>> ... Next Generation ...
Changing Lives
Teacher changes lives
her students and her own
"I really can't take this," she said. "I
don't want to perpetuate the stereotype
rowing up as a Conservative
about us ... the one where it is said all
Jew in Bloomfield Hills, I knew
Israelis do is take, take, take."
the basics of the religion and
I couldn't believe my ears. Actually,
of Israel. I went to Hillel Day
my experience here has been quite the
School in Farmington Hills. I celebrated
opposite. To me, what Israelis do is "give,
holidays, went to shul and believed in God.
give, give"... and give some more.
That is, until I was 17 and my dad passed
Before my journey, I was warned about
away. At that point, I pushed aside my
the aggressiveness of Israelis, their lack
religion.
of patience and their rudeness. I was told
Ten years later, I found myself with
this is the culture and, while they can
a master's degree and no
seem "nasty," just to go with
job, wondering what I was
it and enjoy myself.
doing with my life. An email
One of my first experiences
came from my sister about a
in Israel was on the
10-month program in Israel
bus. An elderly lady had
where I could explore the
trouble getting on and fell.
country and also gain teaching
Immediately, people rushed
experience, something great
to help her: a Haredi Jew, an
for my resume.
Arab and a person wearing
I decided I had abandoned
everyday clothes. I discarded
my roots for long enough. I
everything I had been told.
packed my bags, said goodbye
I experienced nothing but
Danielle
to my friends and family,
generosity: invitations to
Longo
and left in August 2011 to
dinner, rides home, people
Special to the
participate in the MASA: Israel
making sure I had a place to
Teaching Fellows program.
Jewish News
go on Shabbat.
Since then, I have been
fortunate to experience Israel: the
Changing Lives
culture, the people, the life. It has been
Thanks to Israel Teaching Fellows, I can
an amazing experience. Last weekend,
say with 100 percent certainty that I have
I attended a Shabbaton in Arad that
changed at least two lives here. The first
included repelling in the desert as
was a fourth-grade boy. He was in one of
well as meaningful discussions about
my nonreader groups. I was told he didn't
what it means to be Jewish and about
know English, not even the alphabet.
connections we share in Israel and in the
He was silent during the lesson. I asked
Diaspora.
him in my broken Hebrew how I could
help him and why he wasn't trying. He
Changing Stereotypes
looked at me very seriously and said, "I'm
What I will remember most was a one-
bored in class." In perfect English. When
on-one exchange. An Israeli girl came up
I informed the teacher, his curriculum
to me and said she really liked my ring.
changed and his life did as well.
I hadn't spoken much to her during the
The second life belonged to an
trip, yet I took the ring off my finger and
Ethiopian girl facing abusive behavior.
gave it to her. She was shocked. She said
Her teacher came to me for advice, as
she couldn't take it. I told her it wasn't
I am a licensed counselor in the U.S.
that expensive, and I wanted her to have
After speaking with the girl (through the
it.
teacher), I came to a hard conclusion
in Israel.
Rishon LeZion, Israel
G
Danielle Longo and her students during Purim
neither the student nor the teacher
wanted. I told the authorities about the
situation. I was not aware of laws or rules
in Israel, but I knew this little girl was in
trouble. And even if she harbors negative
feelings about me for saying something,
I know I helped change her life — if only
to try and teach her that she is important,
and she matters.
Changing Me
This Israel experience has been one of
the most challenging times of my life. It
has brought much sadness, feelings of
hopelessness and frustration. There were
times I wanted to leave, to go back to
Michigan, to see my family and live the
life I knew. But I was brought here for a
reason.
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Detroit is anything but
a blank canvas.
7",, J111S
26 April 19 • 2012
Thursday, April 26
The latest documentary from Detroit filmmaker (and IN
contributor) Oren Goldenberg, Brewster Douglass, You're My
Brother, will be screened Thursday, April 26, at the Charles Wright
Museum of African American History.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the film begins at 7 and will be
followed by a moderated panel discussion with former residents,
activists and city planners. The screening is free and open to the
public.
The film, directed by Oren Goldenberg, written by Paul Abowd
and produced by Cass Corridor Films, is a response to the "blank
canvas" narrative that has been perpetrated by local and national
media campaigns about Detroit.
Looking back at these last few months,
I know I have made a difference. My
relationship with Israel is similar to that
of a sibling: There are definitely times we
don't see eye-to-eye, and days we wish
the other would just disappear. But it is
with unconditional love that we realize
we are each providing the other with
something invaluable.
What comes next? It's hard to say. I
may return home to Detroit, or I may stay
here and see how Israel and I can further
our bond and help each other grow just a
little bit more. ❑
Danielle Longo, 27, lives in Rishon LeZion,
just south of Tel Aviv, where she is a MASA:
Israel Teaching Fellow, teaching English to
Israeli students.
In 1935, Eleanor Roosevelt came to Detroit to break ground on
the Brewster Homes, the first public housing project in the country
built for black residents. Seventy-five years later, half of the
neighborhood has been demolished and redeveloped. The other
half stands windowless and seemingly vacant.
This 27-minute documentary takes an unconventional look
inside the historic buildings, introducing the viewer to lifelong
residents, activists who fought to keep the projects open and
squatters — themselves former residents — who struggle to stay
warm through Detroit's harsh winter.
With the recent announcement from Detroit Mayor Dave Bing to
demolish the remaining buildings, the timing could not be better
to premiere this new work.
This film is the third release in three years by Goldenberg (The
Bicyclist, 2011, Our School, 2010) and continues to raise the
voices of Detroit's citizens and question the future of the city.
❑