February 2017 Highlights

The task of recording personal highlights while keeping up with the pace of life often feels like a burden. Instead of doing it, just thinking about doing it feeds the monster of procrastination. Then, one good day, finally, I do it! Interestingly, the monster turns into a friend and the process of reflection fills me with insights, not only on my blown-out-of-proportion resistance to write, but also on the value of my experiences

Living life in the fast lane often dumbs my awareness, and when I finally focus on accounting for my journey, I realize how much ground I covered, and what accomplished. Here is a summary of my February highlights organized by categories.

WORK

Berlitz

My work with Berlitz came to a halt after I endured a verbally abusive and totally unexpected interaction with my manager from Tel Aviv. She held against me that I turned down two teaching assignments that were geographically unavailable to me (4-hour commute), as well as my two-week vacation request to travel to the US in March. I had never ever experienced something alike, being yelled at in front of others, judged, criticized and scolded. The lack of professionalism was appalling, and I was proud to be have been able to withstand such abuse proactively, as I knew crystal clearly that the problem was not with me. I stood still, listened and left without responding.  After a few days I decided to report the incident to the Operations Manager.  She was wishy-washy but agreed to meet with me several weeks later.  After she shielded herself from responsibility, she confirmed that this manager has problems controlling her temper, and given other complaints she has been reprimanded. In my view, the problem was hugely downplayed, and I was not at all impressed at the handling of this sensitive issue that involves basic respect and civil treatment to staff. In Canada, this would not happen, or if it did, the person would likely be fired. What I learned from this experience is that there are many ways to respond to an attack, and while it is easier to fight back impulsively, I fought this battle strategically and won a small war. At the end, the senior manager stepped down from her horse and said that I was aware of my teaching effectiveness and she did not want to lose me.  For the time being, I continue to be employed by Berlitz, but have made it clear that I am not willing to work with an individual that lacks respect for her staff.  I accepted a Spanish teaching assignment from the office in Rishon Letzion, due to start after Passover.

Tutoring in Spanish and English

During February I taught two private students. The first is a fellow referred to me by a previous Berlitz student, who prior to his trip to Mexico City, wished to learn some Spanish. This middle-age fellow is a retired policeman who together with his retired colleagues founded the company Police-ing Worldwide. The young company provides specialized security training to policemen and security staff in the face of terrorism. Fascinating!  Sadly said, who better than Israeli officers to teach the expertise of combating terrorism, now trespassing world boundaries!  Besides teaching Spanish, I also did a brochure translation for this fellow.

My other student was a young woman wishing to speak English fluently prior to her trip to the US. She recruited me in a clothing store, at the cashier, when she heard my friend Yaffa say that I taught English. She is now abroad, and decided to stop the lessons as she finds English “too hard.”  She offered to refer me to another student.

Burlington English

 On my own initiative, I researched possible work opportunities with Burlington English, an Israeli-based company, with headquarters in Ra’anana. After I undertook a long trip to their office, I was able to secure an interview followed by an invitation to attend a two-day evaluation session (Feb 21-22.) The first day focused on their methodology and the second day the potential candidates were required to present a fully prepared lesson. In the past week I was happy to receive their hiring confirmation, and hope to get a group once a placement in my area becomes available.

Meeting with Nefesh b’Nefesh

I met with Dina Schwartz, the senior employment advisor for Nefesh b’Nefesh, to discuss employment options and opportunities.  Dina made several recommendations that I continue to explore.

Job Fair in Tel Aviv

I attended a Job Fair organized by Secret Tel Aviv, which took place in the Abraham Hostel.  While the fair was well organized and attended, the staff-seeking employers are high tech/social media gurus looking for young, high-tech professionals.

English Center in Ramla

I was hired as a substitute teacher at the Ethan H. Freed Learning Center in Ramla, replacing a teacher on maternity leave. I owe this assignment to my daughter Nadia, who worked at the center during her 5-month volunteer placement through Masa Israel. This angel recommended that I contact the principal of the school, and after I did the rest was easy.  When I visited the center and introduced myself as Nadia’s mom, all five teachers remembered Nadia being a “chamudah” (in Hebrew, a nice person), and commented on how we look and act alike. This will be a new experience, as the work involves teaching English to school-age Jewish and Arab students from low-income backgrounds. I certainly have a challenge ahead!

Linkedin Presentation

I attended a presentation in the Tel Aviv Central library on LinkedIN’s powers and benefits.

