan News
15-07-2025
- Jordan News
61.1% Pass Rate in the "Shamel" Exam - Jordan News
The overall pass rate in the spring session of the Comprehensive Exam for the Intermediate University Degree ('Shamel') reached 61.1%, which falls within the general range of pass rates recorded in previous sessions, according to Ahmad Al-Ajlouni, President of Al-Balqa Applied University. اضافة اعلان Al-Ajlouni, who also chairs the Higher Examination Committee, announced during a press conference on Tuesday that 4,310 students successfully fulfilled the requirements for passing the exam this session. He noted that 51 colleges, both university and intermediate level, contributed students to this session under the supervision of Al-Balqa Applied University. The total number of students registered for this session was 7,072, of whom 7,056 sat for one or more exam papers. Sixteen students were absent from all parts of the exam. Al-Ajlouni further stated that the exam covered 107 academic and applied specializations, and that 30 violations were recorded during the examination process. He emphasized that the results were announced only after the university's Assessment and General Examinations Unit completed all procedures related to result extraction and analysis with accuracy and integrity. This included a thorough review of all electronic feedback on exam questions submitted by students either during or after the exams. These comments were reviewed by specialized technical committees, and appropriate measures were taken accordingly. Student responses were analyzed using difficulty indices for all theoretical exam papers, and the standard normal distribution curve was applied to determine question difficulty levels for grading and result generation purposes.
Jordan News
09-07-2025
- Jordan News
Results of the Spring Session of the 'Shamel' Exam to Be Announced Next Tuesday - Jordan News
President of Al-Balqa Applied University, Dr. Ahmad Al-Ajlouni, will hold a press conference on Tuesday at 10:00 AM to announce the results of the 2025 Spring Session of the Comprehensive (Shamel) Exam for the intermediate university degree. اضافة اعلان The total number of students registered for the exam was 7,056, while the actual number of participants reached 7,072 from 51 contributing colleges across 107 accredited specializations. Al-Ajlouni emphasized the importance of transparency in announcing the results and highlighted the university's commitment to continuously developing the 'Shamel' exam to align with labor market requirements and enhance the quality of technical and vocational education in Jordan.
