How Mercy Shaped My Life

How Mercy Shaped My Life

I grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, during the civil war that lasted from 1975 until 1990. I even witnessed the 1982 Sabra and Shatila Massacre when a Lebanese Christian group killed anywhere from 300 to 3,000 people – mostly Palestinians and...
Ramadan: A Vaccine for the Heart

Ramadan: A Vaccine for the Heart

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which follows the lunar cycles throughout the year. Since Ramadan rotates throughout the year, sometimes sunset in the middle of the winter season is at 5 p.m. and in the summer it can be at 9 p.m. We still love it...
Refugees Never Lose Longing for Home

Refugees Never Lose Longing for Home

I am a refugee. On Oct. 23,1983, I held hope, in the form of a plane ticket, in my hand. This paper was what was going to help me flee Beirut and get to the United States. That same morning, a yellow Mercedes truck entered the parking lot of Beirut International...