Forging friendships in unexpected places
By Dr. Faizur Chowdhury, Dix Hills, New York, 3-time OAT traveler
After visiting the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem in October 2008, most everyone in our group wanted to shop for souvenirs unique to the Palestine Territory. By the time we finished our visit at the church, every store was closed except one, near the border crossing to Israel.
Elated, we all hurried into The Shepherd Souvenir Shop where Johnny Abu Aita, the manager, greeted us one by one. While the ladies were selecting jewelry, I struck up a conversation with the cashiers at the counter. Standing on Palestinian soil and meeting three charming Palestinian women face to face, I was very much interested in hearing their side of the story, regarding the towering concrete slab erected to wall off the West Bank’s Palestinian areas, suicide bombings, and the idea of an independent Palestinian state.
Perhaps because of my Arabic-sounding name and my Bangalee background, they were forthright in narrating their points of view that are rarely told by the Western media. They were unanimous in emphasizing that they, like most Palestinians, are opposed to violence and terrorism. They can easily live peacefully with the Israelis. For the endless sufferings, they placed the blame squarely on the politicians from both sides.
With smiling faces, they not only allowed me to take their portraits, Hunaida Musleh, the niece of the storeowner, even treated me with a soft drink and heaps of homemade halva.
Since returning to the U.S., I have maintained communication with Hunaida on a regular basis. The story of our marriage in 1966—I am a Moslem and my wife, Ellen, is Jewish—at a time when the Arab-Israeli war was raging, came to her as a big surprise. The fact that we remain happily married after forty-two years reinforced her conviction that Jews and Moslems can live in harmony.
Through modern technology we have become close friends, and continue to enlighten each other about our divergent cultures, religions, and lifestyles. Hunaida has even extended an invitation for me to attend her upcoming wedding in the Palestine Territory. Can’t wait!
Traveling in small groups and connecting with people of diverse backgrounds in both the well-known and offbeat places has been an enriching experience for me thanks to OAT.
Make your own special connections in Israel with OAT’s Israel: Natural Wonders & Timeless Cultures adventure.