A JEW.....AN ARAB.....

Recently, I watched a T.V. movie with a particularly gratifying theme. If only it might be enacted in real life before too long!!    Settling long-standing wrongs takes time.    However, in this case........

The title? “The Other Son”

Two babies were born on the same day in Haifa. And each was given to the wrong mother…..one an Arab, the other a Jew!

It was not until the boys were about 17 years of age, that the parents were told of the mistake. Shocked, devastated, trying to make sense of the implications, parents and sons were equally confused. This precious son whom each had brought up as their own, was not. Their own son was with parents of what they felt to be a very different race! Basically, a virtual enemy – particularly in the view of the two fathers.

When the parents eventually met, there was, as you can imagine, anger, despair, even hatred. Each son was now looked at as being “one of them”, yet at the same time, dearly loved, as their supposed son. One older brother was particularly rejecting of the lad who had grown up with him as his loved younger ‘brother’.

Gradually the two sons got to know each other; walked and talked together. The ‘Jewish’ son visited his real Arab parents for awhile; at a meal, he suddenly began singing an Arab song. He and the family could relate to each other! The supposed ‘Arab’ son and his real Jewish parents took longer to adapt to the reality…

Eventually the two sets of parents got to know and understand each other. The two families became trusting friends. The truly Jewish son rescued his Arab friend when he was attacked by three men who had had too much to drink.

A nice moment came at the end - when the injured Arab boy lay in hospital, recovering, and his Jewish mate said, “I called your parents; they are coming.” His friend replied, “Which ones!”