“I am Jewish. My neighbor Zahia is a Palestinian Muslim.
Today, I brought her baklava, a homemade tea blend, some soap I made, and a large orchid. She welcomed me with open arms, and we both cried. We sat together for a long time, talking and sharing. Her husband served me Arabic coffee, and she offered me stuffed grape leaves. Before I left, they sent me home with more grape leaves, lamb for Greg, a kaffiyeh, and their last bag of cardamom coffee from Palestine. She smiled and promised to make me kenafe, my favorite Palestinian dessert.
We talked about kindness, about Greg shoveling their snow, and about the small ways neighbors care for one another.
Peace isn’t theoretical. It isn’t abstract. It’s found in knocking on a neighbor’s door, sharing sweets and coffee, and telling our stories. It’s heart to heart, neighbor to neighbor.
We are all human. We all long for safety—for our babies, our families, and our elders.
Peace begins with me. With us.” ✨
Credit goes to Tamara Rettino
