Hajja Khadija Saeed Abd al-Hay is a 71-year-old Palestinian woman who has lived a life of resilience and love. She is a mother of 15 children, a wife of a patient husband, and a keeper of her Palestinian heritage. She lives in Gorish, a city in the West Bank, where she welcomes her guests with warmth and generosity. She wears the traditional Palestinian dress and headwear with dignity and pride. She also sews, embroiders, plants herbs, and cooks for her family with skill and passion.
Hajja Khadija was born in Salfit, another city in the West Bank, and moved to Gorish after her marriage to Fakhri Fazza. She says she has been in Gorish for 51 years and considers it her home. She says she faced many hardships and challenges to raise and educate her children, who are now successful professionals in various fields. She shows the certificates of her children from four different universities, including An-Najah University, one of the largest and oldest Palestinian institutions of higher education. She says she is proud of her children and grateful to God for their achievements.
Hajja Khadija is also devoted to preserving her Palestinian culture and identity. She wears the Palestinian dress, which is a long-sleeved, ankle-length garment with colorful embroidery. She says she is proud of Palestine and welcomes her honored guests. She says the dress is from her ancestors and it is her heritage. She also wears the Palestinian style league, which is a headwear that consists of a white cloth with black embroidery that covers the hair and wraps around the neck. She says she is honored to wear it and encourages other Palestinian women to do the same.
Hajja Khadija also practices other aspects of the Palestinian tradition, such as sewing, embroidering, planting, and cooking. She says she sews sweaters, scarves, gloves, and hats for her children and grandchildren. She also embroiders with silk and straw. She plants sagebrush and thyme in the mountains between olive trees. She says she buys them for five and 20 shekels per kilo and uses them for eating and cooking. She says she adds thyme, sumac, and olive oil to her dishes. She also makes coffee with cardamom.
Hajja Khadija is a remarkable example of a Palestinian woman who has overcome many challenges and achieved many accomplishments. She has raised 15 children who are well-educated and well-respected. She has supported her husband who has been ill for 30 years after a failed operation. She has maintained her dignity and pride in her Palestinian identity and heritage. She has shared her wisdom and skills with her family and community. She is a source of inspiration and admiration for many people who know her.
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