much deeper than the huge bas-
orations created by the children,
from the land of the free and the
While it's somewhat true that
ket of candy they handed me on
home of the brave (NBA and and with each Jewish holiday, a
Israelis have a deeper respect
my last day at their house. I
NCAA seven-footers), we served new theme prevails. As I wan-
for the elderly than do Ameri-
think I realized how special our
dered around Etzion's art-filled
as not only native English
cans, the sabahs (grandpas) and
relationship was when Rachel
halls, I often wondered if any of
speakers who could provide
savtahs (grandmas) seem to get
told me, in her newly improved
the kids' projects ever found its
grammar lessons, but we also
pushed in a corner. This espe-
English, "Erica, you are always
way to the coveted spot on mom
became mediators in frantic de-
cially holds true in development
welcome here. Remember that.
and dad's refrigerator. It seemed
bates about various teams. Won-
towns like Yavne where the fam-
You are like one of our family."
that each drawing somehow
ily situations are not always sta-
It was then, that I understood;
dering the
how
had
learned ended up contributing to Et-
about
rise they
of the
Phoenix
ble and the finances are not
I was not only an adopter (as in
zion's colorful decor.
Suns and the ultimate demise
always dependable, for an el-
Detroit's connection to Yavne),
Meanwhile, outside of class
derly relative becomes one more
but I was an adoptee as well. O
of
University
of Michigan's
fab the
five,
I was shocked
to dis- I began to bond with Rachel and
mouth to feed and one more
cover that some of the families
problem to solve.
had cable TV in their homes.
At the cashishim (elderly
Yavne is the only city in Israel
recreation center), Yavne's old-
to have cable TV hookups for all
er population congregates and
residents who can afford this
participates in activities that al-
luxury. It has powerful influence
low them a break from knitting
in Yavne. I had visited one tiny
or nagging. Elizabeth, Eric and
apartment where the kids had
Alyson spent a few mornings
but a few toys and no books, yet
each week — often playing Ru-
they sat huddled around a tele-
mikub — with these senior
vision set watching 'The Simp-
Yavne residents, developing
sons." Many of the children,
rather interesting relationships.
whose lunch time diet consisted
Brucha, one of the more worthy
of chocolate milk and pita-and-
Rumikub opponents, became
chocolate spread sandwiches,
fond of Alyson. On Alyson's final
have also digested an unhealthy
day at the cashishim, Brucha
abundance of sitcoms, soaps,
"kidnapped" hec younger friend
sports and specials. Having been
and made her come to her apart-
watching
ment to drink tea; she was jeal-
ous that Alyson had
been talking with
some of the older
women.
At the other end of
Erica, second from right, with Rachel's family.
the spectrum, the chil-
subsequently, her
dren are the ones who
family. Although her
can keep a community
English was limited,
such as Neot Shazar
and I'm no-Hebrew
alive. In school, after
maven, we man-
school and just around
aged to communi-
town, much of our time
cate and even
was spent with the
improve our re-
younger generations —
spective second
the future generations —
languages. Since
of Yavne. It became im-
center.
there's no better
possible to walk down the
ral outside the Ben Ezra community
to
learn
and chat than
place
a T he mu
without
s treat
ree
around the dinner table, Rachel
and watched by TV (in-
munchkin voice calling
extended a permanent invita-
stead of a baby-sitter), the Yavne
out our names. To the children,
tion to eat Shabbat dinner with
youngsters' tube addiction ri-
we were local celebrities, for we
her family (religious Sephardic
valed that of their American
not only symbolized America,
Jews). Since I did not spend
cousins (or should I say sisters?).
but we also represented movie
Although this TV obsession many weekends in Yavne, I only
stars and sports heroes and all
ate dinner at her house a few
often distracted us from our
types of Americanized excite-
times. I visited on weekdays and
English lessons, it did prove ad-
ment.
worked with Rachel in school
vantageous in two respects. For
Somehow the Yavne youth
twice a week. However, whether
one, it seemed that the children
discovered the "Beverly Hills,
it was Friday night dinner or
who had cable TV not only knew
90210" phenomenon, and a day
just an afternoon visit, I was
the Monday night prime time
didn't pass without one of them
welcomed into the family with a
lineup, but they also had a
revealing a stack of trading
hug from each of Rachel's three
broader English vocabulary and
cards bearing the infamous Fox
daughters, a heaping plateful of
more confidence to speak the
and foxy cast of "90210." They
food, a story about the day's ups
language than did their tubeless
got a thrill out of reciting the
and downs, a lesson in Judaism,
classmates. Furthermore, tele-
characters' names and their
and a question, "Why do you not
vision shows served as a corn-
real-life identities as well. I cer-
want to stay in Israel?" And they
mon bond that helped us teach
tainly didn't expect these Israelis
didn't just mean until the next
and
befriend
our
young
Israeli
to be so up on American pop cul-
Shabbat.
pupils.
ture. It made me realize that de-
It's difficult to put into words
As assistant to the art
spite a lower economic level, kids
the warmth I felt from Rachel
teacher, Rachel, at Neot Shaz-
find a way to keep up with the
and her family. It was not just
ar's Etzion Elementary School,
Joneses.
their interest in my family and
I witnessed — and became
Like most Israelis, the young
my life back in the States; it was
swept up in — the children's en-
population of Yavne had been
more than their genuine desire
thusiasm. Etzion, a unique and
bitten by the basketball bug. As
to have me visit on weekends af-
special
school,
educates
its
assistant teachers in the schools,
ter I finished my two months in
pupils with an emphasis on art.
our American-ness became a
Yavne; and it certainly was
The
walls
are
covered
with
dec-
double curse. Because we came