Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 07, 2008 Adar1 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:11 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Don't take reading this for granted By Ruth Sinai Tags: Immigrants, Israel, Literacy It happened 20 years ago, but Rachel Douki remembers the humiliating feeling, the tears that stung her eyes. That day she went to buy herself a skirt and blouse at the Ata store in downtown Jerusalem. Proudly, she pulled out her new checkbook, the first one she ever had, and gave it to the cashier. "Write whatever is needed, I'll sign," she said. But the cashier refused. "You have to write, not me," she said. Ashamed, Douki left the items at the register and ran from the store. In those years, Douki did not know how to write or read. Her husband could read, as could her five children. When one of her sons needed a note for the teacher, she would ask him to write it and she would sign. "In school, they didn't believe that the note was from me, but in the end the teacher did believe him because she knew me, she knew that I am an honest woman," she says. Now, at age 66, Douki has learned to read. She and her sister, Hanna Reuveni, have been attending a basic education class at the community offices in Jerusalem's Baka neighborhood. Around 40 women aged 55 to 75 take part in morning or evening classes. There used to be a male student, the owner of a market stall, who would bring grapes in season, but he dropped out, even though he was considered a top student. Advertisement Douki immigrated to Israel from Kurdistan at age 9, in late 1951, with her parents and seven siblings. "Dad was really smart. He would lecture us on Torah and values. He would read to us the Torah portion of the week. We knew verses and sayings by heart," she says. Her brothers learned to read ahead of their bar mitzvahs. The girls did not. "We knew some of the letters, but we didn't know how to connect them," says Douki. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 60,000 immigrants from Africa and Asia over age 65 are illiterate. They compromise a third of all senior citizens of Middle Eastern origin. Around 5,000 or more have learned to read through Education Ministry programs, the community administrations in Jerusalem, the Association of Community Centers and other organizations. These women immigrated to Israel in the 1950s and 1960s as little girls and teenagers. The big national campaigns to eradicate illiteracy of the 1960s skipped over them. They were already married, raising children, working and supporting their families. For years they managed to hide their illiteracy from the world. "Do me a favor, read what's written here, I don't have glasses," was one of the common ploys. "Write down a list of what we need, I don't have a pen," was another excuse. Now that they are finished raising children and supporting a family, they have more time, and they want a second chance. "I can talk to any professor," says Reuveni. Three years Douki's junior, she went to work at the tender age of 14. She didn't have much opportunity to talk to professors, but she did have a chance to talk to prime ministers. For eight years, until she retired, she worked at the cafeteria in the prime minister's office. "I have photos with Arik Sharon, he liked to hug, with Barak, with everyone," she says. Reuveni raised five children, one of whom went to university and is now an economist. Aliza Alrashmi, who immigrated to Israel from Iran with the Aliyat Hanoar (youth immigration) program when she was 16, also has a son studying in university. He wants to be an engineer. Alrashmi attended school through fifth grade, and her studies were in Persian only. Shortly before she immigrated to Israel, she began working. Then she got married, but her husband did not let her study. He walked out a few years ago, and Alrashmi, in her mid-50s, started learning to read and write. "Anyone who knows how to read and write in another language has no problem learning to read and write in Hebrew at a later age," says Sara Meisel, an expert in basic education for adults, who is in charge of the community classes in Baka and Gilo. "But for the others, it takes a long time. These women, for example, have a lot of knowledge, life experience and intelligence, but they learn one letter and forget it by the next class." It takes a year and a half just to learn the alphabet, she says, and after six or seven years of studying, the women have reached sixth- or seventh-grade level. Even after they have mastered reading, they face the issue of reading comprehension. In a class this week, for example, the teacher asked what "asir todah" (literally, a prisoner of thanks, but used to mean grateful) means. One student responded, "It's someone who must say thank you, as if he were a prisoner." Another time, when they listened to news about a summit, they thought it meant a meeting that takes place on a mountaintop. They laugh at their own mistakes, but also take class seriously, do homework, listen attentively, and read aloud to themselves words they write down on worksheets. They meet twice a week for a total of six hours, and part of the time is dedicated to learning English, arithmetic and Bible. The English class is intended especially for those who have children living abroad, so they can read signs or ask questions if they get lost while visiting. The curriculum also includes trips to sites they learned about in class. "The program reflects our vision of empowering women, especially at a later age, because it's important for them to be as independent as possible and dependent on their children as little as possible, that they be exposed to culture, to the city," says Dorit Sheetrit, the director of the center who is trying to attract more students to the classes. But it is hard to attract older students and persuade them to go outside, she says. "One doesn't feel well, one has to take care of a grandson, one has to cook," says Meisel. Even the women who do attend don't always come regularly. Around Passover, for example, the classroom empties out because the women are busy cleaning. Through explanations and persuasive efforts, Sheetrit and Meisel manage to reduce absences. Those who come regularly are highly motivated and want to be able to read stories to their grandchildren, write them a note for their birthdays and even to prepare family history projects for school with them. The classes in Baka have also won prizes in nationwide competitions among basic education classes for adults. Flora Zada, 72, immigrated to Israel from Persia as a girl, and worked from age 18 as a cleaner in hospitals and factories. "I've done many things in my life," she used to tell her three children. "But there are two things I haven't done: I never stole and I never learned to read and write." When she retired, she decided she did not want to sit at home all day with her husband. What began as a desire to get out of the house for a few hours a week turned into a consuming pleasure. Zada attends two morning classes and two evening classes each week. She can now read the Shema Yisrael prayer, the Torah portion of the week and some of the subtitles on television. "I have a strong desire to progress, perhaps even to high school," she says. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Get a job The Interior Minister tells the ultra-Orthodox to find work and enlist in the IDF. Trapped in Gaza An Irish woman and her daughter are stuck in Gaza after Egypt seals the border.

Today Online Seven Gazans killed in IDF raid; 7 Qassams hit Negev Responses: 8 Hamas envoy to Iran: Expect wave of terror attacks in Israel Responses: 38 Senator: U.S. to shun UN racism meet over anti-Israel agenda Responses: 21 Barak refuses to learn from Lebanon war - that only an invasion can stop rockets Responses: 9 ADL slams Vatican over revised 'prayer for conversion of Jews' Send response More Headlines 11:43 Seven Palestinians killed in IDF raid in Gaza; 7 Qassams hit Negev 11:57 Kadima MK Yitzhaki resigns over Winograd report on Lebanon war 11:21 ADL slams Vatican over revised 'prayer for conversion of Jews' 09:39 Hamas envoy to Iran: Expect wave of terror attacks in Israel 09:02 Senator: U.S. to boycott UN anti-racism meet due to anti-Israel agenda 11:27 Hezbollah's Nasrallah: I thank Winograd for his honesty 02:25 PM, ministers approve recommendations on streamlined conversion 08:21 IDF soldier collapses, dies for unknown reasons at training base 06:08 Freed African refugees are expected to flock to Tel Aviv 09:03 EU envoy warns Gaza could become the next Somalia 10:09 Scooter-maker Piaggio to begin electric car sales in Israel in one month 09:38 Education Ministry mulls starting English study as early as 1st grade 04:24 Water Authority: Israel is rapidly losing its water sources Previous Editions Select Day 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations U.S. CITIZEN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Last chance to vote in Israel, in-person, Democrats-Abroad Global Primary. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved