11:00 AM - 11:40 AM | Talk with Ruth Ebenstein 

“Ibtisam and I: How breast cancer fostered an unexpected friendship across the Israeli-Palestinian divide"

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM | Armchair Conversation with Ruth and Ibtisam with Q&A

Ruth Ebenstein

An American-Israeli writer/activist, Ruth has written and spoken about how an unexpected close friendship with a Palestinian emerged out of breast cancer. She is penning a memoir about her experience, tentatively titled Ibtisam and I: How breast cancer fostered an unexpected friendship across the Israeli-Palestinian divide. Galvanized to help others, Ruth became an advocate, promoting women’s health. She now lobbies the Knesset and works with Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem to promote women’s cardiovascular wellness among populations with the greatest need: Ulta-Orthodox women, Arab Israeli women, and those with disabilities, in addition to the general Israeli population. Ruth's story has been covered by the BBC, NPR, The Atlantic, & Alhurra TV. Her uplifting message: you can turn something bad into something good.

Ibtisam Erekat lives in Abu Dies Area in Jerusalem. I'm 50 years old and have been married for 19 years. She is a housewife and has one daughter and two sons. Ibtisam has been a member of the Sunrise Group since 2000.