My mother was a powerhouse. She was a radio personality, a journalist, a mother, a wife, a businesswoman, and a person who somehow managed the entire family’s affair. She handled the household finance, she managed investment, if something needed to be organized, fixed, negotiated, or taken care of, my mother took care of it all. But what really made her special is the people that she touched. Her radio program dealt with women, family relationship, an issue that at the time many people did not want to talk about, especially in the Arab world.

          For Arab women, it was something new. She gave women a voice. She spoke to Arab women directly about their lives, their families, their problem, and their hope and inspiration. At a time where women were not encouraged to raise their heads, never mind their voices. And quickly her radio program become one of the most popular radio program in Arabic in the Middle East.

I remember traveling with her to Arab towns and cities across the West Bank, like Umm al-Fahm and Qalqilyah, and people came out to greet her, like you may greet a dignitary from out of the country. And I remember one time even, they rolled a red carpet for her. But what I remember most is not the red carpet, it is the people. The poor people she helped, the women she encouraged, the family that she supported. I remember her always taking one or two women with her on those trips to the Arab cities and towns, somebody that needed a lift on their self-esteem, their confidence, somebody that needed to be inspired, or someone that couldn’t afford any other form of entertainment.

       She believed in helping people stand on their feet, and she used her radio program to bridge the gap between Arabs and Israelis. You see, my mom, Violet Battat, had presence. At family gathering, she was always at the center. People wanted to sit next to her, they wanted to talk to her, they wanted her opinion, her advice. She was the leader among her brothers and sisters and a person the entire family respected.

Tonight, I’m going to dedicate this program to my mother. I want to bring you some worldwide music about mothers, and the regular oldies, new stuff, and the regular lineup of songs, music, and vibe. Stay with me for the next couple of hours.