"Seeing the Jahalin" Project

On March 10, the Jahalin communities in the Judean Desert conducted their first eye exams, the fruit of a collaboration between the communities, St. John's Hospital, Friends of the Jahalin, and Maccabi USA, which will also fund the distribution of glasses to those in need. St. John's Hospital provided volunteer medical teams in addition to additional optometrists who were called to the flag and took on the responsibility of continuing treatment if eye problems were found that required follow-up and treatment. The Jahalin communities organized eye exams at three locations: Abu Hindi, Khan al-Ahmar, and Jabal Baba. More than two hundred exams were conducted among children, women, and men, young and old. Those who needed glasses could choose a frame in an appropriate style according to the instructions of the Maccabi USA team. At the end of the exciting project, the Jahalin tribe invited the volunteers to a wonderful picnic near the Nabi Musa Mosque on the cliff overlooking the Dead Sea. It was exciting for everyone.