Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Contact
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab US Community
    • Arab Stores Targeted
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
    • TwoGuys on Politics
  • Ray on Tiktok
  • Subscribe Ray’s Columns
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • UN United Nations Human Rights Council
    Israel’s death penalty law constitutes discriminatory regime of capital punishment: UN experts Christian & Muslim
  • 03-30-26 Arab Center Washington DC Executive Director Jahshan and host Ray Hanania
    Arab Center Washington D.C. hosts conference on Trump upending democracy and diplomacy April 9, 2026 American Arabs
  • National Arab American Heritage month Arab American Foundation April 2026
    National Arab American Heritage Month Launches April 1, 2026—Arab America Foundation Unites Communities Nationwide American Arabs
  • American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee ADC Logo
    ADC Sues City of Miami Beach for Silencing Pro-Palestine Speech Activism
  • Heeb Magazine offers new podcast, and join Heeb Media Guild Activism
  • Jared Kushner's bppk.Distributed 500 to attendees at the March 25-27, 2026 FII Priority Summit in Miami at the Faena Hotel
    Jared Kushner tells it straight on Gaza and Iran at FII Conference Book Review
  • Ahmed Rehab Chicago CAIR Director
    CAIR-Chicago Stands with Mayor Brandon Johnson in Affirming Equal Protection Against All Hate Crimes American Arabs
  • Sawsan Abubaker, political consultant and deputy manager for Joseph "Joey" Ruzevich in the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary election.
    Ruzevich race for Congress showcases challenges facing pro-Arab candidates American Arabs
  • Arab American Heritage Month Arab America Foundation April 2026
    Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month 2026 American Arabs
  • American Arab Chamber with Trish Murphy
    American Arab Chamber of Commerce hosts Iftar with regional officials and community leaders American Arabs
  • Ex- Al Qaida Fighter: Al Qaida plans to attack the US on September 11 were public, CIA did noting to stop it Ali Younes
  • 03-03-26 Arab Center Guest Analysts
    Arab Center: The US-Israel War on Iran: Analyses and Perspectives Arab Center Washington DC
  • Accessible Sea and Aquatics Project
    The Accessible Sea & Aquatics Project (ASAP) Announces Capital Campaign for Advocacy and Programs Benefitting People with Disabilities in Lebanon American Arabs
  • Jim Zogby and Rev Jesse L. Jackson in 2020. Photo courtesy of AAI
    Washington Report on Middle East Affairs memorializes passing of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Activism
  • Joey Ruzevich Democrat candidate 6th Congressional District
    Ruzevich slams Casten’s support of Genocide in Palestine Activism
Soheila Adelipour author, Dancing To The Darkest Light

Dancing to the Darkest Light: Turning Tragedy Into Something Positive To Enrich The Lives Of Other

Posted on May 12, 2020May 12, 2020 By rayhanania No Comments on Dancing to the Darkest Light: Turning Tragedy Into Something Positive To Enrich The Lives Of Other
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet





Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns

Dancing to the Darkest Light: Turning Tragedy Into Something Positive To Enrich The Lives Of Other

Arriving in New York after fleeing the terror of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Soheila Adelipour and her family believed the worst was behind them. Life was great for a while; the kids went to college, worked hard and were successful – then one tragedy after another hit and within a relatively short period of time Soheila had lost her son and two siblings.

Determined to survive in spite of unspeakable loss, she established a foundation in her son’s name that provides healing and salvation for those less fortunate. Receiving accolades from broadcast journalist Barbara Walters, Soheila’s book, Dancing to the Darkest Light, tells her remarkably inspiring story of finding happiness in the face of unbearable tragedy. 

Chronicling their experiences in Dancing to the Darkest Light, Adelipour recounts how her only brother became a neurosurgeon while others followed different paths. But their successful relocation and the joy they felt over each triumph was soon shattered when the Adelipour’s second son, Stefan, was killed in a dorm room fire before his scheduled graduation from Boston University.

Soheila Adelipour author,  Dancing To The Darkest Light
Soheila Adelipour author, Dancing To The Darkest Light

Adelipour channeled her grief into the foundation she established in his name. Soon after, her older sister had to undergo five brain surgeries that left her blind and deaf before ultimately claiming her life. The same week, their only brother who was supervising her care was diagnosed with leukemia. Adelipour gave him her bone marrow and 60 percent of her liver when his liver stopped functioning. Doctors ultimately announced he was cancer-free with a perfectly functioning liver, but the week he was to come home, he died from pneumonia.

How one perseveres under the weight of all this loss is at the core of Dancing to the Darkest Light. “When life plays different music, we have to be fluid and dance to the new tune,” Adelipour said.

Adelipour received her bachelor’s degree in business and her master’s degree in Art Gallery Management while her first two children were in diapers. She was involved with the World of Arts and Antiques in New York City and followed that by operating high-end gift stores.

For more information visit www.soheilaadelipour.com.