SOCIAL AND PLEASURE

I consider myself fortunate to be able to meet different people, new and old friends, learn from them and enjoy their company.

I took advantage of my trip to Ra’anana to visit my long-time Vancouver friends Annie and Moshe Soronow. Annie picked me up from the train station and invited me for lunch.  Our time together was most enjoyable.

I also met in Tel Aviv and later on in Jerusalem Ella Levy, whom I also met in Vancouver during her two-year stay. Ella who lived in Florida, has come back to Israel, and we reconnected in a beautiful way.  The first time we met in Sarona and enjoyed lunch together with her cousin; the second, during my weekend stay in Jerusalem to partake in the Israel Mussar experience, Ella was kind enough to invite me for Shabbat to her beautiful home in Rehavia, where she lives with her mom, whom I enjoyed meeting.

During my stay in Jerusalem I met up with my good old pal/friend Alan Bass, who happened to be in Israel at this time. Needless to say that for decades Alan had been talking to me about coming home to Israel, and I found it serendipitous to find myself in his company, in Jerusalem, witnessing such beauty and spirit, together in the Holy Land at last. Alan and I enjoyed a simple Thai dinner on Yaffo Street, after we strolled the beautiful streets and visited the Judaica shops that sell exquisite items only found in Israel.

In February I also invited several friends to my home to taste a traditional Mexican dinner of chicken mole, beans, rice, guacamole and pastel de tres leches.  Finding the ingredients was difficult and I don’t think I will do this again any time soon.

Last, but not least, I truly enjoyed several outings with friends to Old Yaffo, Shuk Hapishpishim (Flea Market), Shuk haCarmel, and shopping on Allenby Street to buy several silver jewelry Judaica gifts for my family trip.  I also very much enjoyed attending a Tu-Bishvat service at the Kehilat Daniel in Yaffo.

HEALTH

This month I made sure to have several medical checkups: family doctor, dentist, dietitian and reflexology, all located in the Mall in Be’er Yaacov. Most of these services are covered by the medical plan, except for alternative treatments that are partly funded.

LEARNING AND SPIRITUALITY

I can honestly say that the top highlight of February was to travel to Jerusalem to join the Mussar Institute Israel delegation of 35+ participants from North America (February 23-27).  I note that I am a Mussar disciple who loves its philosophy, as well as a past project manager with The Mussar Institute, in addition to having a personal relationship with its dean and founder, Alan Morinis. I was happy to be able to attend part-time paying the fee for locals.

In order to make this trip financially viable, I stayed at the Abraham Hostel, and for the first time in my life I endured sleeping in a dorm, together with 4-6 women. Although skeptical, I was pleasantly surprised on how well people adjust to sharing a small space, how well run is the Hostel, its welcoming and hospitality, cleanliness and abundant breakfasts. The Hostel hosts people from all over the world, in in four day I met people from Germany, France, Spain, Africa, and Colombia.

As to my Mussar experience in Israel, I am short of words. I learned a lot and enjoyed a lot. My participation allowed me to experience the following:

·      Day 1 (Thursday) - City of David Night Light Show – I joined the group for the first time at the Citadel where we experienced an unforgettable night light show projected onto the very walls of the City of David. I loved it and wish to do this again.

     Day 2 (Friday) – City of David Tour – Now in broad daylight, I met the big group. The group was given a choice between a visit to Yad Vashem and a Tour of the City of David.  I chose the latter because the sun was shining and I wanted to be outside to experience the beauty of the place and the silent history before me. After the tour, I met Ella at Mahane Yehuda. The market was buzzing with customers, as the Shabbat was approaching and late shoppers hurriedly commuted through narrow alleys. That evening Ella picked me up from the Hostel to take me to her home in Rehavia, where I met her mom Rivka, and the three of us enjoyed a lovely Shabbat experience.

·      Day 3 (Saturday) – In my effort to walk to the Mount Zion Boutique Hotel where the Mussar participants were having lunch, I got lost and ended up in an Arab town. I truly became scare and panicked.  When I spotted a police station I did not hesitate to enter and ask for help. The young and handsome policemen laughed at my concern, assuring me I was safe and gave me directions. I managed to get away and was compensated when I got to the beautiful Mount Zion Boutique hotel where I shared with the group a delicious lunch. At this time I met the trip organizer, Rabbi Avi Fertig with whom I have been exchanging correspondence for quite some time, dating back to the time that I was the Project Manager of the Mussar Institute’s Generosity Week. Lunch was followed by a lecture that I did not enjoy at all, but prevailed to stay until the end.  On my way out, a few ladies with whom I had connected nicely suggested going for a light meal to the old rail station located within walking distance.  I very much enjoyed their company. They basically interviewed me on my reasons for being in Israel, and commended me on my courage to realize such a big trip on my own.  This evening I ate the most delicious cheesecake I can remember. 

