This is hands down the best purchase I’ve ever made. I ordered it online and paid the princely sum of $3.47 USD, including delivery. The keffiyeh ( كُوفِيَّة) is probably the most multi-purpose garment created. It is to Palestinian and other Arab cultures what the conical hat (nón lá) is to Vietnamese. (The latter also has many practical uses in a tropical country. It’s lightweight, durable, and protects your head and face from the sun.)

Wikipedia describes the keffiyeh as “a traditional headdress worn by men from parts of the Middle East. It is fashioned from a square scarf and is usually made of cotton. The keffiyeh is commonly found in arid regions, as it provides protection from sunburn, dust, and sand.” There are YouTube videos that explain how to wear it. I’ve used it as a scarf (it’s warm!) and put it over my head on long flights to give me a sense of privacy and calm.

In addition to its functionality, the keffiyeh is an unequivocal political statement in support of Palestinians and against genocide, ethnic cleansing, Zionism, and Israel.

I occasionally wore it during a conference of international educators last year, most of whom have remained silent (and therefore complicit) about the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. While a woman at the Study in Israel booth gave me an angry look (think “if looks could kill”), others went out of their way to thank me for this expression of solidarity, something I don’t need to hear but gladly acknowledged.

Peace, MAA