Anan abu taleb biography

A successful restaurateur, Abu-Taleb is a longtime village resident, and along with his wife Margi, has raised four children here.
I was born on a citrus farm in the Gaza Strip, the second oldest of 13 children.
Abu-Taleb was born in Gaza and started this week's running group with Richard Goldwasser, a Jewish American.

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Former Chicago suburban mayor fears for family members living in Gaza

CHICAGO: The former mayor of an affluent suburban village outside Chicago, Illinois, said he is “pained” and “very concerned” after having lost contact with close family members fleeing Israel’s military violence in the Gaza Strip where he was born.

Anan Abu Taleb, who served as mayor of Oak Park from 2013 until 2021, said he has lost contact with family living in Gaza, including his two sisters, three half-brothers and their families, as a result of the violent onslaught in Gaza by Israel.

More than 12,000 Palestinians, including almost half who are children, have been killed during the Israeli assault launched in response to a Hamas attack from Gaza that killed an estimated 1,400 Israelis on Oct. 7, a figure that was scaled down to 1,200 on Friday by Israeli authorities.

Abu Taleb said he is deeply disappointed by US President Joe Biden’s failure to stop the violence, or “to put himself in the shoes of Palestinians” and understand how they are victims of a “double standard” in American foreign poli

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When he first took office eight years ago, outgoing Oak Park Village President Anan Abu-Taleb had lofty goals for a municipality seeking to bounce back economically, often ending board meetings with the words “Oak Park is open for business.”

Throughout his tenure, the village worked with developers to construct several large-scale developments in its downtown district, while also investing into capital projects throughout Oak Park and at village hall.

“Eight years ago, we set an ambitious goal to attract $750 million of new investments into Oak Park,” Abu-Taleb said. “We set a goal to put village-owned parcels back onto the tax rolls and set a goal to increase our sales tax by 50%. Working with this board and previous boards, I am proud to say we have surpassed these goals.”

During a special ceremony May 3, Abu-Taleb gave his final remarks as village president before his successor, new village president Vicki Scaman, was sworn into office. The outgoing mayor thanked the community with entrusting him to lead Oak Park for two consecutive terms.

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On their first run Monday, about six people came to join Anan Abu-Taleb and Richard Goldwasser on their run along Chicago’s lakefront planned for every morning of the Democratic National Convention.

A small crowd. But, they hope, a powerful one that only grows.

Abu-Taleb, a former Oak Park mayor, was born in Gaza. Goldwasser, a Highland Park attorney, is a Jewish American. Together, they are calling on people to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and to stop funding the Israel-Hamas war. 

Abu-Taleb, who served as mayor from 2013 to 2021 and owns the restaurant Maya del Sol, said the group creates connection during a devastating conflict.

Goldwasser agreed. 

“Until you actually have a meaningful relationship or connection with someone outside your community, your ability to empathize with them, for some people, is very limited,” Goldwasser said. 

“I feel like we have more in common than some of the people I grew up with,” Abu-Taleb said. “This world needs more Richards.” 

The runs start at Buckingham Founta