By Naomi LeVine
As part of our unit on education, we went out on Thursday to see firsthand some different educational models in action. First, we went to Talpaz Elementary School, an English-immersion school, and we got to work with third-graders learning English. All of the fellows paired up with one or two kids, and answered the questions they had for us. I worked with two girls, who started the conversation by asking me what my name is and where I am from. Our conversation was mostly in English but, on occasion, when one of the children couldn't express something in English she switched to Hebrew. I was impressed with myself that, although my Hebrew skills still need improvement, I was able to understand her Hebrew and respond. After working in small groups, the whole class came together and one of the teachers pulled up the different hometowns of the Nachshon fellows on Google maps and the kids were able to see where we lived. Because Israel is such a small country, they were shocked at how big the United States is and how far our hometowns are from one-another. It was a heart-warming morning, and it reminded me how much I love working with kids.
Our next stop was the Hartman Institute’s school for girls, Midrashiya High School. We were able to sit down with some of the school’s teachers and discuss the goals and the practices of the high school. While classified as Orthodox, the school is working to promote pluralism among its students. The teachers were able to provide great insight into the world of these girls and the incredible education they receive. I was very impressed.
We ended the morning at Shalva, an organization in Jerusalem that offers different kinds of care and educational resources for children with special needs. The children who attend Shalva face various developmental challenges including Autism, Down's Syndrome, auditory and visual disabilities. As we walked in, we instantly felt absorbed into this amazing world. The daycare group was leaving, and the after-school kids were coming in. Happiness radiated off of every child and every staff member. Shalva is almost fully staffed by volunteers, and the various services they provide for children aged zero to twenty-one is unbelievable. We got a tour of the seven-story building, stopping in their sensory therapy room, music room, Synagogue, sleepover rooms, and others. At the end, we got to meet Yossi, whose mother founded Shalva when Yossi became deaf, blind, and acutely hyperactive as a child. Now, as an adult, Yossi works and has even taught himself to speak. Meeting him and seeing how much the organization was impacting so many children was very meaningful for all of us. It was one of my favorite trips of the semester, a sentiment that I share with many of the other fellows. The visits not only taught us about different educational facilities in Israel, but also deeply inspired us to continue our passion for Jewish education.
