Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

A Window into the Chareidi World

12 Av 5761 - August 1, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS

OPINION
& COMMENT

HOME
& FAMILY

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES

VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

HOMEPAGE

 

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home and Family
An Alternative for Aviva
by Chana Leah Weiner

Aviva Halpert is a sweet-natured fifteen-year-old girl who moved to Israel with her family from a suburb of New York City. She has two older and four younger siblings. The Halperts planned their aliya carefully but were concerned about how their children, especially the older ones, would adjust to living in Israel. They would have to learn a new language, fit into a different school system and culture and make new friends. To their surprise, all the children managed to adapt pretty well, all except Aviva. She was miserable at her new school from the very first day. She returned looking upset but didn't share her experiences with her mother the way she used to `back home.'

After dinner, Mrs. Halpert found Aviva curled up in bed with tears in her eyes.

"What's the matter, zeeskeit?" she asked, concerned.

Aviva remained silent for a few moments.

"I hate that school," she finally blurted out. "It's horrible. There are thirty-eight other girls in the class and they all speak really fast Hebrew and I can't understand them or any of the teachers. I just sat there all day pretending I knew what was going on but I didn't. I just doodled in my notebooks and they didn't even notice. Why did we have to move here, anyway? I liked my school at home and I had friends there. Here I have nobody!"

Aviva buried her face in her pillow and began to sob.

Mrs. Halpert felt her heart going out to her unhappy child. Gently, she patted her shoulder. "I know it's hard, sweetie," she murmured. "All beginnings are hard, as the saying goes. I know you miss your friends but you are a friendly person and I'm sure you'll get to know some of the other girls soon. You have to give it time. You're smart, too, Aviva, and with a good tutor, I'm sure you'll pick up Hebrew pretty soon b'ezras Hashem. Then you'll understand what's going on in class. You know we've talked many times about why we moved here to Eretz Yisorel. When we visited here last summer, the whole family loved it and all of us, including you, decided that we wanted to live here," her mother reminded her.

"I know," muttered Aviva, her voice muffled by the pillow. "But that was different. We were on vacation then. We went on trips, everything was fun. We didn't have to go to school, a big, awful, confusing school!"

"Avivale, we must pray for patience, savlanut," her mother encouraged. "Things will get better, you'll see."

Mrs. Halpert proved to be correct, up to a point. By the next year, Aviva had managed to pick up some Hebrew and had made a few friends, girls also from English-speaking homes. Though she still missed America, she had, more or less, adjusted to life in Israel. But not to the school system.

She still complained about the huge classes, the girls who giggled at her American accent, unsympathetic teachers, the confusing rules and regulations. Mrs. Halpert herself was often at a loss about how to cope. The notices her children brought home from school, in small Hebrew print and without vowels, were difficult for her to figure out. She often went across the hall to her Israeli neighbor who tried to help her decipher these confusing messages. But she didn't like to bother her too often and as her own children's Hebrew improved, she began to rely on them instead.

"Yossi, could you please explain what this letter says," she'd ask. "Aviva said her teacher told her it's important."

Yossi took the letter in his hand and began to translate parts of it, omitting the words he didn't know.

"It says that there is a... meeting for the mothers at the school," he read slowly.

"But what's the meeting about?" Mrs. Halpert asked anxiously. "And when is it?"

"I think it's like, to meet the teachers, sort of a parents' night or something and it's on yom revi'i," Yossi explained. "Sorry, I don't have time to translate the rest of it, Ima. I'm late as it is."

"Oh, yom revi'i? That's Wednesday. That means tonight!" Mrs. Halpert exclaimed in dismay.

Feeling intimidated, Mrs. Halpert took her Hebrew-English dictionary along to the meeting. But despite the language difficulties, one thing became very clear. All the teachers managed to convey the same message: Aviva was not doing well in school. Though obviously very bright, she was not working up to her potential. She did not participate in class and was not a happy girl.

They managed to find tutors for Aviva to help with her most difficult subjects. This put a strain on the family budget but the marks she received at the end of the year were still very disappointing.

"That's the worst report card I ever got in my whole life!" she exclaimed angrily, crumpling and tossing it into the garbage can. "I hate that school. I'm miserable there. And it's not just me; my friend Estie can't stand it either and she was born here. I'm not going back there next year," she announced defiantly.

"But where else would you go?" Mrs. Halpert asked worriedly.

"I don't know," Aviva shrugged. "But anywhere else would be an improvement."

The Halperts then began the difficult task of trying to find another school for Aviva. The following September, she started out with high hopes. Though it meant a very long bus ride at the new school, the classes were a bit smaller, there were more English speaking girls and the teachers -- at least initially -- seemed somewhat more understanding. However, it did not take long for problems to surface again.

"The grammar lesson was so boring and I couldn't really understand it anyway, so I was drawing in my notebook and the teacher caught me. She made a sarcastic remark like, `Too bad it wasn't an art lesson' and everyone laughed. So I said I wished it really was an art lesson; at least I would enjoy that, but then she said I was being chutzpadik."

"They complained I was falling asleep in class. But it was so hot today and the fan wasn't working and I was so tired because I stayed up till midnight studying for a test."

"I came ten minutes late to class today because my bus got stuck in traffic and the teacher said if I can't be on time I shouldn't bother comng to school at all."

"I forgot my history project at home and I asked the teacher if I could hand it in tomorrow but she said she was tired of my excuses and I shouldn't bother. I worked really hard on it and now it's all for nothing!"

