Page 138 - issue
P. 138
Shugarman continued from page 60 Dina describes further her family’s Dina encourages Baltimore readers,
their neighbors. Dina responds that it adjustment as olim: “It is starting all “I think for sure you should come. It’s a
was really no issue since they are only over and learning a new system. You growing experience....There will be chal-
a block away from Kiryat Sanz where have to be open, but the truth is, there lenges along the way. We all face chal-
their friends live. Indeed, I noticed on is a lot of extra siyata d’Shmaya. You lenges; life brings challenges...and this
Shabbos how the Lehman’s 14-year-old need to get advice and help from any- one is a wonderful challenge! The more
daughter, Rivky, was plenty busy with a one you can, because the system is dif- information you get, the easier it will
chasidish friend of hers, and even how ferent.” Dina stresses the importance of be,” she advises. She explains with yet
her friend’s younger siblings stayed for being open and non-judgmental. “If another cultural difference she experi-
shalosh seudos and felt completely at you come here and think that things enced. When interviewing for her job,
home with the Lehmans. Actually, the are ‘different’ – not right or wrong – she asked about her salary and was
Lehmans graciously open their home your transition will be easier, and over told, “It depends.” They couldn’t give
to many Shabbos guests and warmly time, you do want to understand the her any sort of definite answer. “It was
make each guest feel comfortable. system more.” For example, the totally shocking to be hired and not be
chutzniks usually wait in line politely told how much you will be making,”
Dina appreciates the fact that she while everyone else is crowding to get says Dina. “Over here, you’ll get a lot of
hasn’t experienced any negativity on the bus. information from peers.” Dina also
towards the religious in the secular advises that if one is looking for a
school where she works. In Israel, Another cultural difference Dina has steady job, government jobs are more
there’s no separation of church and noticed is that, whereas in America, the reliable and the salaries are more fixed.
state, explains Dina, so when she gives emphasis is placed on the academics of Dina stresses again that to succeed in
out treats to her secular students, she a child, she experiences in Israel more Israeli society do not judge. If you think
has them make brachos. One time, a of a concern of how a child is doing that things are “nuts,” you will have a
parent came in, looked at Dina, and socially. She finds that Israeli parents much harder experience.
exclaimed, “You’re the one who taught care very much about who their chil-
him the bracha?” Dina thought, “Oh dren’s friends are. When interviewing The Lehmans have surely proven
my gosh, am I in trouble now!” So, she for her job, she experienced the cultur- that a willingness to adapt and conform
asked him if what she did was okay. He al difference as well. Instead of asking makes for a higher chance of integra-
surprised her by saying, “Yes, you made her about her credentials, the inter- tion into Israeli society, especially for
the grandfather very happy!” Dina viewer played some “Jewish geography” the children of olim. However, Dina’s
mentions that there may be some sen- and asked Dina whom she knew to get refusal to be classified as being part of
timents of worry among the secular a glimpse of how she would fit in any one segment of religious society as
population of the growing religious socially with the rest of the staff as a well as her family’s open, accepting
segment encroaching on their rights, team player. Although Dina felt that the manner allow them to be part of their
“but in general, people are very interview was done in a “bizarre” man- own kehila and also blend in with the
respectful.” Although Dina and ner, she viewed it positively. “When Sanzer community.
Yehoshua have personally experienced your work becomes more than just
only respect for tradition and religion being ‘work polite,’ your co-workers As Dina and I head home from the
in the school and medical system, she become your friends.” At the end of the beach to welcome the Shabbos, the
acknowledges that things could be dif- day, Dina and her family’s attitude is, sound of the waves seem to share the
ferent in other systems. “we feel like we’re home.” same sentiment: Individuality is good if
a harmonious balance is achieved.◆
◆◆◆
Looking back, Dina feels very fortu-
nate in their aliyah experience. Their
main challenge was adjusting to a dif-
ferent work system, especially writing in
Hebrew on a professional level. Even
though Dina wasn’t criticized, she felt a
need to “put in a lot of effort and work”
to improve her writing skills so as to
send home professional-looking assess-
ments to the parents of her students.
She says that speaking Hebrew was
less of an issue. “Because there are a
lot of olim here, people are expecting
you to make mistakes in your language
skills, which is a nice feeling.”
