What a year! Seven months ago we were meeting new runners and training up for a new Iqraa season. And now it’s time for our annual holiday commemoration of the running year on Saturday at Mama Ayesha’s.

The idea of going to the theater for our team celebration may seem unorthodox but the coauthor of this play is Najla Said—Edward’s daughter—who also performs, along with her long-time Jewish friend, Judith Sloan. Najla’s aunt, Grace Said, who now lives in Beirut, is promoting the play.

“I struggled…

to reconcile the beautiful, comforting, loving world

 of my home, culture, and family

 with the supposed ‘barbaric’ and ‘backward’ place and society

 others perceived it to be”

~Najla Said