Happy Passover, Nebraska!

Shalom! I wish my Jewish family a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful Passover.

After the attacks of 9/11, it was my Jewish community who saw me through the darkness of the immediate backlash against my Islamic community. I had faith in them for what they and their families had endured during the Holocaust and in America. I had faith in them to lead me through to better days for all of us, as they have done for themselves and others throughout our American history.

When I escaped my own enslavement, it was my faith in God and humanity that led me through to better days. The words of my youth burst forth in Yiddish, Hebrew, Arabic and more. My beloved dog, Sammy was my Bubala. I spoke Shalom and Salam together as I once did as a hijabi in my Jewish American community.

I made homemade bagels while explaining that they were the traditional ones that would be recognized by a Jewish person, unlike in many stores. I bought Kosher kielbasa and hot dogs from my Eastern European ancestry, thanking God for the Eastern European Jewish Americans who made my food Halal for me. I made hummus, pita and baklawa reminding myself of the Holy Land of our faiths.

I am still in my own Exodus, trying to find a home but I have found my community and my freedom in Nebraska like so many wonderful Jewish people as well as those of every faith and no faith. I pray that we all survive these dark times with the love and humor that has seen us through far worse.

My latkes suck but I hope to share a good bagel with you someday. As well as the story of me in hijab running after a Reform Jew to pray Shabbat prayers with a couple of Hasidim.

I wish you shalom on this holiest of days when Moses led his people to freedom because

Every life matters, especially yours.

God bless Nebraska and especially her people.