8/7/2019 Boston Jewish Advocate - 5/6/2011

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My year in Israel: Young Bostonians tell their storiesMore than 6,000 young Jews from North America spent all or part of the 2010-11

school year in Israel, participating in programs ranging from archaeological digs tohigh tech, medicine to music.

They did so through Masa Israel Journey, a joint project of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government. The program, which also received money fromfederations and donors, is open to ages 18 through 30. Participants receive grants

depending on their level of study and need.Launched in 2003, the Israeli-based nonprofit this school year placed some

10,000 young people in more than 160 programs. For more information, visit www.masaisrael.org.

The Boston area alone sent 150 young adults on the MASA program this year. Weasked some of them to tell their stories. They appear below and on pages 20-22.

By Vanessa Friedman

I have been living and volunteering in Is-rael for seven months, but I am still notzorem. That is the Hebrew word for fluent.The Hebrew language does not roll off my tongue easily, and the Israeli way of life doesnot come naturally.

 As an avid reader and writer, with a bach-elor’s in English literature, I have alwaysthought of words as my ultimate currency.Living in Israel has made me question that

truth.I sometimes long for the days when I

knew what every single street sign meant,could read every menu, and was able toeavesdrop on any conversation that piquedmy interest. But discomfort has a way of making one work hard, and it is my com-plete lack of zorem that has shaped my ex-perience in Israel.

 When I arrived in Israel, I moved into animmigrant absorption center in Ashkelon  with the other volunteers on my program. We were the only native English speakers inthe three-building complex; every other res-ident was an Ethiopian immigrant. We wereencouraged to hang out and play with the

children, but I was uncharacteristically shy. Ifelt embarrassed that I couldn't offer morethan a smile or a high five to the kids.

Then one day, something happened tochange that. A group of children wanderedin while my friend and I were doing about amonth’s worth of laundry. They looked at usquizzically. One boy held up a slightly deflat-ed basketball and waited expectantly. My friend nodded, and the boy threw the ball.Soon we were engaged in a lively game. Wegiggled when the ball landed out of my grasp, groaned when it rolled out of thelaundry room, and applauded wildly when

the smallest child in the group achieved asuccessful catch.

The game eventually dispersed naturally,and the children started humming a familiar tune. I was shocked when I realized whatthey were singing: “Baby” by Justin Bieber!Much to my friend’s embarrassment, I im-mediately started singing along, bopping upand down to the catchy tune and making thechildren laugh. We sang the same versesover and over. I have no idea if the kids un-derstood what they were singing, but wecould not stop smiling.

* * *I now live in Haifa, Boston’s sister city. I

 work at several different places, but the one where I am most comfortable is a woman’sshelter. In the afternoons I play with the chil-dren, while their mothers work around theshelter or take time for themselves. Lest I

started to feel cocky about my somewhatfirmer grasp on the Hebrew language, theshelter threw me a curveball: Aron, a littleboy who does not speak any English or He-brew. Aron, who is 4, speaks Arabic andRussian. He is usually bubbly and happy,eager to play on the swings or make arts andcrafts with the other children. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, however, he was nei-ther bubbly nor happy. Another little boy had pushed the bike he was riding too hard,and Aron was scared. I watched the sceneunfold from a few feet away. I felt unsureabout what to do. Before stepping in, I want-ed to give Aron a chance to handle the situ-ation on his own.

But, Aron was not OK; his small handsrose to his face as tears started to leak fromhis eyes. His mouth opened wide, and hebegan to sob. I rushed over and before Icould even think about what to do, hereached both arms up, initiating a hug. I im-mediately hugged him back, rubbing hisback and smoothing his hair until his tearssubsided. When he pulled away, he waslaughing. He soon rode away to continuehis afternoon fun. Through it all, I did nothave to say a single word.

* * *I have surrendered my belief that lan-

guage is my strongest tool. I am still workingon strengthening my Hebrew, but I do notrely on it as a means to conduct my life in asatisfying way. I’ve found that the world canmake sense even if I don’t have words toname the ways in which it all functions. Play-ing catch and singing silly pop songs are uni- versal (guilty) pleasures that can be enjoyedeven without the word for “ball” or the cor-rect pronunciation of the word “baby.”

 When Aron reached for me as a sourceof comfort, the action resonated in waysthat transcend the word “hug.” My worldno longer hinges on nouns and verbs. Imay be forgetting some of my English andmuddling most of my Hebrew, but thanksto Israel and my lack of zorem, I absolutely excel at feeling.

Vanessa Friedman, 22, of Newton, re- ceived her bachelor’s from New York Uni- versity.

19BOSTON CELEBRATES ISRAELTHE JEWISH ADVOCATE MAY 6, 2011

 A word personbecomes fluentin feeling

By Dan Maas  After coming to Israel on aBirthright trip in January 2010, I  wanted to return and learn moreabout the culture and people. I en-rolled in Masa Israel’s Real Life Is-rael program, where other youngadults from around the world par-ticipate in career-based intern-ships, Hebrew Ulpan, and weekly trips and lectures throughout thecountry.

Based on my experience, I wasinvited to volunteer with AKIM-  Jerusalem, a nonprofit that pro-  vides educational services to indi-  viduals who are mentally chal-lenged. The program was startedin 1951 by the Spighels, marriedmedical doctors from Germany  whose son was born with intellec-tual disabilities. Now AKIM-Jeru-salem also offers assisted-livinghousing, where besides receivingcare residents learn how to con-tribute to society.

I was assigned to work at

  AKIM’s after-school program for children who have intellectual dis-abilities as well as psychologicaland physical problems. I knew the  work would be particularly chal-lenging because of my limited He-brew. But with the help of the staff,I quickly became passionate aboutmy work with the children, and I was invited to continue volunteer-ing after my Masa Israel programended.

Now, I also work at one of theassisted living hostels, where I havebecome close with a Holocaust sur-  vivor who is confined to a wheel-chair. As a twin, he and his brother  were experimented on by the infa-mous Dr. Mengele; since then, hehas been unable to live independ-ently. Whether I am tucking himinto bed, assisting him with thebathroom, or helping to wheel himaround on trips, I feel a strongsense of satisfaction that I havebeen unable to find elsewhere.

I have always loved working with people, but it is extraordinary to do it in Israel where each life is valued so highly. I have always livedby the saying “Wealth is deter-mined by what you get, and happi-ness is determined by what yougive.” In Israel and, especially at  AKIM-Jerusalem, I have found aplace that rewards me with bothfulfillment and happiness.

 Dan Maas, 25, plans to pursue a master’s degree in Middle East- ern Studies at Tel Aviv University 

next year.

 Vanessa Friedman of Newton is takingpart in Masa Israel’s Otzma, a 10-monthservice program for college graduates.

Dan Maas and his mother stand among crowds in theOld City during Chanukah.

 Where all lives are valued

Support AMIT online at www.amitchildren.org

7 Brady Road • Westborough, MA 01581 • Tel: 508.870.1571 • ranar@amitchildren.org

My home life in Sderot was very troubled, so I grew up with AMITas my family. As a young child I was sent to live in an AMIT childhaven and then to an AMIT youth village. I was cared for, educated,and learned that I was a person of value.

Today I am married and building a career as a filmmaker in Sderot.My love of film was awakened at AMIT. I was encouraged andgiven scholarships to support my studies.

Thanks to AMIT, I have broken free of my family’s cycle ofpoverty. As I tell everyone, AMIT saved my life.

 AMIT Graduate

Tal Avitan

 !"#$Building Israel. One Child at a Time

Childhood photos courtesy of Tal Avitan