Decoder

You Already Know What ‘Sumud’ Means

Despite its Palestinian specificity, the word reveals universal truths. October 10, 2025, 2:40 PM Comment icon View Comments ( )

The green branches of an olive tree catch a falling missile above the Arabic word "sumud"

Israel-Hamas War

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On my first trip to Palestine as an adult, I visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where I was drawn to a large, painted wooden sculpture of St. George slaying a dragon. According to the inscription at its base, it was a gift from the town’s prominent Dabdoub family—my maternal family, who have lived in Bethlehem since the Crusades.

When I asked my local guide why the statue was there, he shrugged and gave a one-word answer in Arabic: “ Sumud .” St. George is rega

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