THE JEWISH ADVOCATE MAY 6, 2011 BOSTON CELEBRATES ISRAEL 19

My year in Israel: Young Bostonians tell their stories

More than 6,000 young Jews from North America spent all or part of the 2010-11
school year in Israel, participating in programs ranging from archaeological digs to
high tech, medicine to music.
They did so through Masa Israel Journey, a joint project of the Jewish Agency for
Israel and the Israeli government. The program, which also received money from
federations and donors, is open to ages 18 through 30. Participants receive grants
depending on their level of study and need.
Launched in 2003, the Israeli-based nonprofit this school year placed some
10,000 young people in more than 160 programs. For more information, visit
www.masaisrael.org.
The Boston area alone sent 150 young adults on the MASA program this year. We
asked some of them to tell their stories. They appear below and on pages 20-22.

A word person the smallest child in the group achieved a

becomes fluent
in feeling
By Vanessa Friedman
I have been living and volunteering in Is-
rael for seven months, but I am still not
zorem. That is the Hebrew word for fluent.
The Hebrew language does not roll off my
tongue easily, and the Israeli way of life does
not come naturally.
As an avid reader and writer, with a bach-
elor’s in English literature, I have always
thought of words as my ultimate currency.
Living in Israel has made me question that
truth.
I sometimes long for the days when I
knew what every single street sign meant,
could read every menu, and was able to
eavesdrop on any conversation that piqued
my interest. But discomfort has a way of
making one work hard, and it is my com-
plete lack of zorem that has shaped my ex-
perience in Israel.
When I arrived in Israel, I moved into an
immigrant absorption center in Ashkelon
with the other volunteers on my program.
We were the only native English speakers in
the three-building complex; every other res-
ident was an Ethiopian immigrant. We were
encouraged to hang out and play with the
Vanessa Friedman of Newton is taking
part in Masa Israel’s Otzma, a 10-month
service program for college graduates.
children, but I was uncharacteristically shy. I
felt embarrassed that I couldn't offer more
than a smile or a high five to the kids.
Then one day, something happened to
change that. A group of children wandered
in while my friend and I were doing about a
month’s worth of laundry. They looked at us
quizzically. One boy held up a slightly deflat-
ed basketball and waited expectantly. My
friend nodded, and the boy threw the ball.
Soon we were engaged in a lively game. We
giggled when the ball landed out of my
grasp, groaned when it rolled out of the
laundry room, and applauded wildly when
successful catch.
The game eventually dispersed naturally,
and the children started humming a familiar
tune. I was shocked when I realized what
they were singing: “Baby” by Justin Bieber!
Much to my friend’s embarrassment, I im-
mediately started singing along, bopping up
and down to the catchy tune and making the
children laugh. We sang the same verses
over and over. I have no idea if the kids un-
derstood what they were singing, but we
could not stop smiling.
***
I now live in Haifa, Boston’s sister city. I
work at several different places, but the one
where I am most comfortable is a woman’s
shelter. In the afternoons I play with the chil-
dren, while their mothers work around the
shelter or take time for themselves. Lest I
started to feel cocky about my somewhat
firmer grasp on the Hebrew language, the
shelter threw me a curveball: Aron, a little
boy who does not speak any English or He-
brew. Aron, who is 4, speaks Arabic and
Russian. He is usually bubbly and happy,
eager to play on the swings or make arts and
crafts with the other children. On a recent
Wednesday afternoon, however, he was nei-
ther bubbly nor happy. Another little boy
had pushed the bike he was riding too hard,
and Aron was scared. I watched the scene
unfold from a few feet away. I felt unsure
about what to do. Before stepping in, I want-
ed to give Aron a chance to handle the situ-
ation on his own.
But, Aron was not OK; his small hands
rose to his face as tears started to leak from
his eyes. His mouth opened wide, and he
began to sob. I rushed over and before I
could even think about what to do, he
reached both arms up, initiating a hug. I im-
mediately hugged him back, rubbing his
back and smoothing his hair until his tears
subsided. When he pulled away, he was
laughing. He soon rode away to continue
his afternoon fun. Through it all, I did not
have to say a single word.
***
I have surrendered my belief that lan-
guage is my strongest tool. I am still working
on strengthening my Hebrew, but I do not
rely on it as a means to conduct my life in a
satisfying way. I’ve found that the world can
make sense even if I don’t have words to
name the ways in which it all functions. Play-
ing catch and singing silly pop songs are uni-
versal (guilty) pleasures that can be enjoyed
even without the word for “ball” or the cor-
rect pronunciation of the word “baby.”
When Aron reached for me as a source
of comfort, the action resonated in ways
that transcend the word “hug.” My world
no longer hinges on nouns and verbs. I
may be forgetting some of my English and
muddling most of my Hebrew, but thanks
to Israel and my lack of zorem, I absolutely
excel at feeling.
Vanessa Friedman, 22, of Newton, re-
ceived her bachelor’s from New York Uni-
versity.