"I can't believe it -- they said the new watch that Bubby sent me for my birthday was `too flashy' and I can't wear it to school again."

"I got the lowest mark in the whole class on the Chumash test and the teacher read all the marks out loud. I was so embarrassed. Don't they know it's a sin to embarrass someone in public?"

"I'm the stupidest girl in the whole class. It seems I can never do anything right. Even when I do try, the teacher doesn't notice or appreciate my efforts."

As time went on, Aviva's once cheerful nature began to change. She grew increasingly moody and seldom shared her feelings wth her mother anymore. Mrs. Haleprt did not know if this was typical teenage girl behavior or symptoms of something more serious. Then her once perfect attendance at school started to slip. Some days she seemed genuinely sick, on others, she had a remarkable recovery around eleven a.m., then got up and went shopping.

By the end of the year, she had missed forty-four days of school. More difficult parent-teacher conferences followed. A final meeting in the principal's office was followed by stormy tears from Aviva and more heartache for Mrs. Halpert. The principal had labelled Aviva a problem. She was `disruptive' and `a negative influence on the other girls.' He suggested that for next year, she should find an alternative school, one more suited to her needs. Would they have to send her back by herself to a school in the U.S. with all the difficulties it would involve? Or was there an alternative school for her in Israel?

*

Aviva Halpert is not a real girl. She is actually a typical composite of many such girls from English speaking families living in Israel. Unfortunately, all the problems described are indeed very real, as is the heartache suffered by their parents. In order to help all the real Avivas out there, a new school is being established in Jerusalem.

Yerusha Alternative School for Girls, especially designed for English- speaking Bnos Yisroel ages 14-17, provides a caring, supportive place for those who do not fit into regular Israeli schools. Though bright and talented, they feel overwhelmed by cultural and/or language differences. Some of them may have a learning disability or family problems which further complicate their young lives. They are lost in large classes where the teachers are often unaware of their needs. Frustration, a poor self image, even dropping out of school are often the results. If not caught in time, these problems escalate and the girls may often become `at risk' of losing the level of Yiddishkeit with which they were raised.

At Yerusha, each student is dealt with as a whole person, meeting her spiritual, academic and emotional needs. Her individual abilities and creativity are encouraged to boost her fragile self esteem. The young, dynamic staff is caring and experienced, providing each girl with personalized attention, a meaningful learning program and positive role models.

The curriculum has both limudei kodesh and secular subjects, and all questions are welcome and encouraged, not brushed aside. The emphasis is on discussion rather than memorization, empathy rather than examinations. The courses are refreshingly different, focusing less on the `whats' of an issue than the `whys.'

Traditional topics are combined with innovative subjects dealing with hashkafa issues to strengthen the girls. Secular studies will enable them to obtain an optional high school diploma through the GED. Art, music, dancing, aerobics, computers and life skills (cooking, nutrition, money management and sewing) courses will also be offered. Fascinating guest speakers will be invited to talk on a wide variety of relevant topics. Chessed hours will enable students to help others in the community. There will be Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh and Yom Tov programs. At weekly meetings, their issues of concern will be discussed. Skilled counselors will be on staff to provide support whenever necessary.

An enjoyable summer program is planned for July and August. The new school year starts September 4/01 (16th Elul). The school is located in the pleasant suburban neighborhood of Ramot, Jerusalem, in a family style environment with comfortable, attractive dorms and classroom facilities. Local girls have the option of living in or out of the dorm.

The director of Yerusha is Rabbi Yehoshua Levin-Landau, B.A., L.L.B. Born in New York City, he lived in Toronto for many years before making aliya with his family in 1991. A graduate of Ohr Samayach's Ohr LaGolah program, he obtained smicha from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and as senior lecturer and administrator at a girls' seminary in Yerusholayim, he is well experienced in dealing with students from all backgrounds. His classes on a wide variety of fascinating topics have helped provide them with the answers they are seeking. His empathetic counselling skills are also invaluable to them.

The assistant director is Menucha Levin-Landau, B.A., M.Ed. Specializing in alternative education, she has over twenty- five years of teaching experience with teenage students in both North America and Israel. Relating well to them, she provides a sympathetic ear, guidance and compassion.

Rabbi and Mrs. Levin-Landau are founding members of Gan Yeladim Child Care Center and Netivot HaTorah Hebrew Day School in Toronto. Started from scratch, these are now both flourishing institutions. Finally, and most important, as the parents of three teenagers and one post-teenager, they have personal experience in coping with the many problems that children of this difficult age group undergo.

"We have consulted gedolei Torah, experts in the educational field, parents and students. A great deal of research, time and effort has been put into the establishing of Yerusha," Rabbi Levin-Landau explained in an interview. "There is obviously a real need for this type of school within the English speaking community here. Our aim is to provide a positive educational environment where bnos Yisrael can grow into all they are capable of being."

*

Yerusha is endorsed by gedolei haTorah, shlita including Rav Avraham Pam, Rosh Yeshivas Torah V'Daas in New York; Harav Hagaon R' Yaakov Perlow, the Novominsker Rebbe and Rosh Agudath Yisrael. Rabbi Smith of Neve Yerushalayim and Rabbi Moshe Speiser of Kav Baruch hotline in Jerusalem are also most supportive of Yerusha.

FOR MORE INFORMATION contact Yerusha at 02-586-2411 or e- mail levland@hotmail.com.

 

All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.
Click here for conditions of use.