Eight From Abroad
from page 39
her husband never envisioned stay-
ing, but the situation in Venezuela
was too uncertain for them to move
back. Their parents recommended
they make the United States their new
home.
They worked hard to finish their
degrees and focused on getting their
green cards so they could officially
call Ann Arbor home. They now have
two boys, 8 and 11, who attend the
Hebrew Day School of Arm Arbor.
Monica is a dentist with her own
practice in Dundee. In Ann Arbor,
she's involved with activities through
the Hebrew Day School and JCC.
"Ann Arbor has been a great place
for me and my kids," she says. "It's a
stark contrast from Caracas. I came
from a big community that was much
more conservative. In Ann Arbor, the
community has a wide range of beliefs
and practices:'
Now 41, Dr. Vaisman says that
her children love Judaism and Israel
because they grew up with it. They
usually attend Chabad services during
the High Holidays.
She grew up in a community where
all the Jewish children went to Jew-
ish school. Monica has never lost her
Jewish Venezuelan identity; she often
thinks about the Jews in Venezu-
ela who need help, including many
friends and family members who
desire to leave but face a challenging
task.
Potential immigrants need sponsors
for their visas and a job in a new land.
To help, she recommends a liaison be-
tween Jewish communities to match
talent with jobs, along with support
during the immigration process. One
other suggestion: "financial help" to
send children to Jewish day schools
because they are, at the end of the day,
"super-expensive!"
7.
MICHAL NODEL:
A MICHIGANDER FROM ISRAEL
Born in Kfar Saba, Israel, Michal
Nodel never could have guessed just
10 years ago she'd be living in Michi-
gan.
"I don't think I had even visited
Michigan 10 years ago," Michal says.
She now lives in Birmingham with her
husband, Jordan Nodel. "I do know
that we're happy here and are enjoy-
ing getting to know this tight-knit
community?'
Michal, now 32, moved to At-
lanta at 10, after the Gulf War, before
spending more time in Israel and
New York for work. Her father and
his family were born in Morocco, so
her connection to Israel was informed
by her Sephardic/Mizrahi heritage.
In Atlanta, she was part of a strong
Jewish community as well, attend-
ing a Solomon Schechter school and
participating in BBYO.
She now works at a company she
founded called Digital Powwow. Her
firm, based in Birmingham and De-
troit, develops digital product devel-
opment services. Michal is already an
advocate for Michigan, enjoying the
snowy trails during the winter and the
lakes in the summer.
"I've found the community here to
be incredibly welcoming?' she says. "I
think it's a Midwestern thing. Ev-
eryone is very inclusive and happy to
show newcomers the ropes. I appreci-
ate that."
8.
RABBI CHANOCH HADAR:
GROWING UP IN SOUTH AFRICA
Rabbi Chanoch Hadar was born
in Jerusalem, Israel, but grew up in
Johannesburg, South Africa, near the
hometown of his late mother. In his
youth, he went to one of South Africa's
many Jewish day schools, where his
mother taught first grade. In addi-
tion to a textile business, his father
worked as a traveling rabbi, affording
his family the opportunity to experi-
ence many old shuls in all corners of
the country.
Chanoch and his family now live in
Huntington Woods, where he serves
as the rabbi of the Woodward Avenue
Shul. The polite nature of Detroiters
reminds the 35-year old of his home-
town. Yet, there are clear differences.
Chanoch says his childhood in
South Africa became quite "caged up"
due to all the security measures. Even
with its dwindled population, Johan-
nesburg is home to a very proud Jew-
ish community and a vibrant Jewish
infrastructure.
Chanoch says that he "relishes the
fact that his children can ride freely
around the block on their own?'
His only advice for how the com-
munity could better welcome new
residents who grew up abroad: One
idea would be to "teach a newcomer
a winter sport to better enjoy the cold
spells:'
At the end of the day, he views it a
blessing to be a part of the commu-
nity and to befriend a diverse array of
"some of the finest people he has ever
met." RT
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40 July 2014
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