Because Alicia Ostriker and I have had many adventures together and I was remembering them during our interview yesterday (video to come soon) today I looked for some pictures of our past and found our visit to Naim Araidi.  

Naim meant so much to me, and the photos so warm, I had to share them with you.

Why did he mean so much to me?  Because he was working so hard to bring people together, and every moment I spent with him I believed that human beings can transcend the religious, cultural, and social differences they have.  His loss – 7 years ago – left a gap in the cultural world we have not overcome.

In addition to countless poems of his I translated, I interviewed him in, Jerusalem Review, no 8. 2015, 210-12.

Notice I am the one trying to hang on to him – he was trying to keep up the religious imperative of no touching.  I only realized it now when I saw this photo.