In 1977, Jamal Dabis left his mother country, Palestine, to study in San Francisco. Today along with his brother Elias, he is one of the proud owners of Yumma’s. In Arabic, his native tongue, “Yumma’s” means, “Mother.”

Jamal and Elias wanted to introduce their cuisine to the neighborhood- a combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean offerings.

“We serve quality food, organic meats and vegetables at a reasonable price.”

The meat, Niman Ranch is raised without hormones or antibiotics. I tell Jamal my favorite dish is the Greek Salad with a combination Lamb/Beef skewer which for me, it’s a take- out order at least once a week.

Often, Jamal has headed home by this time and his twenty year old son Gus is at the counter with a warm greeting and wider smile. I let Jamal know that Gus is respectful in a way I rarely observe of a twenty year old. Jamal explains a piece of his culture,

“We have great respect for women. I implanted in my children (he has two sons) to treat women as they would want their Mother or sister treated.”

As a young boy, Jamal grew up under a Military Occupation. He recalls those days when he walked to his American School from his home in Ramallah.

“When you are subjugated to Military Occupation, it’s never good.”

I tell him, as an American, I have taken so much for granted. He shares more of that routine,

“I was treated like a third class citizen. I was searched sometimes three or four times, with an M-16 in my back.”

I can hear my own heartbeat as he shares this and can only say, “Oh my God.”

He continues with his daily walk to and from school.

“They always would try to put you down. You had to have your identification with you at all times, or you’d go to jail.”

At eighteen, Jamal’s brother Elias was settled in San Francisco and their Father, Abraham completed the necessary paperwork for Jamal to leave Palestine and join his brother in San Francisco.

Jamal began his studies first at City College and concluded at San Francisco State where he received a Health Science Degree. For the next four years, Jamal worked as a Radiation/Oncology Technician at Davis Hospital and always hoped his Cancer patients would beat all odds. At that time, Jamal considered going to Medical School, but his path changed.

Jamal and Elias opened their first restaurant, Café Midal on Valencia Street, where they remained for ten years.

In 1998, the spot on Irving Street became available and Yumma’s opened their doors to feed locals, tourists and visiting physicians.

We agree the neighborhood is a friendly one.

“My customers know us by name. I know them by name. It makes it easy to run a business. It’s a pleasure.”

And when I ask Jamal his greatest accomplishment, I have to tell him, what a pleasure it is to hear his response when yet another man refers to his family.

“Having a loving wife, family and raising two beautiful sons.”

NEXT WEEK: MEET URSULA, INTERIOR DESIGNER, OWNER, SQUARE ONE INTERIORS.