For those who have not heard the name before, it might be a good idea to sit down, have
a glass of water, and take a deep breath before trying to pronounce, Aghazarian. But
anyone who has come across the Armenian Palestinian historian from the Old City of
Jerusalem seems to breeze through it: “But of course, Albert Aghazarian!” The mere
utterance of his name usually precipitates numerous stories about Al-Ustaz, the teacher…
the Old City’s walking encyclopedia who knows the history of Jerusalem up to its each and
every stone.
Albert
Aghazarian
may
be
known
mostly
as
a
historian,
a
teacher,
and
a
storyteller,
but
if
you
were
to
ask
him,
he
might
say
that
he
is
first
and
foremost
an
interpreter,
because
everything
in
this
life
is
up
for
interpretation.
A
fluent
speaker
of
Arabic,
English,
French,
Armenian,
Hebrew,
Turkish,
and
some
Spanish,
Albert
would
say
that
he
only
speaks
“one
language,”
before
he
pauses
and
adds…
“at
a
time.”
He
finds
joy
in
translating
the
inner
nuances
and
spirit
of
words
and
meanings,
and
looks
at
translation
as
a
craft
and
a
hobby.
He
realizes
that
the
art
of
communication
is
ultimately
connected
with
the
relations
that
are
built
around
it
–
the
person
one
is
speaking
to.
His
understanding
of
public
relations,
together
with
his
knowledge
and
natural
aura,
have
turned
him
into
what
may
be
referred
to
as
a
big
personality
who
quickly
relates
with
people
no
matter
which
background
or
part
of
the
world
they
may
be coming from.
Albert’s
name
has
also
been
associated
with
Birzeit
University,
where
he
was
an
active
student
before
earning
a
BA
in
political
science
at
the
American
University
of
Beirut
in
1972.
He
pursued
his
master’s
degree
at
Georgetown
University
in
Arab
and
Islamic
studies.
Upon
his
return
from
Washington,
D.C.
in
1979,
he
became
a
lecturer
in
cultural
studies
and
was
soon
assigned
as
director
of
public
relations
at
Birzeit
University.
In
the
early
eighties,
Albert
was
working
from
a
tiny
office
at
Birzeit’s
old
campus.
Turning
the
university
into
a
well-established
institution
amidst
curfews
and
closures
by
the
Israeli
forces
who
referred
to
such
campuses
as
“illegal
cells
of
education”
seemed
like
an
impossible
mission
at
the
time.
But
Albert
and
the
team,
with
the
guidance
of
the
late
Dr.
Gabi
Baramki,
had
a
role
in
uplifting
the
educational system under occupation as they kept on going and making things happen.
Adirector
of
public
relations
at
Birzeit
for
over
twenty-four
years,
Albert
was
always
alert
to
address
the
many
challenges
at
the
university,
including
the
military
army,
in
defense
of
the
institution.
His
communication
skills,
wisdom,
charisma,
and
ability
to
secure
funds
soon
turned
him
into
a
public
spokesperson
and
media
figure.
Although
he
was
asked
several
times
to
take
on
high
governmental
positions,
he
prefers
to
think
of
himself
as
a
free
soul
who
has
generously
been
sharing
his
in-depth
analysis
with
key
local
and
international
figures,
including
writers
and
journalists,
while
spending
his
evenings
smoking
shisha
in
a
small
inn
and
sharing
stories with fellow Jerusalemites about history and daily life.
Albert
is
and
always
has
been
a
Jerusalemite,
but
he
is
also
a
citizen
of
the
world
who
refuses
to
get
trapped
in
constraining
exclusivity.
He
opts,
instead,
to
explore
open
spaces
amidst
the
narrow
roads,
and
acknowledge
the
collective
and
historical
wonders
and
different
identities
that
have
turned
Jerusalem
into
the
place
that
it
is.
His
philosophy
comes
from
the
combination
of
reason
and
faith.
An
avid
reader
and
connoisseur
of
Middle
East
history,
Albert
draws
influence
from
characters
and
authors
such
as
Averroes,
Omar
Al-Khayyam,
Queen
Melisende,
and
Amin
Maalouf.
His
family
house
in
the
Armenian
Quarter
of
Jerusalem,
sometimes
referred
to
as
a
cultural
salon,
is
representative
of
that
openness.
His
wife
Madeleine,
with
her
gentle
and
friendly
spirit,
has
just
as
much
valuable
insight
to
share
about
the
city
that
she
was
born
and
raised
in.
Her
generosity
and
welcoming
nature
have
been
noted
by
comers
and
goers
from
all
walks
of
life
as
the
true
embodiment
of
“home.”
Albert’s
favorite
mottos?
“Do
your
best,
and
don’t
worry
about
the
rest,”
and
“In
the
world’s
battle
between
the power of culture and the culture of power, somehow the power of culture always manages to survive.”
(Reproduced courtesy”This Week in Palestine,” November 2015 issue)