Breaking the Language Barrier

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Breaking the Language Barrier How mastering Hebrew helped a newcomer call Israel home By: Gina Geva My name is Gina, I’m 39 years old, and in 2005 I made Aliyah on a whim. I had never heard, let alone spoken Hebrew before moving to Israel. The rapid-fire Hebrew conversations going on around me, at the airport, were a culture shock on my first day of arrival as an Israeli citizen. I immediately realized that I would need to learn Hebrew and overcome my language barrier if I wanted the shock to diminish and feel a sense of belonging in Israel. Once I got started and was able to read signs and order from a simple menu, my life significantly improved. There was a glimmer of hope that I might fit in this new land. Although English is taught in schools throughout Israel, the reality is that the further you travel away from the center of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the less likely you are to find people who understand and/or speak more than just a basic level of broken English. After all, Hebrew is the official language and while most Israelis will be entertained by the novelty of your foreign tongue, don’t expect them to carry on long conversations. I soon found myself apprehensive about communicating with locals and wished that I had gotten an earlier start. My struggle with Hebrew was amplified when I began house hunting and found an amazing deal for a private residence, which was finally within my budget. Located in the peripheral town of Emek Israel, it is, no doubt, one of the most beautiful places in the country. However, when it came to day-to-day activities such as grocery shopping, asking for directions, and paying bills, communication played a crucial role and my inability to speak Hebrew presented additional challenges. It wasn't enough for me to simply gaze at the beautiful sunsets each evening on my porch, though that was always fun. I soon realized that I needed to learn Hebrew quickly if I wanted to integrate into this beautiful community and finally be able to