Huda Abu Arquob is my Muslim “second daughter” — a dear friend and colleague in Palestinian-Jewish relationship building.  She’s awesome!! 

The eldest of 12 children, Huda helped raise her 11 siblings under harsh conditions in Hebron, Palestine.  She became a first-class teacher then a Fulbright Scholar in conflict transformation. By comparison, I, Libby Traubman, was more sheltered in my Indianapolis, Indiana childhood.

Sometimes Huda sleeps over, and we giggle and fall asleep in front of the TV — perfect couch potatoes.  When she cooks yummy Arab dishes, it’s always too much but I can’t stop eating. 

In our other lives, my husband, Len, and Huda and I are part of the 18-year-old Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue in San Mateo, Californnia.  Huda is Co-Executive Director of Abraham’s Vision that brings together local Muslim and Jewish high school students, and gathers U.S. college students to travel, communicate, and grow together.

A few nights ago at home, together we hosted for dinner and mentored some Muslims and Jews who will begin their own Dialogue in Santa Rosa, California.

We are learning together, no doubt: “An enemy is one whose story we have not heard.”  Yalla!!!

(Submitted by Libby Traubman)