This is exquisite. So much said so eloquently. You have truly captured a moment (or moments) in the history of Jews and the history of the Jewish State. Nice.
Since I live in Haifa, and I experienced Israel of yore, I could identify with your experiences. But you probably do written Hebrew better than me, given that you were reading papers back then. When my kids were in elementary school, I used to set aside letters sent home from the school, saying to myself, "This is in Hebrew so it's not meant for me." LOL
I only read Hebrew (say that in present and past forms of the verb) when absolutely necessary. Speak fluently, but do not enjoy reading it and whenever I write in Hebrew, Israelis tell me to get it translated into Hebrew. I write like I speak and that does not a written Hebrew make. LOL (again)
That all said, I recommend this article to everyone. I enjoyed every bit of it.
This is in Hebrew so it’s not for me. lol!!! I was a driven soul, unmarried, when I learned Hebrew. I wanted to understand everything that was said to me on the street, in the store, at the post office, and on TV and the radio, and in the synagogue.
I understood everything that was said, just not what was written. I am now having the same issue with Arabic. I love learning to speak the language and my teacher insists that I learn to read and write -- read? OK. Write? Not so much.
This will stay with me a long while. Long lost Russian cousins came to the US in one of the first waves of refuseniks. The family all came together. As a result of my grandfather, abandoning his wife in Russia many many years before. One of the family was arrested and put in prison when they applied to leave Russia he died in prison. When I asked, why did Russia say that it arrested him? they got very mad at me for asking that question because it was so obvious to them. They started yelling and crying that it was because he was a Jew. So that cousin, I never got to meet. There is stories where deep and sometimes painful and so different from my life experiences as a teenager. I couldn't understand it or their experiences now that I am an older woman in my 70s I have more understanding for pain that is just under the surface or pain that is held deeply within. Reading and also listening to your story brought back these memories of my family that I again have lost track of.
Sharon, comments like yours makes writing worth while. I do not dwell on the bad years for Jews in Russia, I think about the freed Russian Jews who are blooming in the US and Israel, their lives far better than the Russians left behind who oppressed them.
This is exquisite. So much said so eloquently. You have truly captured a moment (or moments) in the history of Jews and the history of the Jewish State. Nice.
Thank you Liba. What a nice compliment.
Seconded.
Thank you Rivka. Much appreciated.
Thank you for bringing me closer to my own memories of living in Israel (1970–1972.) Vivid writing and heartfelt investigation.
Thank you Diana.
This is an amazing piece of writing.
Since I live in Haifa, and I experienced Israel of yore, I could identify with your experiences. But you probably do written Hebrew better than me, given that you were reading papers back then. When my kids were in elementary school, I used to set aside letters sent home from the school, saying to myself, "This is in Hebrew so it's not meant for me." LOL
I only read Hebrew (say that in present and past forms of the verb) when absolutely necessary. Speak fluently, but do not enjoy reading it and whenever I write in Hebrew, Israelis tell me to get it translated into Hebrew. I write like I speak and that does not a written Hebrew make. LOL (again)
That all said, I recommend this article to everyone. I enjoyed every bit of it.
This is in Hebrew so it’s not for me. lol!!! I was a driven soul, unmarried, when I learned Hebrew. I wanted to understand everything that was said to me on the street, in the store, at the post office, and on TV and the radio, and in the synagogue.
I understood everything that was said, just not what was written. I am now having the same issue with Arabic. I love learning to speak the language and my teacher insists that I learn to read and write -- read? OK. Write? Not so much.
I was just the opposite. I could read well long before I could listen and speak. Interesting. Good luck with the Arabic.
This will stay with me a long while. Long lost Russian cousins came to the US in one of the first waves of refuseniks. The family all came together. As a result of my grandfather, abandoning his wife in Russia many many years before. One of the family was arrested and put in prison when they applied to leave Russia he died in prison. When I asked, why did Russia say that it arrested him? they got very mad at me for asking that question because it was so obvious to them. They started yelling and crying that it was because he was a Jew. So that cousin, I never got to meet. There is stories where deep and sometimes painful and so different from my life experiences as a teenager. I couldn't understand it or their experiences now that I am an older woman in my 70s I have more understanding for pain that is just under the surface or pain that is held deeply within. Reading and also listening to your story brought back these memories of my family that I again have lost track of.
Sharon, comments like yours makes writing worth while. I do not dwell on the bad years for Jews in Russia, I think about the freed Russian Jews who are blooming in the US and Israel, their lives far better than the Russians left behind who oppressed them.
Amazing writing . . . Takes me somewhere.