·       Day 4 (Sunday) – This was the big learning day. First, we visited “Beis haMussar,” to attend two lectures. I note that this place is located in the middle of a Haredi area (ultra, ultra Orthodox Jews). The first lecture was by Rabbi Nussbaum, whom I found fascinating. I could tell how uncomfortable he was facing a co-gender audience, yet he remained respectful and focused on his interesting talk. What he left me with was the following:  “there is no force that can stand in the way of a man and his will.”  In other words, that unlike we are facing a supernatural force, the human being has the capacity to accomplish anything he sets out to do. If you think of it, this is real man power!  

The second speaker was Rabbi Kaplan, whom I will remember not only for his old age, but also for his “intolerance” of others. Upon arrival he created a commotion requesting that all the women move to the back. Let me tell you, he certainly touched many sensitivities, especially mine as I consider myself a strong supporter of gender equality. Other women were equally perturbed and some even took it personally.  After this, his speech sounded shallow to me. He himself set his own stage of intolerance, prejudice and disrespect to his audience.  From this experience I learned as well. 

After these lectures we enjoyed a gourmet lunch at the nearby Ricotta Restaurant. In the afternoon we visited the famous Aish Torah organization, located in the Old City within walking distance from the Kottel. Here men and women split; the women (we) were treated to an amazing lecture by an amazing woman, social worker, educator and more, also the wife of Rabbi Schoonmaker.  She discussed the midah of “resentment,” to which we all can relate. Her knowledge, eloquence, and people skills were impressive and the time went too fast before it was over. I did manage to take some valuable notes.

On my way to the hostel that night I experienced something worth sharing. I tried to buy a ticket for the light train, but could not figure out how the machine worked, and as the train approached I became nervous. A young girl assisted me to pay the fare, but as she tried to hand me back the card, the train doors closed leaving me on the outside.  Oh my!  I worried because she took with her my personal Rav Kav (public transportation), containing a credit of approximately 100 shekels. This meant that I not only lost my means of public transportation, but also my cash. I now had no other choice but walk back to the hostel, when I saw the girl walking towards me, and with a big smile handed me the card apologizing.  What a nice gesture it was, to come back to return what did not belong to her! These are the miracles that happen in Israel that blow one’s mind.

·      Day 5 (Monday) – Trip to Beit Shemesh Yeshiva.  This was another enjoyable learning day. First, we toured the Beit Shemish Yeshiva, the school that is attended by hundreds of North American youth. Their curriculum not only focuses on Jewish studies, but in Mussar. We were told that the graduates move on to live very successful and honorable lives, making a difference through their work in communities and even in public office. 

After a delicious falafel lunch in the local mall, we visited the Biblical Zoo, an amazing small museum that features the animals in the Bible. The curator introduces them one by one, some he holds with a glove and others in cages.  This is an ideal place for school children to learn and enjoy.  On our way back, we traveled through Hebron in Judea, passing Arab towns. Given that we had extra time before our final destination at the home of the Fertigs, we spend a couple of hours in Atulam Park in the Judean Hills where we hiked up an easy trail to admire wild flowers, one of them called “Kalanit” in Hebrew. As we climbed, the sun was setting behind us. I kept climbing slowly, sensing the urge to turn. This was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen, unfolding before my eyes – the deeming light showered the Judean hills landscape with chiaroscuro tones. The spectacle was indescribable, a perfect ending to the day.

We were warmly welcomed at the Fertigs and enjoyed delicious and abundant food. The hospitality and high spirit of all the participants and faculty was the icing on the cake.  While I hesitated, I volunteered to read the poem I wrote about Israel, which apparently made some listeners cry.  I was saddened to see that one key person, whom I respect, moved to the back while I was reciting it. I tried not to take it personally.

The sunset left me speechless, the good food satisfied, and the whole experience filled me with gratitude for having had this unique opportunity, only in Israel.

The end.