Blaine invited Tawfic and Georgette (Juju) Alawi to come for dinner and talk about what it was like growing up Christian in Jerusalem. When Tawfic proposed to Juju, it wasn't really the formal proposal. In the Palestinian culture, the parents of both have to approve. The fathers approve by drinking coffee together. Then the couple has an engagement party. The bride and groom compete for who can bring the most people to the party. They each bring a lot of family and friends, so each can see how much support the other has. Tawfic (and vice versa) will see who he will have to face if he doesn't treat Juju right.
Juju has Israeli citizenship and Tawfic has Jerusalem blue id. One day they went to see Tawfic's grandmother. As they got close to her house, an Israeli tank blocked the way. They told Tawfic he couldn't go any farther, so he returned home without visiting his grandmother, who was just beyond the tank.
Tawfic is an entrepreneur. He was the first to start an internet café in Jerusalem, and he was the first to close an internet café in Jerusalem.
When he was growing up, the Catholic churches were nearly empty. Many of the Christians left Israel in the last few decades. It has been difficult for Christians in this country. He feels discrimination against Christians has increased. However, there has been a spiritual resurgence among the Christians who are here and the churches are often full now during Mass.
After Tawfic started working here, he didn't like one of the people he worked with. Now they are good friends. At one point during his career here, he told Eran he planned to take a job with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. One day, Eran asked him how the job plans were going in Ramallah. Tawfic said "What job?" They had hired an insider instead of Tawfic, so Tawfic stayed on at the Jerusalem Center.
Tawfic leaves this week for the United States. BYU is flying him to Utah to see BYU Provo, and he will also have an interview with Elder Holland while he is there. It was a fun and interesting evening.
Tina and David Whitchurch, Juju and Tawfic Alawi, Mary Beth and Brent Jones, Jeff Chadwick
Juju and Tawfic Alawi, Mary Beth and Brent Jones, Jeff and Kim Chadwick, Gary Nickel
Gary and Alexis Nickel, Jill and Ron Anderson, Gaye Strathern, Linda, Donna Funk
This was so great that Tawfic agreed to come and talk to you. I would have loved hearing him tell his story. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete