About Ruth Ebenstein

Ruth Ebenstein is an award-winning journalist, writer, historian, and health/peace activist. Born in California and reared in Michigan, she moved to Jerusalem days after she graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She has lived there ever since.

Inspired to share the story of this cross-cultural friendship, Ruth started a career in public speaking in 2014. She has presented to more than 50 organizations: churches, synagogues, schools, Muslim groups, medical conferences, interfaith groups, business breakfasts, women’s groups, Hadassah, Israel Bonds, Jewish Federation. In December 2015, Ruth and Ibtisam presented together at the U.S. Department of State, and Ruth has been invited to speak there again in June 2016. She has had numerious speaking tours across the US. Ruth recently joined the Triage Cancer’s Speakers Bureau. Ruth’s story has been covered by BBC TV (translated into Spanish, Arabic, Persian, and Portuguese) and BBC Radio, NPR, The Atlantic, Alhurra TV, Brigitte Woman, and many other media outlets.

Her uplifting message: Building personal relationships tears down the anxiety, prejudice and fear created by borders and boundaries.