Jews in Berlin 2

Elisabeth Shkliar (21) and Shay Gavrieli (23) both from Israel


Where are you from?

Shay (left) and Elisabeth (right) in Berlin

E: I am originally from Minsk but I grew up in Rishon LeZion.
S: I am from Haifa.

Why Berlin?

E: I always wanted to study abroad. I originally wanted to study in London. When I was there for the first time I even started to cry. I felt immediately that this is my world. Unfortunately it did not work out for me to study in London.

I studied International Business at the HTW. But I will go back to Israel in one month to study at the IDC.
S: I am here because of Elisabeth, we met one year ago in Norway. I am actually an actor. I even had a audition for the movie Lebanon. But Oshri Cohen got the role.

How did your parents reacted about you going to Germany? 
S: My mother was very sad, she told me it will be hard. But Elisabeth and I are engaged and she is very important to me. I decided to follow her.

E: My parents are very open minded, they had no problem with me going to Germany.

How is Jewish Life for you in Berlin?

S:I really feel at home in Europe, I am not running around and telling the world that I am Jewish but it is always nice to meet Jews and Israelis especially here in Europe.
E: I do not care about the fact that I have to be surrounded by Jewish people. I did not grew up this way. I grew up with Jews and Non Jews.

Are you keeping Mizvot?

E: I was fasting the first time on Yom Kippur last year. I wanted to try it and it was nice. I felt good afterwards.
S: I am fasting since my Bar- Mitzvah. It is very important for my family. Everyone in our family does it.

What is your favourit place in Berlin?

We like the Friedrichstraße, Gandarmenmarkt and Mitte. We like the areas that look typical European. We also like the old parts of the KuDamm. Kreuzberg reminds us of Tel- Aviv because of the Graffiti and the Multi Culti.

What do you not like about Berlin?

S: I really do not like the Muslim people. They are loud and noisy. I am scared of the religion. It just makes me scared.
E: I think it is really dirty. Especially some U-Bahn stations. But in general I really like Berlin. It is a nice place and everything is very vivid.

Did you get in contact with Antisimitism?

E: no not really. I just had a argumentation with a Turkish girl in my class. She confronted me because of the Gaza Flotte last year. I recommended her to go on a Israeli Homepage read about it from another point of view but she did not listen. I mean what would happen if some kind of ship would come to Hamburg? The Germans would also check it. Every country has the right to defend itself.

What is the difference between German and Israeli mentality?

S: People in Israel are very warm. In Israel a friend would do everything for you. German people are not like that.

What can Israel learn from Germany?

E: Maybe to me more polite.

What can Germany learn from Israel?

E: to be more open-minded.

Israel...?

S: Home
E: Family

Berlin...?

S: beautiful, interesting
E: multicultural

G-D...?

S and E: it makes you strong and gives you hope that something is up there that takes care of you.