Dancing to the Darkest Light

Released: September 2019

ISBN-10: 173371264X

ISBN-13: 978-1733712644





Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns

  • About
  • Latest Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israelisnipers shooting and killing hospital workers in Gaza - December 11, 2023
  • CAIR Condemns Israeli Executions of Wounded, Unarmed Palestinian in West Bank   - December 11, 2023
  • Arab and Muslim American voters face a “simple choice” between Biden’s inhumanity and Trump’s edgy politics - December 9, 2023
NVP: 207

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Authors, Book Review, Culture, Features, Iran, Middle East, Spotlight Tags:author, book, Dancing To The Darkest Light, Iran, Iranian, Soheila Adelipour, writer

Post navigation

Previous Post: Netflix fuels war on truth in new season of Fauda
Next Post: New website gives Muslim Americans Faith-based solutions to Estate Planning

Related Posts

  • “Love Trumps Hate” only fueling his success Bloggers
  • Young girl injured by Israeli fire inspires calls for freedom from Israeli oppression Arab World
  • Global refugee crisis to be spotlighted by AAI Gibran event American Arabs
  • President Trump at UN Sept 25 2018. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Details of the Deal of the Century for Palestine-Israel peace Arab News
  • Mansour Tadros, publisher of Chicagoland's The Future News Newspaper, and Christopher Kennedy, the son of the late U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, speaks at a governor's candidates forum Sept. 16, 2017 at Reza's restaurant in Oak Brook hosted by the American Muslim Task Force. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    قوة التمكين العربي تزداد رغما عن أمريكا American Arabs
  • United Nations bUilding, New York. Photo courtesy Ray Hanania
    AHRC observes United Nations World Refugee Day (June 20) Activism

More Related Articles

Jordan’s King offers insight into war on terror Arab World
Lipinski urges humanitarian aid for Palestinians in face of Trump cuts American Arabs
A Covid-19 USS Liberty Remembrance Day Arab World
Algeria: The Regime Is Saying, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!  Abdennour Toumi
Meme of the Chicago Sun-Times endorsing Bruce Rauner, who owned a major share in the newspaper. Now the newspaper seems to do his political bidding. (Former Truman photo courtesy of Wikipedia) Hypocrisy at racist, anti-Arab/Muslim Chicago Sun-Times American Arabs
The new King of Saudi Arabia, Salman Bin Abdel Aziz Saudi King urges American understanding on Yemen challenges Arab World

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • 02-12-26 Ray Hanania on Marc SIms Podcast
    Ray Hanania joins Marc Sims podcast on censorship, Bad Bunny and racism
    February 12, 2026
  • Arab Center Washington DC
    Arab Center Analysis: Israel’s declining support among American Evangelicals 
    January 1, 2026
  • Akram Baker
    Akram Baker remembered, worked at Orient House in Jerusalem with the late Faisal Husseini
    December 12, 2025
  • 10-01-25 Arab Center Web Ad 300x300
    The CMCC and the US-Israel Alliance: Collusion or Enforcement Mechanism?
    December 5, 2025
  • Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
    Construction in the E1 Area: Preventing Palestinian Geographical Contiguity
    October 27, 2025

Couyrageous Thought: Hanania Syndicated Columns

Ray Hanania courageous Thought website logo
Ray Hanania

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source. Some photos published with permission from Zemanta and Wikipedia.

The Lightning Strike Radio Sun 8-10 AM

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show
Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show
  • NEWS
  • UN United Nations Human Rights Council
    Israel’s death penalty law constitutes discriminatory regime of capital punishment: UN experts
    April 9, 2026
  • National Arab American Heritage month Arab American Foundation April 2026
    National Arab American Heritage Month Launches April 1, 2026—Arab America Foundation Unites Communities Nationwide
    April 1, 2026
  • 03-30-26 Arab Center Washington DC Executive Director Jahshan and host Ray Hanania
    Arab Center Washington D.C. hosts conference on Trump upending democracy and diplomacy April 9, 2026
    March 31, 2026
  • American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee ADC Logo
    ADC Sues City of Miami Beach for Silencing Pro-Palestine Speech
    March 27, 2026
  • Heeb Magazine offers new podcast, and join Heeb Media Guild
    March 27, 2026
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • NEWSWIRE
  • UN United Nations Human Rights Council
    Israel’s death penalty law constitutes discriminatory regime of capital punishment: UN experts
    April 9, 2026
  • National Arab American Heritage month Arab American Foundation April 2026
    National Arab American Heritage Month Launches April 1, 2026—Arab America Foundation Unites Communities Nationwide
    April 1, 2026
  • 03-30-26 Arab Center Washington DC Executive Director Jahshan and host Ray Hanania
    Arab Center Washington D.C. hosts conference on Trump upending democracy and diplomacy April 9, 2026
    March 31, 2026
  • American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee ADC Logo
    ADC Sues City of Miami Beach for Silencing Pro-Palestine Speech
    March 27, 2026

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2026 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme