Author Hadassah Ben Ari Shares Emotional Encounter in Jerusalem Market
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Author Hadassah Ben Ari described a deeply moving experience at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market where she was recognized by a tourist from Pennsylvania and a local employee named Sarit. Ben Ari expressed surprise and emotion that her writings, rooted in Israeli life, connected with people from diverse backgrounds. The encounters led her to reflect on the power of simple words and finding meaning in everyday struggles, concluding that profound ideas can be conveyed simply. She plans to revisit the market soon.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Author Hadassah Ben Ari was moved by being recognized by a tourist and an employee at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market.
- Ben Ari felt her writings, originating from Israeli reality, resonated with people from different cultures.
- She was more touched by recognition from an employee than by potential readership of public figures.
- The encounters inspired Ben Ari to reflect on the power of words and finding meaning in struggles.
- She concluded that profound teachings can be communicated using simple language.
- Ben Ari plans to visit the market again and asked an employee to save her food.
Author and creator Hadassah Ben Ari shared a moving personal experience from a late-night visit to Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market. She described feeling a mix of embarrassment and childlike excitement about being recognized by strangers. Ben Ari recounted that while waiting for her order at a shawarma stand on Agrippas Street around 10 p.m., a young woman with broken Hebrew approached her. The woman, from Pennsylvania, identified herself as a mother of seven and a follower of Ben Ari's Facebook posts, expressing her excitement at meeting the author.
Ben Ari stated that she was touched not only by being recognized internationally but, more importantly, by the fact that her words, "born from the Israeli reality," resonated with people from different cultures and mentalities. The encounter continued when an employee at the shawarma shop, named Sarit, also recognized Ben Ari and revealed she was a reader. Ben Ari noted that this recognition, particularly from Sarit, moved her more deeply than if public figures like Sarah Netanyahu or Chana Eisenkott had read her work.
The following day, these encounters prompted Ben Ari to reflect on what draws people to social media posts and which words truly connect with them. She suggested that people are drawn to narratives that reveal "the infinite through brokenness," finding meaning in everyday struggles and difficulties. Stories that offer a glimpse beyond difficult moments, she explained, are what truly stir her.
Ben Ari also shared thoughts inspired by Roy Horn's book "Renewal of the Soul" and the writings of psychoanalyst Michael Eigen. She contemplated alternative life paths, such as pursuing a doctorate and lecturing at a university instead of posting on Facebook, ultimately concluding that "great teachings can perhaps be said in simple words." She ended her post with a message to Sarit, expressing her intention to visit again soon and asking her to save her a "Johnny kebab."