Ishmael's Oranges

by Claire Hajaj

‘Yani,’ the universal Arabic expression for that grey place between good and bad.

liked how ya3ni was explained :)

But what was life worth, once all the dreams have become dust? After a while a key turned in the front door, and he heard Rafan’s shrill voice crying out ‘Mama, Mama!’

It’s not how long you live somewhere that makes it a home. Home is a feeling here,’ she tapped his chest,

What did it matter if one and one made two? The Israelis didn’t care about any laws but their own.

Salim waited impatiently for someone to begin the discussion, to accuse Abu Mazen of his crime, but this was not the Arab way. First coffee needed to be drunk and pleasantries exchanged. Only then could something real be said.

the arab way

In Judith’s Torah lessons the Rebbe has said all kinds of things about the dignity of death. But there was no dignity here.

When you are old, you can’t remember the when’s and who’s of life. But the real nature of things becomes much clearer.

Men don’t raise children. Women do.

‘I’ll tell you the difference between Arabs and Israelis,’ he said. ‘Arabs want to be judged by the pure law – the one we learn as children where right follows wrong and punishment follows crime like night follows day. But in Israel we have another kind of law. This one is a matter of articles, clauses and sub-clauses, with many interpretations and a heavy bias against you. God has nothing to do with this kind of law. Nor does justice.’