Love and Hope Have No Borders: an Interfaith Story

Can a Jewish man and a Muslim woman fall in love and marry? Joe Gold, a Jewish medical student at NYU, grapples with heartbreak after his relationship with Staci ends. Seeking solace and purpose, Joe’s father, Robert Gold, arranges an internship at the Zaatari Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. It is there that Joe encounters Alina Aziz, a Syrian Sunni nurse who carries the weight of loss—her parents perished in a bombing. Alina’s unwavering commitment to her deaf brother, Ishmael, and adherence to Islamic norms shape her every action.When Alina invites Joe to attend a Syrian wedding, his emotions surge. At the celebration’s end, he leans in, seeking a kiss. But Alina’s response is swift—a shove. Unmarried and mindful of cultural norms, she refrains from displaying affection in public. This moment underscores the delicate balance they must navigate between desire and tradition. Despite the challenges, Alina and Joe are resolute in pursuing love and marriage.As Joe and Alina’s lives intertwine, their contrasting worlds merge into a harmonious symphony of affection and hope. But the world beyond the camp’s confines is unforgiving. The invisible walls of policy and prejudice thwart Alina’s dreams of stepping onto American soil. Joe must navigate a labyrinth of legalities and long-held biases, with the help of his father, to fight for their future together. Alina, a refugee, is bound by the camp’s confines. Leaving is no simple decision; it involves navigating bureaucratic mazes and overcoming the heavy burden of displacement. And then there’s Ishmael—the anchor of Alina’s existence. She won’t leave without him, even if it means sacrificing her chance at a better life.Joe’s mother, Leah, struggles with his unexpected romance with Alina. She is Mrs. Know-It-All and intends to end the relationship and have Joe marry a Jewish woman. In contrast, Joe’s father, a dean at NYU, remains open-minded. However, Joe’s dad can’t seem to succeed in bringing Alina and her brother to New York. Joe takes matters into his own hands and seeks out the US Ambassador in Amman, which results in Joe blowing up. Will Joe and Alina wed, and will they be able to go to the United States? This heartwarming story has real-world implications. Few novels have been devoted to a forbidden romance between a Muslim woman and a Jewish man.