Their lives are
too hard. They are so sweet and know so little. They’re like my children.
too hard. They are so sweet and know so little. They’re like my children.
.JPG) |
| Learning how to tell time. |
These are the words of my 19-year-old
daughter, Aviva, who is talking about the Ethiopian soldiers she supervises.
All are all new immigrants to Israel.
daughter, Aviva, who is talking about the Ethiopian soldiers she supervises.
All are all new immigrants to Israel.
Aviva started working as a mefakadet
(sergeant) in the IDF last April and her job in the army is to take her
soldiers through basic training with the goal of helping them advance to higher
units in the IDF.
(sergeant) in the IDF last April and her job in the army is to take her
soldiers through basic training with the goal of helping them advance to higher
units in the IDF.
Her other big challenge is to acclimatize
these new immigrants to a life in modern day, stressful, urban Israel. When the
soldiers arrive on her base, they come with multiple challenges; they have very
limited Hebrew language skills, most of them are illiterate, they are poor and are
under intense personal stress in their family lives.
these new immigrants to a life in modern day, stressful, urban Israel. When the
soldiers arrive on her base, they come with multiple challenges; they have very
limited Hebrew language skills, most of them are illiterate, they are poor and are
under intense personal stress in their family lives.
.JPG) |
| Proud to be a yehudi |
Before entering the army, some of these
boys were the only income earners in the family. Many are orphans or come from
broken families, having a Christian parent stranded in Ethiopia. They live in
destitution and are under much stress.
boys were the only income earners in the family. Many are orphans or come from
broken families, having a Christian parent stranded in Ethiopia. They live in
destitution and are under much stress.
And so they arrive at Michve Alon, my
daughter’s army base. They range from18-25 years old although they’re not even
sure of their ages, because in Ethiopia no one recorded their birth dates.
daughter’s army base. They range from18-25 years old although they’re not even
sure of their ages, because in Ethiopia no one recorded their birth dates.
This is a heavy load for a 19 year old (who
just graduated from high school) to carry. After three months of army training,
she now finds herself wearing many hats: social worker, sergeant, financial
planner, Hebrew teacher, therapist and mother hen.
just graduated from high school) to carry. After three months of army training,
she now finds herself wearing many hats: social worker, sergeant, financial
planner, Hebrew teacher, therapist and mother hen.
Despite the challenges, this is important,
life changing work. These Ethiopian soldiers must be placed into their own separate
unit because they are new to Israelis culture and speak little Hebrew.
life changing work. These Ethiopian soldiers must be placed into their own separate
unit because they are new to Israelis culture and speak little Hebrew.
.JPG) |
| Learning colors |
According to one report commissioned by
the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption in 1999, 75% of the Ethiopian Beta Israel
community could not read or write Hebrew and half of them could not have a
simple conversation in Hebrew.
the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption in 1999, 75% of the Ethiopian Beta Israel
community could not read or write Hebrew and half of them could not have a
simple conversation in Hebrew.
Many come
from a rural, agrarian culture and arrive with no job skills. The rural
Ethiopians had never used electricity, never seen a TV nor used an elevator. Having
been cut off from the Jewish world for two millennia, many did not know the
Second Temple had been destroyed.
from a rural, agrarian culture and arrive with no job skills. The rural
Ethiopians had never used electricity, never seen a TV nor used an elevator. Having
been cut off from the Jewish world for two millennia, many did not know the
Second Temple had been destroyed.
.JPG) |
| Geography lesson |
So innocent, they had also never heard
about the Holocaust. They were in total shock when they learned about the
calculated deaths of the Jews at the hands of the Nazis and started to
cry.
about the Holocaust. They were in total shock when they learned about the
calculated deaths of the Jews at the hands of the Nazis and started to
cry.
It is sometimes hard to burst their
bubble, for we live in a mean world and they live in a pure one. Yet their
military service here in Israel opens windows and worlds and increases their
options for a better life.
bubble, for we live in a mean world and they live in a pure one. Yet their
military service here in Israel opens windows and worlds and increases their
options for a better life.
Their lives are
too hard. They are so sweet and know so little. They’re like my children.
too hard. They are so sweet and know so little. They’re like my children.
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.JPG) |
| Israeli mosaic: a new Ethiopian soldier befriends a new Russian-Israeli soldier. |
My daughter listens, praises, helps and
learns. Step by step, her soldiers move onward and upward, carving out a place
for themselves in this modern day miraculous mosaic called Eretz Israel.
learns. Step by step, her soldiers move onward and upward, carving out a place
for themselves in this modern day miraculous mosaic called Eretz Israel.
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