Scared of the Man Sitting Next to Me

Shir Levi is an amazing, dynamic, and soulful YouTuber and storyteller who lives in Israel and who, on her channel, tries to share everything she learns on her journey through life.

Shir remembers so clearly, when she was twelve years old, watching the live television broadcast of the planes flying into the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001 (9/11). Those terrible moments had such an impact on her, planting such fear and uncertainty inside of her, haunting her. And she remembers the stories in the newspapers that came out after 9/11, with pictures of the suspected terrorists.

Years later she was sitting on a plane waiting for take-off, relaxing and reading a book, when suddenly a man appeared and took the seat next to hers. In his mid-forties, dark-skinned and with a long black beard, he sat down and stared straight ahead with a scary look in his eyes. He didn't say hello to her or acknowledge her in any way. She was scared of this man right from the start, so intense, almost angry.

And, if that wasn't bad enough, when the flight attendant began to go over the safety features of the airplane, that man sitting next to her started mumbling to himself in Arabic. He wouldn't stop, and began sweating, shaking, and shifting and moving around in his seat - like he was totally nervous. And this made her totally nervous too.

The plane started to take off and the man continued mumbling to himself, louder and stronger - scarier - still sweating and shaking and looking straight ahead.

Shir, who is Jewish and Israeli, was sitting next to him just so scared and completely terrified, afraid she was going to literally lose her mind. She focused on her breathing, on anything that could calm her down and keep her from being so scared of this man sitting next to her, who continued to act totally agitated, very suspicious and was leading her to believe he might be a terrorist. And the idea of a terrorist on a plane sitting right next to you might make you feel so scared you feel like you are going crazy.

And at that moment, just when she felt she was about to lose it completely, she remembered the book she had been reading, and a line that she had just highlighted - "When fear is present in us we bring awareness to it. We smile at it and call it by its true name." She noticed then that the man sitting next to her was looking over at the book she was clutching and without a second thought she offered it to him.

He took the book, looked at it, and asked "What's it about?" Shir told him - "It's about peace." He spent a moment looking through the book and then finally, he looked over at her and asked "Where are you from?"

Even though she was still scared she took a deep breath, looked him in the eyes, and told him "I am from Israel." He got quiet for a moment, they both did, a lot of tension in the air between them, and then finally he told her how the news and media in his country portrayed Israelis as evil people, but, to his surprise (and hers) here they were, sharing a book about peace.

They both smiled at each other, relieved, and before she knew it they were sharing stories and family photos and he even shared with her how scared he was of flying. He was scared of flying, not a terrorist and was a peaceful Muslim Arab Man.

They were there, together, connecting and helping each other, acknowledging the fear that sometimes takes over, but learning to break those fears and stereotypes and to instead see the big picture, to be mindful and compassionate and to realize that it is up to each person, individually, to choose to act differently when we can - to build bridges instead of walls.

Shir realized on that plane ride, with that terrifying stranger who became a friend, that change has to begin with us, because we are all truly in this together. Discrimination, prejudice and being judgemental are a cancer that we can cure.

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[kimnary]

Maybe he was scared of taking off so he was saying prayers

[nabazahid]

I’m Muslim and what he was whispering was a prayer for a safe travels lol 😆

[muhammadsubhan]

I can relate this 'scary man' to myself. I am also a Muslim and I am also scared of flying as I have seen many planes crashing. When I sit in the plane, I always whisper/mumble some words in Arabic and as many non-Muslims are unaware of these words, I am going to tell them that these words are called Ayat al Kursi which we Muslims recite to ask the Almighty God to protect ourselves. We recite a prayer when we are travelling so next time please don't think that these are some evil words instructing terrorists to blow up a bomb near you and please don't be afraid of Muslims and don't think of Muslims as terrorists. It is just because of your way of thinking that people hate Muslims.

Peace for all.

BTW, I am from Palestine so please don't hate me for my nationality and religion and don't think that I am scary.

[godlypokefan]

Honestly looking back it’s baffling how utterly racist that shit was « ooh look a scary muslim man he looks like a terrorist » to then say that both sides want peace is crazy💀

[yosebko]

Man, I feel so bad for the people who get bullied because they think they are terrorist.

[justroze]

This guy is muslim and when the plain started to fly he was saying douaa and douaa means praying to god ... There are douaa for every thing like eating, going to the bathroom, flying or going into a car, looking to yourself in mirror. .. and more, so if someone in mumbiling in arabic don't get scared he/she is just saying douaa
Iam muslim with my respect to every relegon 😊😊

[rei]

That video was the reason why i was terrified to speak Arabic with my family in planes because i though they would kick us out because others would be afraid of us like she was.
I remember how once i was swimming with a friend and one old man just straight up called me a terrorist and that my kind is destroying the country, just because he was swimming near me, i was 13.

Now i am a adult and i notices more and more how Europeans are looking at me disgusted and Hateful when i speak Arabic, its just exhausting at this point 😮‍💨

[bucky]

Me, a muslim: *[prays in arabic]*
Everyone else on the plane: *[confused screaming]*

[copyboom]

I’m Muslim and he was probably saying “please give me a safe ride”

[darkknight]

Girl: *gives man book*
Man: *starts from the middle*
😂😂😂😂

[SS-ryyv]

Haha the reason he was mumbling and shaking is cuz he was saying dua (prayer asking god to keep him safe) 😂 he was obv scared from flights

[adeleydunda]

Who doesn't need notifications because you're always on YouTube

[tonw]

This is insane. Can you imagine if some WASP-y white woman made this story about seeing a black guy jogging, almost calling the police on him, but then ending up seeing him as a human being. And then publicly sharing it like she did something profound and meritorious?

[coolchloe]

I bet he was mumbling "I'm going to be ok""your going to be fine" since we was scared of flying

[bee-bgwt]

''without saying hello, looking at me'' um sorry but when i'm on flights i don't care with who i sit

[bunz]

Man: **doesn't say hello**

Girl: YoU'rE sUcH a DoUcHe

[anastayyan]

The man is probably saying his prayers

[azlanpotato]

I am Muslim and I got called a Terrorist 3 times the second person who called me terrorist learned that I wasn't mean or a bully I was nice and calm so he said sorry and I said its okay, but think before you say.

[a_turkie]

I’m Muslim and I respect all religions ;)

[jojo-xkri]

The reason the man was mumbling to himself was because he was praying. I'm muslim I remember when I was 5 noticing that everytime my dad would start driving he'd start mumbling the same words to himself in Arabic, and I questioned him and why he did it, and he said it was basically praying to Allah (God) that we would be safe. So he was basically doing that on the plane.