Celebrating International Women’s Day

On Monday, 20 March 2023, in a slightly late celebration of International Women’s Day, women in Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom gathered to hear stories of some of the village’s early members.

Aisheh Najjar, Dyana Shaloufi Rizek, Ety Edlund and Nava Sonnenschein were the speakers. The evening was filled with priceless stories of how these women came to the village and of their efforts to build what we all take for granted today.

They shared tales of living without basic infrastructure like paved roads and streets. Nava recalled a time when heavy rains and mud rendered the village entirely inaccessible. She said they felt like Noah waiting in the Ark for the land to dry.

Aisheh told of hitchhiking with her late husband from Latrun to Jerusalem and being kicked out of a car because they were speaking Arabic.

Ety remembered how her husband Kent learned for the first time about WASNS in a newspaper. He immediately wrote to the journalist, and every day would ask Ety if they had received a response.

Dyana fondly recalled discussions with WASNS founder Bruno Hussar about how the early inhabitants conceived the village and its future.

The women who had gathered for the evening thanked the speakers and expressed admiration for their strength, determination and hope. They encouraged the younger generation to remember these stories and share them.

With thanks to Aisheh, Dyana, Ety, and Nava (and many other women!) for your continued commitment to WASNS and its dream of building justice, peace and equality throughout the country!

Photos of the event