Nabi Ilyas
The first Hebrew class at Nabi Elias was a success. Five of the ten women came, and a young man. They’re a determined group, highly motivated, understanding everything (except for one woman who was having a little difficulty).
During the lesson, which lasted 1¾ hours (and could have gone on longer were it up to them), they asked to review more and more words and sentences, many more than we’d planned, but it was ok.
We also reviewed, and in the next class we’ll review all the words and word combinations we’ve learned, and move ahead. They want very much to learn to read and write Hebrew; I think I’ll start in the class after next.
The atmosphere was good, occasionally amused. They worked good-humouredly on the words they had trouble pronouncing. They were all satisfied.
Next week’s class will be part of the normal Wednesday morning shift. Rivka will teach them to make items from carton, I’ll continue the Hebrew lessons and Nurit will teach a Hebrew class in Imatin. Afterwards we’ll make our usual circuit of villages and the Habla checkpoint.
A-Nabi Elias
See all reports for this place-
A-Nabi Elias this is a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank, east of Qalqilia on Road 55, north-east of Alfei Menashe colony and west of Karnei Shomron colony and the Palestinian city of Nablus. As of 2016, the village was populated by 1,458 inhabitants.
Near the village is a maqam (holy site memorializing a sanctified person) - the prophet Elisha. Until 2021 Road 55 crossed the village. Then a bypass road was paved through olive groves that were sequestered from the villagers. Consequently, the farmers were left with small olive groves that they could not access nor cultivate. Inhabitants protested against the road for weeks, supported by peace activists, but nothing helped and the road is now a given fact.
The village's main street had been a shopping center for all residents, including colonists. We even saw a Kashrut (kosher food) inspector in a butcher shop close to the falafel stand… The bypass road, according to tradesmen, has impacted their businesses and clients, while others claim that there are customers now for parking has become easier.
Alfei Menashe and Tzofim colonies nibble at the village lands from the north and south and get closer to it all the time. Colonists of Alfei Menashe have outdone themselves, sending their surplus sewage from the oxygenation pools toward a-Nabi Elias land, even reaching the houses.
The villagers are known as seekers of peace. For years there was no hostility towards Israelis. On the contrary, we were always welcomed warmly and stopped there to enjoy their delicious, inexpensive falafel.
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