Where all lives are valued Childhood photos courtesy of Tal Avitan

By Dan Maas AKIM’s after-school program for

After coming to Israel on a
Birthright trip in January 2010, I
wanted to return and learn more
about the culture and people. I en-
rolled in Masa Israel’s Real Life Is-
rael program, where other young
adults from around the world par-
ticipate in career-based intern-
ships, Hebrew Ulpan, and weekly
trips and lectures throughout the
country.
Based on my experience, I was
invited to volunteer with AKIM-
children who have intellectual dis-
abilities as well as psychological
and physical problems. I knew the
work would be particularly chal-
lenging because of my limited He-
brew. But with the help of the staff,
I quickly became passionate about
my work with the children, and I
was invited to continue volunteer-
ing after my Masa Israel program
ended.
Now, I also work at one of the
assisted living hostels, where I have

Jerusalem, a nonprofit that pro-
vides educational services to indi-
viduals who are mentally chal-
lenged. The program was started
in 1951 by the Spighels, married
medical doctors from Germany
whose son was born with intellec-
tual disabilities. Now AKIM-Jeru-
salem also offers assisted-living
housing, where besides receiving
care residents learn how to con-
tribute to society.
I was assigned to work at
!"#$
become close with a Holocaust sur-
vivor who is confined to a wheel-
chair. As a twin, he and his brother
were experimented on by the infa-
mous Dr. Mengele; since then, he
Building Israel. One Child at a Time
has been unable to live independ-
ently. Whether I am tucking him My home life in Sderot was very troubled, so I grew up with AMIT
into bed, assisting him with the as my family. As a young child I was sent to live in an AMIT child
bathroom, or helping to wheel him haven and then to an AMIT youth village. I was cared for, educated,
around on trips, I feel a strong and learned that I was a person of value.
sense of satisfaction that I have
been unable to find elsewhere. Today I am married and building a career as a filmmaker in Sderot.
I have always loved working My love of film was awakened at AMIT. I was encouraged and
with people, but it is extraordinary given scholarships to support my studies.
to do it in Israel where each life is
Thanks to AMIT, I have broken free of my family’s cycle of
valued so highly. I have always lived
poverty. As I tell everyone, AMIT saved my life.
by the saying “Wealth is deter-
mined by what you get, and happi- AMIT Graduate
ness is determined by what you
give.” In Israel and, especially at Tal Avitan
AKIM-Jerusalem, I have found a
place that rewards me with both
fulfillment and happiness.

Dan Maas, 25, plans to pursue

Dan Maas and his mother
stand among crowds in the
Old City during Chanukah.
a master’s degree in Middle East-
ern Studies at Tel Aviv University
Support AMIT online at www.amitchildren.org
next year. 7 Brady Road • Westborough, MA 01581 • Tel: 508.870.1571 • ranar@amitchildren.org