Hello everyone,
Israel 1953-1957
Grade school
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| In the
schoolyard |
There was no middle school in Israel, during the years I was a student; we graduated from Elementary school after eight years and began the four years of High school. We were very excited, as well as a bit sad, to say goodbye to our friends after beaning together for so many years... High school sounded very serious! Most of the High School students, we knew now seemed to be big and tall, almost as big as the Adults in our life... We said goodby to our friends, those who were going to different schools, promised to always be in to be in tuoch.
We must have sensed, that the 'Care Free Days' of our early childhood, was coming to an end... I remember the 'somber' graduation ceremony and how my eyes were full with tears when my turn came, to step up to the podium, like the students before me and shake the hands of the teachers and principal, who presented each of us, with our Graduation Gift: A beautiful Bible, together with their best wishes for our future...Now,so many years later, I still have this small black Bible with me.
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| Graduation |
The party that evening was very emotional...Thinking back, I realize how different the boys and girls were, during that last year..We the girls began to physicall develope, about a year or two before the boys, who were much shorter then us and often looked like our younger brothers... Unlike the girls, the boys acted childishly; Running around yelling pushing and shoving each other, whispering dirty jokes and pulling at the girls hair...
Life was not easy for the 'New comers', who escaped the war in Germany, lost family members and came to live in a new country, after losing most of their family members... They had to learn a new language, a way of life and ovber come the differences, between the 'New Comers' and us; who were the small amount of "Sabras", tho and was fascinating, by the differences between my family and those of my new friends
We couldn't wait to leave behind the elementary school, graduate from High School and begin our early "Military Training" in the "Gadna": Youth Troupes,which are given the basic Military Training, to learn how to protect our families and small country, from the Arab countries, which surround our small beloved vulnerable Israel... As young as we were, we understood that the day will come, when we will have to fight and protect our beloved Israel, from the neighboring hateful Arab countrie, sarounding our boerders
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| Esther and me |
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| With Yosi, my small "Admirer" |
During our graduation party, the boys acted much more mature then usual... Even 'Sworn Enemies', made peace; forgetting their old disagreements; it was time to say goodby...The girl cried and the boys were serious for a change. I still have the 'Memory Book' in which we wrote our good wishes, to our old time friends...There were three 'Abraham' in our class, so we used their last name when we wanted to communicate with one of them: Abraham Berkowitz from Romania, Abraham Rosenberg from Poland and and another "sabra' whos name was Abraham Nir...
I am still a bit surprised, when I look at these school photos and realize that after all these years of my several moves, across the ocean and inside the United State, I still have this 'Memory book' which by now is very old with yellow, crumbling pages... I struggle to decipher some of the faded words, my classmates wrote to one another, during the final days of our school, before moving to High school and here they are:
“To my dearest friend Shira, remember the fun we had together, when we played the "trick" on Mr 'Mustache', our history teacher?! It was so much fun... I am sure we'll be friends forever and see each other, even though we are going to different High School. Love, Ora"
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“ Hi Shira, remember the 'stupid fight' we had in six grade? I completely forgot what it was all about, can you remember? We were such babies then! I know we'll keep in touch and stay friends forever and ever! Your loyal friend, Ester"
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“ Dear Shira: Trees are green, the sky is blue, I was too shy to tell you, but I was always in love with you"! Yosi.
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“Dearest Shira, thank you for being such a good friend, always standing by my side,no matter what... I enjoyed the books you recommended, you have a real good taste in books and you are pretty too...” Your grateful friend, Abraham Berkovich
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“Dear Shira, I will never forget how after we read Treasure Island, the two of us went to dig for Treasures at the Ruined old Monastery, near your house... I am sure there are many books waiting for us in the future, but I believe that our digging days are over... Daniella”
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“Dear Shira, thank you for letting me copy your homework in Bible, History and Literature... If it wasn’t for you, I will never graduate! Your friend Rosenberg (Abraham). P.S. I am sorry about putting the rubber spider on your arm, during History class, but you weren't even scared! You just laughed !!! You are very brave, not at all like a girl!" Your friend Gil
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"Dear Shira, I set behind you all last year and I think you have the most beautiful hair then all the girls in the class!!! It is Straight and very Shiny; Just like 'Helen of Troy' in the movie! (Not like the curly hair of Rena, who set next to you...) I also think you are very pretty and smart too! Solomon (Abraham)"
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"Shira, what can I write to my best friend!!! Thank you for pushing my wheelchair around... Unlike the others, you always treated me like a 'Normal Kid' which has nothing wrong with her legs! Don't forget how we pricked our fingers with a needle and mixed our blood; in order to become 'Blood Sisters'... I know we'll be friends forever! Your "Blood Sister", Miriam.
With Love and Light,
Shira
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