The Nazareth Diaries
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Fifth Week: 6-9 October 2003
Monday 6 October
In the evening went to visit Rizik Srouji, civil engineer, with a great love and concern for the hospital. He has worked on many of the newer buildings. Poor man is a bit like Job, and has lost his wife, his son, and his two sisters in the last few years. However, his grandson was at home, and he gave me a demo of his Playstation, then showed me his bedroom (all neon lights, dance music, punchbags, muscle-building equipment and graffiti) and also his ENORMOUS quad bike with 1400cc engine. At just 13 he's quite lad.
Tuesday 7 October
The main interest today from a diary point of view was a visit to Jakleen, one of the security guards. Went with Anne (midwife) and Isobel (Derek's wife) to see her in Nazareth Illit where she lives with her two children, Roseanne (12) and - well, I forget the boy's name. Her husband is in jail after abusing her and the kids. I had thought she was Jewish because of where she lives, and because most of the guards are Jewish. Anyway, her English is not so good, but she explained her problems. She feels very isolated and alone, and even has to leave the kids to their own devices when she comes to work. We talked as best we could and then prayed together, which she really appreciated. It seems quite brave of her as an Israeli Arab living in Nazareth Illit (Upper Nazareth) which is overwhelmingly Jewish, but maybe she has little choice, since houses in old Nazareth are I would think all Arab style - designed for several generations to live together under one roof. Her apartment is of necessity just big enough for the three of them. She says her neighbours are nice, but I guess she'd have to be quite careful.
