Breast cancer forges bond between Israeli from MI, Palestinian

What is sisterhood? One Michigan woman’s experience suggests the path to acquiring a loving sister can be unexpected and extraordinary. Ruth Ebenstein belongs to a diverse group of breast cancer survivors whose mission is to support women with the disease who live in conflict zones.

In 2010, the Michigan-born journalist, who emigrated to Israel, befriended a Palestinian woman with the disease. Soon, Ruth and Ibtisam Erekat, two women from dramatically different backgrounds whose larger communities were regularly in conflict, became best friends, “sisters.”

Ruth Ebenstein has told the story of her unexpected bond in Atlantic Magazine and spoke in several places in mid-Michigan this past weekend. Current State’s Melissa Benmark spoke with Ruth Ebenstein, starting with her diagnosis in 2010.