Community
A Cambridge first as Israelis form community
Members motivated by a desire for their children 'to learn to read and write Hebrew at a high level, learn about Jewish culture and holidays and have a place to socialise'
August 2, 2018 14:52
Members motivated by a desire for their children 'to learn to read and write Hebrew at a high level, learn about Jewish culture and holidays and have a place to socialise'
August 2, 2018 14:52A year ago, Israeli parents living in Cambridge started to explore the potential for an organised community in the city, motivated by a desire to boost their children’s knowledge of Hebrew.
They formed a WhatsApp group, put up posters and came up with a name, Alumot — meaning both “rays of light” and “sheaves of wheat”.
“The response was amazing,” said Tamara Novis, one of the founders.
“I found that Israelis here very much want their children to learn to read and write Hebrew at a high level, learn about Jewish culture and holidays and find a place to socialise.”
The local Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue offered use of its premises for the first year, bringing members into contact with the local Jewish community.
Alumot has since grown to 46 families, with more than 60 children, and classes are held on Sundays. There is also adult education.
With a large percentage of academics among the membership, Alumot additionally offers lectures on topics from neuroscience to multilingualism.
Ms Novis came to the city five years ago with her husband Max, who took MBA studies at Cambridge University — he now runs a pharmaceutical consultancy.
Having been a producer for Israel’s Channel 10 News, she was made UK correspondent, with assignments including a royal wedding. She has since moved into the educational world, teaching Hebrew at Soas and elsewhere.
Her two boys — Ethan, five, and Daniel, two — were born here and she feels “that for my sons to understand me and my identity, they need to speak Hebrew”.
Alumot was important given that “Israelis in many respects find it difficult to fit into British life.
“Unless we are religious — and sometimes even if we are — we don’t feel at home in British synagogues because that model is not what we are used to. Our language, culture and background are very different from that of British Jewry. And yet we crave being part of a local community.
“Although our children fit in very quickly to British society, we also want them to understand us and how we think. If they don’t learn to read and write Hebrew, they will be part of a ‘third culture’ — neither British nor Israeli.”
Although there are other Israeli families not involved in the group, expansion is not a short-term priority. “It is important to us to maintain our high standards of teaching and any growth would have to be supported by recruiting qualified staff,” Ms Novis added.
However, an educational programme geared to the bar/batmitzvah age group will launch next term.
The Reform shul has extended its offer of accommodation and the Israelis are grateful. But the group would one day like to have its own building.