CLEVELAND AGNON SCHOOL - JOURNAL FROM VISIT DECEMBER 2001
by Karen Nevo, Neve Eitan School

Monday 17.12.01

Denise Brzezinki took me to school and Debbie Perkul showed me around. My first class was with Hadas, a 3rd grade Hebrew lesson. They were great, enthusiastic kids. There were about 9 pupils. After this I joined another 3rd grade class with Laurie. They were studying issues in the newspaper.

I had lunch with Rabbi Joe, the head of the school, and explained to him the purpose of my trip. He told me of his plans and hopes for the future of the school. After lunch I entered the two first grade classes led by Rachel. This was also wonderful. They asked some marvellous questions about the weather and religion, the school in Israel and my children's names. My last venue of the day was the 6th grade who were very like the kids in Israel. They were not so interested in my being there and did their teachers and me a favour by being quiet. However, there were some good questions in between their obvious embarrassment.

Tuesday 18.12.01

The morning began with prayers with the 6th grade. This is very different to Beit HaChinuch. Moshe and his class sang prayers for about half and hour.

The highlight of today was the video conferencing with the 7th grade at Agnon speaking to the rather depleted 7th grade from Israel. I spoke with Micha and Yael (homeroom teacher 7th grade) and, of course, Shai (my daughter). It was all a little too much but I don't think anyone noticed the lump in my throat!

I spent time in Barbara's art lessons. This was also a very interesting experience. The kids are producing some amazing pieces of work. Their talents include acrylic painting, one-point perspective pencil drawings and pencilled heirlooms with shaped text.

I watched the 3rd grade play 'trolley' basketball - a novel way of playing basketball. I sat in the 8th grade class while Diane prepared them for a test on a biblical story about David and all his wrongdoings. Diane succeeds in 'picking' their minds for answers and I loved this lesson.

A school meeting at the end of the day gave me the opportunity to thank the staff and view a short excerpt from "Love and Logic", a programme intended to give the staff tools to deal with the pupils in a gentle but firm manner.

Wednesday 19.12.01

I began in Diane's classroom (7th grade) after walking to school. The walk is a 15-minute trek along the main road and then a quiet side road to the school car park.

The kids asked fine questions and were really interested to know 'who's who?'

At 9.45 I had a meeting with Kobi Tav, from the Federation. This was a very interesting and enlightening conversation about the Jewish community in Cleveland and the aims of the Federation and its relationship with Beit Shean. Moreover he gave the American justification of my being there.

At 11.00 I left the school with Maury Greenberg who works for the JECC. He describes himself as an orthodox Jew. We drove around the Jewish community beginning with the centre of studies next to Agnon and the Synagogue. I was surprised with the synagogue's similarity to a church. There is an organ and a piano and only the 'Aron HaKodesh' connected the room to Judaism. The area itself reflects a large diversity of Jewish life. There are reform, conservative and orthodox Jews. There are day schools and 'after day' completion schools. It seems the community is moving east and therefore synagogues and schools are moving accordingly. I had a pleasant lunch with Maury and we returned to school to the second 7th grade class. This class wants to have a second videoconference due to the fact that many of the Israeli kids did not get to the conference on Tuesday.

After the school finished Moshe and I visited the "Cleveland Hebrew School". Judith, the headmistress had collected a group of children between the 3rd and 5th grade in the hall to ask questions. These children had some fantastic questions: "How deep is the snow?" "What do kids wear?" "Why did you stay in Israel?" "Can you travel around Israel?" "Does it sting in the Dead Sea?"

I had dinner with the Glaubers' at a Chinese restaurant in Coventry followed by some 'silly' shopping. We went to see the lights of the GE Company.

Thursday 20.12.01 - light snow

Today was another very busy day. I began by walking straight into the 2nd grade class. Great questions, such as, "How many kids in your class?" "Which is better, London or Israel?" (A difficult one to answer), "Who are Israel's enemies?" (An even harder question and requiring diplomatic skill).

The 4th grade questions varied too from the easy, "How many kids are there in your class?" to "Why do you teach the 11th grade and not the 10th grade?" An interesting, "Is Israel busy?" to a complicated, "Do you share the kibbutzim?" Other questions included, "Are you scared to live in Israel?" and "Is Israel like it was in 1967?" One of my favourites, "Is it easy to teach in Israel?" and "What jobs have you done in Israel?" One of the pupils, Julia Ross, asked me the only question I was unable to answer during my whole visit, "How many kibbutzim are there in Israel?"

It was a magnificent day of interrogation with some wonderfully interested youngsters who listened to their peers, their teachers and to me so politely and patiently. The staff and parents should be proud of the young people they are educating.

I spent the afternoon and early evening with Debbie and her family (Jay, Brady and Danny). Then it was back to the school for the 1492 evening produced by the 6th grade. The evening was a mixture of song and music, inquisition and art.

I had a quick opportunity to express my feelings about the project to Fran Immerman who was there that evening as a parent.

Friday 21.12.01

I spent the day 'down town' with Debbie. We visited the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". We only managed to see a fifth of the exhibits so I must return to Cleveland to complete the tour. We took a bus tour of the town (Lolly the Trolley), which gave an all-round account of the city. We had lunch at City Towers and back to school to pick Debbie's son.

I had a beautiful evening and Sabbath meal with Diane Lavin and her family, Arthur, Abbey and Hanna and Diane's sister, Carol. The experience was both enlightening and moving. The essence of Judaism was greatly felt and made the evening a very special one which will remain very much in my memory.

Summary

This experience, which I was so lucky to have, has given me new friendships and wonderful memories. I now may picture the Agnon School in my mind as I write letters, prepare parcels and speak via the video with my classes. The personal element has been the key to achieving greater involvement on my part and has excited both the students in the States and the students here in Israel. The connection has come alive for them through the voice and presence of someone who knows both sides of the story. For me the most thrilling moment was watching the 8th graders at Agnon open the box prepared by my 8th graders. Their faces said it all. Once back in Israel those who had sent personal gifts wanted to know how they had been received thus creating a desire in the class to send more presents back with Moshe. (He had to buy another bag to cope with the large quantities of parcels!) The name on the list that the teachers received took on a real, human quality.

On a more personal note, I was both impressed and moved by the members of staff who made my stay such a successful one. The Brzezinki family, first and foremost, accepted me into their home with open arms. Their home was my home and I truly felt one of the family. I would like to thank the Waxmans' who had me over for dinner, the Lavins' too who invited me to the Sabbath meal, and Debbie, who showed me the school, the city and her home. Moshe and his wife Gill also showed me another aspect of the city and we had a lot of fun. In the school Sonia always was there to make me feel welcome, as did many other members of staff.

I would like to thank all those who accepted me into their classrooms and were so pleasant and interested in hearing what I had to say. A special thanks is due to the students of Agnon who impressed me in their behaviour and desire to know more about the Land of Israel. "Next year in Jerusalem"

Tevet 5762 - January 2002