Reading this article from Aljazeera about the new military restrictions and checkpoints in Hebron makes me incredibly sad. Two years ago I had the privilege of going to Israel and Palestine with a group of fellow students. We were there to learn more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the people involved and directly affected – students, families, religious and civil leaders, activists, and non-profit volunteers.

Inside the Ibrahimi Mosque

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While we were in Hebron I met a woman I will never forget. We had just crossed a checkpoint and were standing in front of the Ibrahimi Mosque, waiting for mid-day prayer to end. An elderly woman and her daughter or grand-daughter were walking out of the mosque when the older woman stopped in front of me, looked into my eyes, put a hand gently on my cheek, and asked me something in Arabic.

I smiled. I didn’t know what else to do. It was strange to be touched in such an intimate way by a stranger and yet feel comforted by it.

She patted my cheek like my own grandmother would do, smiled, and said something in Arabic again.

I looked questioningly at the younger woman, who said, “She asked how you were doing and then answered herself that you are doing very well.”

The old woman smiled at me again and began to walk away.

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Inside the Ibrahimi Mosque

This elderly Palestinian woman stopped to stare into the eyes of a young American and wish her health and happiness. I saw kindness in her eyes and felt it in her touch. I knew she had a strong, beautiful soul. I know she was looking into my own soul and I hope she saw a similarly kind, strong, and beautiful one.

Read more about our time in Hebron here:  https://israelventure2013.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/water-guns/

And about the following year’s trip to Hebron here: https://israelventureblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/24/today-was-the-teams-last-day-in-the-west-bank/