Five Years in Palestine: 1982-1987

This book is based on writing I did while living in Jerusalem in the 1980s, my memories, as well as reflections after my family and I returned home. Our years in the Middle East were remarkable and transformational in many ways. We worked with MCC, Mennonite Central Committee, West Bank and lived in East Jerusalem from 1982 – 1987.

In writing this, I hope to take you with me on my journey of increasing understandings. My experiences led me deeper into human rights issues, expanded my world view and enlarged my spiritual life. I also want to leave a record of what we experienced for family and interested friends, many of whom visited us.

How did I choose what to include in this memoir? I chose what mattered to me. What affected me. What changed me. Sometimes I chose a funny incident or one that made me cry. You may find some of the material a little bit raw. Some pieces are thoroughly digested, but others are not. The inclusion of both is intentional. I wanted you to glimpse at some of my first thoughts and reactions to intense, unusual or surprising experiences.

There are two pieces written by Harold, my dear partner, in the appendices. Both of these relate to our MCC experience and the situation in Israeli-Palestine. I felt these were important pieces to round out a description of our time there.

The most difficult part of living there was with the complex political situation. Now, in 2023, it is even more complex, heartbreaking and terrible. As you read my memoirs, you may find some parts more challenging and more intense than others. We went to Jerusalem with the intention of maintaining “balance.” As well as working there, we wanted to see the land of our childhood Sunday School stories. We didn’t know much about life for Palestinians. Our understanding of balance changed as we realized the incredible imbalance in power that existed and still exists in Israel-Palestine. We made deep friendships with Palestinians and also with foreigners who were working in such a complicated geographic area. We had meaningful relationships with Israelis as well: rabbis, musicians, violin students, peaceniks, journalists, academics as well as others we met along the way. These relationships were important to us.

Our time in Jerusalem changed our lives, our perspectives, our belief system and our view of the world. We explored history, archaeology, religion, culture, language and, of course, the political landscape. We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work there, the deep friendships, as well as family and friends who visited us. Some of the religious and political views we held when we arrived developed over time as we grew more knowledgeable. The Bible was deeply ingrained, sometimes on a subconscious or even superficial level. By the time we returned, we knew that the Middle East had gifted us with a broader world view and an enriched spiritual life. We are so grateful for that. What an opportunity those five years in Palestine were. We would not have traded them for anything else.