Nechama Aronson, 20 Petach Tikva
Where are you from?
I was born in Crown Heights. My father was the photographer of the Lubawitscher Rebbe. When I was three years old we moved to Israel.
Why are you in Berlin?
I came for Shlichut to the Chabad Kindergarden. I am also teaching in the Chabad school.
What was your first impression when you came to Berlin?
I could not believe that this is the place where the Holocaust happened. It seemed very modern and not so scary like I thought it would be. I was also impressed with the Chabad House. It is very big and beautiful.
What is your favorite place in Berlin?
my favourite place is the Chabad House but I also like the stores in the Wilmersdorfer Straße.
How do you feel about Jewish Life here in Berlin?
I did not expect the community to be so big. There is a lot of Jewish life here. I thought there would be less religious people. But I still hope that it gonna grow.
What is the difference between the Israeli and the German mentality?
Wow, that is a complicated question because they have a lot of differences. I miss the Israeli mentality a lot because I am so used to it. At the beginning I even wanted to go back to Israel. The German people are very nice and wait in line to enter the bus. They also do not get nervous when the bus is late. But in Israel the people talk and having a lot of conversations. Here it can happen to you that you see a person every day and do not even know who the person really is.
Did you get in contact with Antisemitism here in Berlin?
While I was talking in the train with a friend of mine a group of seven Arabs started shouting at us. They asked why we are making war with the Palestinians. We did not answered them we just went on.
What did you learn here?
I learned a lot. For example to be more quiet. What I also learned from the Shluchim is that the giving never ends. In the spiritual and the material aspect.
What can Israel learn from Germany?
To be on time. And to be more quiet.
What can Germany learn from Israel?
To be more kind and relaxed and not so strict about things.
Do you have an unforgettable moment of Berlin?
Because I am on Shlichut here I have the confidence to talk to people that come to Chabad. I meet Israelis that I would never get in contact with in Israel. I really like those moments. I started to see Divine Providence in everything even more here in Berlin. Here I have more time to think.
So you think you got closer to H-shem here?
Yes, for sure. I have more time to think about everything. In Israel I am very busy with working. Here I am more able to observe my surrounding.
What is the main job of Chabad here in Berlin?
Chabad is touching all the important places of Judaism. All around the world Jews know that there is a place they can go to no matter where they are. The Shluchim are making a very holy job. Everybody can learn from the Shluchim. Every Jew is a Shaliach from G-d. We know that G-d send us to this world to make a difference.
I love Israel because...?
it is the Holy place that was given to us by H-shem.
I am happy to be Jewish because...?
I have Thora and Mizvoth
H-shem...?
means everything to me.
Moshiach...?
will come soon.
Emunah...?
something that everybody has and we can not live without.
Berlin...?
a place that we can change to the Holy.
For more information about Chabad in Berlin: www.chabadberlin.de
Elisabeth Shkliar (21) and Shay Gavrieli (23) both from Israel
Where are you from?
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Shay (left) and Elisabeth (right) in Berlin
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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.
