Page 52 - issue
P. 52
Ethiopian community was living. The he feels closer to Eretz Yisrael, as when engaged. She met her Israeli husband,
he is in yeshiva, out with friends, on the Asher Vodka, when both were volun-
volunteers were mentors and tutors to bus, or talking to Israelis. “He is perpet- teering with the Ethiopians. Asher, who
ually ‘living on a bridge,’ which can be began volunteering when he was nine-
the immigrants, and guided them in disconcerting,” Chava explains, but she teen and learning full time in Yeshivat
and the Ethiopian girl concluded that it Mercaz HaRav, was helping with things
keeping modern day halacha, as the was okay. “Aliyah is a lifelong process like forming a minyan or shofar blow-
religious life in Ethiopia was outside that may be difficult, but it’s definitely ing. Over the years, he formed close
worth it!” connections with the Ethiopian chil-
the accepted norms of frumkeit. dren and their families. His involve-
Chava’s feeling of being somewhat ◆◆◆ ment included persuading roshei yeshi-
va to accept certain children into their
of an outsider was one reason she The year after Sheirut Leumi, Chava schools, getting tefilin for bar mitzva
began her studies in Bar Ilan boys, teaching bar mitzva lessons, giv-
loved working with the Ethiopian olim. University, working toward a degree in ing lots of shiurim and forming
“Although I was worlds apart from guidance counseling. In 1998, Chava chavrusas with the older boys.
officially made aliyah. “It was exciting
them culturally,” says Chava, “an oleh is and scary to make aliyah alone,” she As the years went by, the Ethiopian
an oleh.” She had “amazing discus- says. On the one hand, she felt totally at families received aid from the govern-
sions” with many of the older Ethiopian home in Eretz Yisrael, where she had ment and moved out of the absorption
been for four years. She had many con- center, which was nothing more than a
girls about the challenges of being an tacts and knew the language and how rundown trailer site, and into regular
to get around. On the other hand, she apartments in various cities. Asher con-
oleh. One very bright young girl worked felt she had no real roots. “My Israeli tinued to maintain his connections
with Chava to create leadership train- friends would meet with high school with the families and would visit them
friends or bump into old teachers or in their new communities as well as the
ing programs for olim via Bnei Akiva. neighbors or kids they had babysat for yeshivos of the children. Chava also vis-
They came across a picture of an olah as teenagers. I had none of that.” ited the kids she had been working
chadasha standing on a bridge; on one with in their new homes. A few times,
side of the bridge was her country of On the other hand, it was while
studying at Bar Ilan that Chava got
origin and on the other side was Eretz
Yisrael. Reflecting on this poignant pic-
ture, they discussed how the aliyah
experience feels like being on the gesh-
er (bridge). At times, one feels closer to
his country of origin, such as when he
goes home, is part of family simchas, or
eats traditional foods. At other times,
H Enjoy your SUGPOESLRPDESBCUEIARMLGM’SER
ole Summer!
SPEND $20 AT
Goldberg’s in Pikesville
AND RECEIVE A VOUCHER FOR
$10 OFF AT
Goldberg’s in Timonium!
Exp. 9-22-16. Eat in only. Conditions apply.
Celebrate your next Simcha at the location of your choice!
Brisses • Sheva Brachos • Graduations • Anniversaries • All Dairy Occasions
1500 Reisterstown Road • Baltimore, MD 31 East Padonia Road, Timonium, MD
Tel: 410-415-7001 • Fax: 410-415-5350 Tel: 410-891-8559
www.goldbergsbagels.com
www.goldbergsbagelstimonium.com
OPEN SUNDAY–FRIDAY AT 6 AM EST OPEN SUNDAY–FRIDAY AT 7 AM EST
48 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
he is in yeshiva, out with friends, on the Asher Vodka, when both were volun-
volunteers were mentors and tutors to bus, or talking to Israelis. “He is perpet- teering with the Ethiopians. Asher, who
ually ‘living on a bridge,’ which can be began volunteering when he was nine-
the immigrants, and guided them in disconcerting,” Chava explains, but she teen and learning full time in Yeshivat
and the Ethiopian girl concluded that it Mercaz HaRav, was helping with things
keeping modern day halacha, as the was okay. “Aliyah is a lifelong process like forming a minyan or shofar blow-
religious life in Ethiopia was outside that may be difficult, but it’s definitely ing. Over the years, he formed close
worth it!” connections with the Ethiopian chil-
the accepted norms of frumkeit. dren and their families. His involve-
Chava’s feeling of being somewhat ◆◆◆ ment included persuading roshei yeshi-
va to accept certain children into their
of an outsider was one reason she The year after Sheirut Leumi, Chava schools, getting tefilin for bar mitzva
began her studies in Bar Ilan boys, teaching bar mitzva lessons, giv-
loved working with the Ethiopian olim. University, working toward a degree in ing lots of shiurim and forming
“Although I was worlds apart from guidance counseling. In 1998, Chava chavrusas with the older boys.
officially made aliyah. “It was exciting
them culturally,” says Chava, “an oleh is and scary to make aliyah alone,” she As the years went by, the Ethiopian
an oleh.” She had “amazing discus- says. On the one hand, she felt totally at families received aid from the govern-
sions” with many of the older Ethiopian home in Eretz Yisrael, where she had ment and moved out of the absorption
been for four years. She had many con- center, which was nothing more than a
girls about the challenges of being an tacts and knew the language and how rundown trailer site, and into regular
to get around. On the other hand, she apartments in various cities. Asher con-
oleh. One very bright young girl worked felt she had no real roots. “My Israeli tinued to maintain his connections
with Chava to create leadership train- friends would meet with high school with the families and would visit them
friends or bump into old teachers or in their new communities as well as the
ing programs for olim via Bnei Akiva. neighbors or kids they had babysat for yeshivos of the children. Chava also vis-
They came across a picture of an olah as teenagers. I had none of that.” ited the kids she had been working
chadasha standing on a bridge; on one with in their new homes. A few times,
side of the bridge was her country of On the other hand, it was while
studying at Bar Ilan that Chava got
origin and on the other side was Eretz
Yisrael. Reflecting on this poignant pic-
ture, they discussed how the aliyah
experience feels like being on the gesh-
er (bridge). At times, one feels closer to
his country of origin, such as when he
goes home, is part of family simchas, or
eats traditional foods. At other times,
H Enjoy your SUGPOESLRPDESBCUEIARMLGM’SER
ole Summer!
SPEND $20 AT
Goldberg’s in Pikesville
AND RECEIVE A VOUCHER FOR
$10 OFF AT
Goldberg’s in Timonium!
Exp. 9-22-16. Eat in only. Conditions apply.
Celebrate your next Simcha at the location of your choice!
Brisses • Sheva Brachos • Graduations • Anniversaries • All Dairy Occasions
1500 Reisterstown Road • Baltimore, MD 31 East Padonia Road, Timonium, MD
Tel: 410-415-7001 • Fax: 410-415-5350 Tel: 410-891-8559
www.goldbergsbagels.com
www.goldbergsbagelstimonium.com
OPEN SUNDAY–FRIDAY AT 6 AM EST OPEN SUNDAY–FRIDAY AT 7 AM EST
48 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
