One of the most heartbreaking scenes in Hend Ayoub’s solo show Home? A Palestinian Woman’s Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness comes early, when young Hend giddily attends a party to celebrate Purim. The holiday, commemorating the defeat of the plot to massacre the Jews at the hands of Haman, is expressed by Hend as “the best holiday in Israel” as the Israeli children at the party enjoy costumes, crowns and snacks.
There’s one major problem. Hend, who lives as a citizen of Israel, is still an outsider as a Palestinian — or, in more dismissive terms used by those around her, an Arab. At the celebration, she tries to recoup the joy she possessed just moments prior by reminding other attendees that she too has a crown, and a wand, but gives up as tears explode from her young eyes. She m