HADASSAH-NEURIM, Israel (Press Release) — “Life altering.” When Los Alamos, NM resident Andi Kron says these words, she says they apply to the teens she and her husband Charles Thorn have enabled to visit Ethiopia this past March – and to them as well.
Kron, a cartographer and Thorn, an engineer, volunteer three months a year at Hadassah-Neurim, a teen youth village supported by the Hadassah organization in the United States. They live and eat with the teens, and tutor them in English, which is essential for higher education. “It’s difficult teaching English, sometimes it’s like pulling teeth, but the connections that are created and the relationships with the students are worth it,” says Kron.
About one third of the teens in the youth village come from families that emigrated from Ethiopia, but they have shared little with the couple about their lives in villages without electricity and schools, nor about the dangerous journey to Israel and adjusting to a modern country. “I hope this trip helps the Israeli-Ethiopian kids honor their parents and be proud of their heritage,” says Kron.
“Sitting next to the children on the bus was a completely different experience from teaching English at the youth village. I saw how the trip affected them close hand and watched as they became humbled and awed by their people’s history. I’m sure they will return home and be better human beings and citizens of Israel as a result of this experience.”
Kron and Thorn decided it was important for the youngsters to visit the country where their ancestors lived for centuries to gain a greater appreciation of their culture and the sacrifices their parents made before they finish high school and join the Israeli army. “One of the students met her uncle who still lives in Ethiopia. She was so happy to see him with a smile from ear-to-ear. He was overcome with emotion and crying after meeting his Israeli niece. The difference in their reactions was striking.”
Avid hikers, Kron and Thorn joined the teens on their trip this past March, which included hiking to the Blue Nile Falls, and mountain trails inhabited by monkeys. “It was a seven-day adventure,” said Kron.
Kron, a former Co-President of the Los Alamos Chapter of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA), decided to make a hands-on contribution when the organization turned 100 in 2012. She initially volunteered by herself, living in a dormitory with 11th graders for 6 months. “I fell in love with the place and the kids and then convinced Charlie to stop working and join me the following year.”
“We now come every year and have graduated to a small apartment, usually with a sea view,” says Kron. “It’s our favorite time of the year.”
The Hadassah-Neurim youth village was established in 1948 in abandoned British army barracks when students from a different youth village needed to be evacuated due to the War of Independence. Neurim first served as a home for young Holocaust escapees and survivors, later for teen immigrants from Iraq, Romania, Morocco, and even later for youth from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Bloc. Many students come from troubled backgrounds, and most of them need help learning English. Today, Hadassah-Neurim is known for its athletic program and vocational schools for mechanics and technical jobs – many of these are feeder schools for positions in the IDF.
Teens from Ethiopian backgrounds made up half the students on the trip. “We hoped the trip would be significant for the non-Ethiopian students as well, to raise awareness about the struggles of Ethiopian Jewry – and not just among those who already know about it,” said Kron.
Kron and Thorn decided to sponsor the trip after Kron joined another school mission: a Holocaust heritage mission. “That trip was an eye-opener for me,” says Kron. “I had never been to Poland or to the camps and it was an incredible experience going with the kids. I felt safe being part of this group of youngsters who will rebuild the Jewish people.” After hearing about the possibility of conducting heritage trips to Ethiopia, Kron immediately turned to Charlie and said, “Let’s do that for the kids at Hadassah-Neurim.”
“I am so enthralled by the history of Ethiopian Jews,” said Kron.”I feel blessed to have sponsored the trip and enabled the youth to have this experience. The Ethiopian Jewish community has such a rich culture and it would enrich us all to learn more about their Jewishness. They sacrificed so much to live their lives in Israel. I hope this trip helps the Hadassah-Neurim students see Ethiopian immigrants to Israel as the heroes that they are.”
Kron and Thorn look forward to continuing to volunteer at Hadassah-Neurim and sponsor the youth village’s mission to Ethiopia. “Sponsoring the trip was among the best decisions we ever made. These youth are our future. Our role as donors and volunteers may sometimes be a challenge, but it is always fulfilling. We are glad to make this heritage trip to Ethiopia happen. It is a life-changing experience for the kids and for us, too.”
*
Preceding provided by Hadassah