By Hillel Kurlandsky, OTZMA Volunteer from Detroit/Grand Rapids
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| Hillel Kurlandsky teaching students from ORT Ragozin High School in Migdal Haemek. |
In a town absent of any traffic lights or stop signs, the pace of life knows no bounds. When I arrived in Migdal Ha'Emek I was a bit anxious to see what was in store for me: where would I live, where would I work, would I even survive my first day back in high school?!? My anxiety later eased when I met my first residents of Migdal Ha'Emek welcoming me with open arms and wide smiles, eager to show me around town. The first thing they took me to was a play and I watched a recital at the community center. The youth were so shocked and excited to see volunteers from the United States that the first question they could muster was "how did you get here?"
It didn't take long to feel as if I had always lived here, struggled with the same harsh economic conditions a small town faces when ravaged by enormous budget cuts, and pondered what is needed to retain the youth after high school. Yet under all the bureaucracy and politics, there somehow exists an unwavering determination that anything can happen. I see it in the eyes of the residents and my students on the way to Hafuch al Hafuch (center for information and advice for youth), to the local high school, or even from the back window of the ambulance in Magen David Adom (Israel's National Ambulance Service). They recognize my face and wave. What a feeling it is to have such a large family. Every week Otzmanikim are inundated with invitations to dinner. Dorit Keren of Nazareth Ilit, one of the adult volunteers in the Partnership, took a day off her busy schedule to take us on a tour of Zichron Yaakov (near Haifa). Zichron Yaakov is the birthplace of modern Zionism established during the First Aliyah. We toured the first Aliyah museum, the oldest synagogue that still draws a minyan (core of ten worshipers needed to hold a service) today, and the Carmel Mizrachi wine factory. Afterwards she took us to meet her husband and teenage son and daughter as well as served us a great dinner.
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| Left to Right: Natanya, Hillel, Amy, Brian Otzma 18 2003-2004 |
In the local high school I teach English to students of levels ranging anywhere from "non-readers" to advanced level juniors. What a challenge! On top of trying to explain in Hebrew the long forgotten English grammar that seems to lack any rules (in Hebrew nonetheless), I sometimes walk into the classroom and it seems as if someone yelled "Ya'alla Balagan!" , which means go nuts as well as hearing "Ayne Li Koach" which means I have no energy at least ten times a day. Despite this behavior and hazy lack-of-sleep excuses, I really believe these students have great opportunities ahead of them. I have already seen them advance, each one in their own way, over the last three months. I watch their faces as they struggle with English as well as their smiles when they realize that they have it within them to move forward. It just took a little encouragement. I recently learned one of my "non-readers" has dyslexia. For him, reading a foreign language that flows in the opposite direction of his native language makes learning it all the more difficult. After a lot of research and consulting with an expert, I was able to pass along some basic tools that have aided him in reading and have really boosted his confidence. For me, this is the best part of my job, when I see students believe in themselves.
In addition to my normal volunteer schedule, I teach English to the local area principals and their English teachers in preparation for an Educational Exchange to Detroit which they will participate in at the end of February. The delegation focuses on Jewish identity, what it means in Israel and the United States and the differences between them. One of the outcomes will be to strengthen the understanding of Jewish identity and integrating both definitions into a curriculum of Jewish education whereby students can learn about one another. The delegation is a great example of the strengthening relationship between the United States and Israel through Partnership 2000, which links Jewish communities in the United States to cities in Israel, the very reason why I landed in the Central Galilee (between Nazareth Ilit and Haifa). I wouldn't be able to do my job here on the ground if it weren't for the partnership and the unending support I receive from Batia Shimshi, Eti Oren, and Sharon Steinbaum-Open in the Central Galilee Partnership office.
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| View of the valley from Migdal Haemek |
I am thoroughly enjoying my volunteering and the personal accomplishments I have achieved. From returning to teach high school without a teaching background to jumping on an ambulance and flying down the highway to reach the scene of a car accident, my experience here has truly been a once-in-a-life-time one, an experience that will forever change and shape my life. It's truly sad to know that I only have two and a half weeks left in the region before leaving for my professional internship in Jerusalem. I will be leaving many friends behind.
For more information, check out Otzma's Web site .
Shvat 5764 - February 2004