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.
