Green Olive Tours is deeply saddened by the death of our partner and friend Ismail Hedra. Ismail, 45 years old and one of the driving forces of our company, passed away in September, 14 months after being diagnosed with cancer.
Ismail was a part of Green Olive from very near the beginning. He drove customers in his taxi, in his van, and eventually in the 20 seater bus with the Green Olive insignia. When we needed more drivers, he was the one to contact and arrange it, from among his huge network of friends, acquaintances and family. He was GO transportation manager long before officially taking that title, rising early and staying late to make calls and ensure everyone was delivered to their chosen destinations.
Ismail believed in what we were doing, in the possibility of living together and in the importance of sharing our reality with the world. Those on our tours who were fortunate enough to be invited into his home on the Mount of Olives will certainly remember the warm hospitality and amazing cooking of his wife Ranya. Together they raised 5 children, and are expecting a first grandchild at the end of this year.
Ismail’s strong connection to his family, to his community and to the Muslim faith sustained him in his work as well as through his months of illness. In our many years of working together, through professional and personal ups and downs, he seemed always always to be smiling, and try as I might I cannot recall him raising his voice or becoming visibly angry. He was as gentle as he was physically imposing, deeply optimistic despite the many challenges of life in occupied East Jerusalem, a good friend and a great pleasure to be around.
Shortly after Covid hit and business shut down, Ismail and I had the chance to spend a few days together driving back and forth over the Mount of Olives planning and filming a video on the wall that cut across his neighborhood. He was shy about going on camera, but in retrospect we are glad to have this footage of him. Despite the shyness, his sincerity shines through.
Soon, perhaps, airports will reopen and tourism slowly return. We’ll be coming to the Jerusalem YMCA again to meet the tour groups in the mornings, but Ismail will not be there to make sure everyone is in the right bus, to pat on the shoulder, to light up the morning with his smile. We will be missing him for a long time yet.
To help support his young family in the years to come, we have launched a fundraising page where you can leave something in his memory. The Green Olive and Hedra families thank you for your support.