134 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
their neighbors. Dina responds that it adjustment as olim: “It is starting all “I think for sure you should come. It’s a
was really no issue since they are only over and learning a new system. You growing experience....There will be chal-
a block away from Kiryat Sanz where have to be open, but the truth is, there lenges along the way. We all face chal-
their friends live. Indeed, I noticed on is a lot of extra siyata d’Shmaya. You lenges; life brings challenges...and this
Shabbos how the Lehman’s 14-year-old need to get advice and help from any- one is a wonderful challenge! The more
daughter, Rivky, was plenty busy with a one you can, because the system is dif- information you get, the easier it will
chasidish friend of hers, and even how ferent.” Dina stresses the importance of be,” she advises. She explains with yet
her friend’s younger siblings stayed for being open and non-judgmental. “If another cultural difference she experi-
shalosh seudos and felt completely at you come here and think that things enced. When interviewing for her job,
home with the Lehmans. Actually, the are ‘different’ – not right or wrong – she asked about her salary and was
Lehmans graciously open their home your transition will be easier, and over told, “It depends.” They couldn’t give
to many Shabbos guests and warmly time, you do want to understand the her any sort of definite answer. “It was
make each guest feel comfortable. system more.” For example, the totally shocking to be hired and not be
chutzniks usually wait in line politely told how much you will be making,”
Dina appreciates the fact that she while everyone else is crowding to get says Dina. “Over here, you’ll get a lot of
hasn’t experienced any negativity on the bus. information from peers.” Dina also
towards the religious in the secular advises that if one is looking for a
school where she works. In Israel, Another cultural difference Dina has steady job, government jobs are more
there’s no separation of church and noticed is that, whereas in America, the reliable and the salaries are more fixed.
state, explains Dina, so when she gives emphasis is placed on the academics of Dina stresses again that to succeed in
out treats to her secular students, she a child, she experiences in Israel more Israeli society do not judge. If you think
has them make brachos. One time, a of a concern of how a child is doing that things are “nuts,” you will have a
parent came in, looked at Dina, and socially. She finds that Israeli parents much harder experience.
exclaimed, “You’re the one who taught care very much about who their chil-
him the bracha?” Dina thought, “Oh dren’s friends are. When interviewing The Lehmans have surely proven
my gosh, am I in trouble now!” So, she for her job, she experienced the cultur- that a willingness to adapt and conform
asked him if what she did was okay. He al difference as well. Instead of asking makes for a higher chance of integra-
surprised her by saying, “Yes, you made her about her credentials, the inter- tion into Israeli society, especially for
the grandfather very happy!” Dina viewer played some “Jewish geography” the children of olim. However, Dina’s
mentions that there may be some sen- and asked Dina whom she knew to get refusal to be classified as being part of
timents of worry among the secular a glimpse of how she would fit in any one segment of religious society as
population of the growing religious socially with the rest of the staff as a well as her family’s open, accepting
segment encroaching on their rights, team player. Although Dina felt that the manner allow them to be part of their
“but in general, people are very interview was done in a “bizarre” man- own kehila and also blend in with the
respectful.” Although Dina and ner, she viewed it positively. “When Sanzer community.
Yehoshua have personally experienced your work becomes more than just
only respect for tradition and religion being ‘work polite,’ your co-workers As Dina and I head home from the
in the school and medical system, she become your friends.” At the end of the beach to welcome the Shabbos, the
acknowledges that things could be dif- day, Dina and her family’s attitude is, sound of the waves seem to share the
ferent in other systems. “we feel like we’re home.” same sentiment: Individuality is good if
a harmonious balance is achieved.◆
◆◆◆
Looking back, Dina feels very fortu-
nate in their aliyah experience. Their
main challenge was adjusting to a dif-
ferent work system, especially writing in
Hebrew on a professional level. Even
though Dina wasn’t criticized, she felt a
need to “put in a lot of effort and work”
to improve her writing skills so as to
send home professional-looking assess-
ments to the parents of her students.
She says that speaking Hebrew was
less of an issue. “Because there are a
lot of olim here, people are expecting
you to make mistakes in your language
skills, which is a nice feeling.”
134 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
