Jeedeh Al-Khairi
Elders of Palestine

Umm Ahmad, or Jeedeh Al-Khairi was born in Ramla, Palestine in 1936. She still remembers the trees, fruits and flowers that grew tall and large in her neighborhood. The powerful imagery she keeps hold of in her mind’s eye is reflected in her painting. She paints the memories of her land, her people and her pain. The beauty so well-evoked is a stark contrast to the tragedies she describes of the Nakba in 1948. She was 12 years old, and remembers every detail: the meal they had before leaving, the journey on foot, the nights slept in mosques and schools, and the agonizing pain that never ended. Listen to her story.