The Talmud says, “Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved an entire world.” But how many of us would actually save a life?

Against the odds, four strangers of three faiths worked together to save Mohammed Al Samawi, reaching out through social media.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Dan Friedman, executive editor and former culture editor of the Forward, will be discussing the astounding new memoir, “The Fox Hunt: A Refugee’s Memoir of Coming to America,” with its author Mohammed Al Samawi, a Muslim refugee from Yemen. Read the review here.

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE EVENT

Mohammed Al Samawi, Daniel Pincus and the Statue of Liberty. Image by Courtesy of Harper Collins

Persecuted in part, for challenging his government’s official anti-Semitism, Al Samawi found himself fleeing for his life. Caught in the middle of Yemen’s brutal civil war, he was rescued — crossing the Red Sea on Passover — by a group of strangers he connected with via social media. Together, these daring young Jews and Christians saved the life of a man they had never met. “The Fox Hunt, a Refugee’s Memoir of Coming to America,” is the true account of Al Samawi’s journey to freedom.

Mohammed Al Samawi with Natasha Westheimer, one of his social media saviors. Image by Courtesy of Harper Collins

Al Samawi will take time off from appearing on NBC being written about in The New York Times, People magazine and talking to NPR to attend a private Forward event in Manhattan on Tuesday, April 24. Friedman will interview Al Samawi and will also welcome Daniel Pincus, one of Al Samawi’s saviors.

Tickets for the event are $36 and include refreshments and a signed copy of the book. Purchase them here

To find out how to become a friend of the Forward and get notices of events like these, email Robbie Caplan.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount