In this section, we highlight prominent sons and daughters of Beit Jala who have contributed to building the community through education, art, medicine, social activism, and culture. Their legacy lives on, inspiring generations both in Palestine and in the diaspora.
Born in Beit Jala, Dr. Tawfiq Canaan was one of the most distinguished Palestinian doctors during the Ottoman and British Mandate periods. He significantly contributed to public health and medical research. Alongside his medical career, he gained renown for his pioneering studies in Palestinian folklore, collecting over 1,400 folk amulets and authoring numerous works on popular beliefs and traditions. A vocal nationalist, he resisted British colonialism and Zionism, which led to his arrest in 1939. Despite losing his home and clinic during the 1948 Nakba, he continued his work as director of Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem until his death.
Belonging to an Orthodox Christian family from Beit Jala, Iskandar Al-Khouri was born in Ein Karem and educated at the Monastery of the Cross and the Russian Orthodox College in Nazareth. He devoted his life to education and promoting the Arabic language, teaching Arabic literature in several Palestinian schools. Known for his patriotic poetry that reflected the concerns of the Palestinian people, he called for justice, unity, and resistance. An active participant in the Palestinian national movement, he left a lasting impact on education and culture before his passing in Beit Jala.
Born in Beit Jala, Stephen Hanna Stephen was a writer, translator, and broadcaster during the British Mandate. He worked with the Department of Antiquities, translating inscriptions and authoring books that documented Palestinian history and folklore. One of the early intellectuals who strove to preserve the Palestinian narrative in the face of cultural erasure, he played a vital role in cultural preservation.
Born in Beit Jala and later emigrated to Chile, Nicola Hadwa became the first professional coach of the Palestinian national football team. He played a key role in advancing Palestinian sports and was active in political and diplomatic discussions supporting the Palestinian cause on the international stage.
Born in Chile to a family originally from Beit Jala, Nicolás Massú became a symbol of pride for Palestinians in the diaspora after winning two gold medals in tennis at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He remains one of the most celebrated athletes in the global Palestinian community.