A single Jewish mother of four on the West Bank, unemployed and in debt, Illanit Steqa is now also homeless.
"All of my belongings were out the door in 30 minutes," she told CTV News, describing her eviction from public housing. "I didn't know what to do."
It was then that Ahmed Dabash, a Palestinian taxi driver, saw the commotion of police, cardboard boxes and Steqa in the street.
She was crying, Dabash recalls, so he stopped and asked if he could help. He was the only person to do so.
"At first, she didn't know I was an Arab," he said. "She was afraid."
Yet Dabash convinced Steqa to look beyond what she may think of "the other side", and brought her from Jerusalem to his family's home in Soor Baher, an Arab village on the cusp of the West Bank, where few Israelis venture.
It was awkward at first, but hot tea and tepid conversation gave way to curious co-existence. After three weeks, the children of both families have found things in common and Steqa has learned that she has fewer enemies than she thought.
"They don't have sidewalks or a playground for the kids," she said. "There is nothing. But they have a heart, and love for my kids. It's shameful for my state."
Back in Steqa's old neighbourhood, a part of Jerusalem built on disputed land, people call it an embarrassment.
"It's painful for me as a Jew," one resident told CTV News, "that a Jewish woman had to go to an Arab village."
Steqa is eligible for Israel state benefits and hopes to get back on her feet soon -- with the goodwill of people she seemed destined to never meet and now dares to call friends.
With a report from CTV's Janis Mackey Frayer
