BOSTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / November 5, 2026 / For immigrants throughout the U.S., the nation is more than a destination but a symbol of hope and self-determination. The immigrants who arrive in the US looking for a better life are not simply erasing and writing over their pasts upon reaching American soil but carrying with them a depth of history, culture, lessons, and traditions informing this new chapter in their lives.

Anwar Faisal's journey from humble beginnings in Palestine to a self-owned and family-operated property business of over 30 years in Boston is no exception. From Palestine to Egypt to Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi, Faisal's journey was not always linear, but these years of experience enabled him to find professional and personal success in the U.S. These lessons in resilience, diligence, and hope can be traced back to his roots and childhood in Palestine.

Ramla: A Family History

Faisal's history begins not in the Gaza Strip, where he grew up, but in the storied city of Ramla. Faisal's roots trace back to Palestine's historic capital, where his parents met and created a life for themselves. His father became a wealthy man by running his own livestock-trading business, allowing him to own property and provide comfortably for his family.

However, like so many others, their peace and prosperity were disrupted in 1948.

Faisal's family was not able to escape the turmoil of the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. Like many of their neighbors, friends, and family members, they fled Ramla, their community, their home, with little more than what they could carry on their backs. Faisal's family arrived in Gaza, where Faisal's father owned a small house that offered shelter and protection. His family did not escape the chaos unscathed, as Faisal's father suffered from a stroke shortly after arriving in Gaza, and his health never fully recovered.

This was Faisal's first lesson. Maybe one not earned firsthand, but passed down generationally: adaptability. Family members passed down the stories of his motherland, underwritten by the notion that nothing was permanent, not wealth nor security. Circumstances could change at the drop of a dime, but his parents demonstrated the strength to endure. They did not succumb to or become defined by their losses, but worked hard to provide for their children in spite of their past traumas.

A Child's Gaza

Faisal was born on December 24, 1951, into a family marked by resilience, with three brothers, three sisters, and his mother at the helm of the household. She was remarkably bright and hard-working. She taught herself how to read and write, sewed clothes, and worked constantly to keep their family afloat.

Life in Gaza was not a paradise. The Faisals' home didn't have running water, let alone a TV, and meat was a rarity on their plates. After his father's stroke, he couldn't work to the same degree he had in Ramla, so to support a family of eight, every member contributed. They found creative ways to make money. When Faisal turned 12, he began selling ice cream before school; this marked the beginning of his working life and an assumption of familial responsibility that has continued to this day.

Selling ice cream was a finicky business, and Faisal carried the weight of supporting his family on his shoulders daily. However, such a purpose drove him to succeed and taught him foundational lessons in business: how to approach strangers, how to build trust with his customers, how to stay persistent and pivot, and more than anything, a strong work ethic. Even 60 years later, such lessons and discipline have stayed with Faisal and driven him to succeed. From modest circumstances, Faisal learned to work through exhaustion, put in double the effort of everyone else, and practice gratitude.

Despite the hardships endured, Faisal's childhood was not an unhappy one. He remembers splashing in the waves of the Mediterranean, soaking up the sun, and playing soccer with friends past sunset. These pastimes weren't merely hobbies but an escape from the realities of life in Gaza, a symbol of freedom, a sense of joy. His thoughts weren't on the lessons and experiences he was gathering along the way, but on the next soccer match, his friends, and family.

The Realities of Teenage Life and Strife

Faisal's teenage years had the veil of innocence pulled out from beneath them. Despite his parents' best efforts to shield their children from the political realities of the time, there was no escaping the discussion of the fate of Palestine's future. Faisal's family was irrevocably damaged by the events of 1948, which shrouded the family's life and those around them.

Gaza became the hotbed of political unrest in 1967, and Faisal himself experienced the political friction he had previously only heard tell of. The Six-Day War thrust life in Gaza into further peril and uncertainty as Israel struck neighboring Arab countries and captured new land, including Gaza. The brief but bloody conflict impassioned a generation of Palestinians to take action. As a fiery teen, Faisal felt compelled to stand up for his nation's right to exist and joined his neighbors in political demonstrations. However, ultimately, Faisal faced discipline for his actions.

Following such an experience, his future seemed uncertain, hopeless, and bleak. Faisal was consumed by feelings of helplessness and distress for his parents that gnawed at his soul.

A New View: The Value of Education

Reflecting on his past and future after such experiences, education became Faisal's North Star, offering him the opportunity to take control of his life and build himself a better future outside of the confines of Gaza. Growing up, Faisal himself, like most children, didn't take school too seriously. His main priorities were simple: to make money and play soccer. Following the Six-Day War, though, Faisal faced a new world, with new realities, and restructured his perspective: education would be the key to securing a brighter future for himself.

Although Faisal's parents never received formal education themselves, they believed in its power. Education offered their children possibilities that they had not been privy to, and they ensured education remained a priority for their children, despite the hardships thrown their way.

Faisal credits his classmate for spurring the realization that education would be his path out of Gaza. When visiting the home of one of the top students in his school, Faisal watched how hard the student worked not just before a test, but daily, reviewing the material from their earlier classes. Faisal had previously assumed that high-achieving students were simply born that way- he hadn't considered the factors of effort and diligence.

Faisal began devoting more time to his studies, borrowing the student's notes, and copying his studying habits. The fruits of his labor paid off, as Faisal saw a monumental shift in his grades, and the possibility of a college education became more plausible. Faisal had a goal for the first time in his life: to attend Cairo University, one of the most respected universities in the Arab world.

Education was no longer a burden or just part of his daily routine, but a deep commitment for Faisal. He poured himself into his assignments and exams with a new sense of urgency and dedication, and finished high school at the top of his class, earning him a spot at Cairo University.

This persistence, commitment, and discipline ingrained in Faisal's genes were beginning to manifest in his own life. The resilience passed down to him and instilled in him by his childhood would carry him into the next phase of life and beyond. From collecting the stories of his parents in Ramla, to selling ice cream on the street, to dedicating himself to his studies, resilience and determination carried him to the finish line and would carry him to ultimate success in Boston. Faisal's childhood years were not insignificant, but crafted the business-savvy, determined, and diligent entrepreneur he would become. Faisal may not have sensed it at the time, but he would be thankful for the lessons of a difficult childhood, for the loving perseverance of his parents, and his investment in his education to realize the fruits of all their labor and sacrifices to grow and give back in Boston.

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SOURCE: Anwar Faisal