From Argentina to Israel via London
I was born in Argentina, in a small southern city called Bahía Blanca. I grew up within the warm and supportive Jewish community: two hours a day of study at Dr. Herzl School and, on Saturday, an afternoon of activities at the youth movement “Hehalutz Lamerhav”. In the background: the Argentinian dictatorship. At home I heard half-stories about an uncle who buried his books in the garden but was, anyway, taken to jail. And the saddest news about a “missing” girl whose body was found not far from my house.
To this day I hear music of those days and it moves me deeply: here’s something familiar from the great Mercedes Sosa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_FRa9htNiw
At the age of 17, I came to Israel for the first time. I went on adventures throughout the country and worked in a kibbutz for a year, as organised by Hehalutz. The year included lectures by S. Yizhar and Yeshayahu Leibowitz. It was then that I fell in love with Arik Einstein and Shalom Hanoch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9bm6KYnycM
I immigrated to Israel at the age of 25. In 1994 I traveled to London with my husband Will and our eldest, Maaian, for a year of study. In the end, without noticing, we stayed there for 23 years where our “little one” Noi was born, now 26. While in London I studied for a master’s degree in digital media and I have been involved in digital content management and marketing since—very relevant areas for Women Wage Peace.
I have been a member of Women Wage Peace since my return to Israel 3 years ago. That year I joined the March for Peace in Jaffa and, shortly thereafter, became part of the digital team as website editor together with Naomi Gal’or, and was sending emails to the Diplomatic Alternatives First Law supporters.
“Even in the desert you have to sow.”
Here is an excerpt sent to me by my sister-in-law Nora who lives in Argentina. A passage she felt reflected the stubborn work of Women Wage Peace:
“I have a technique for maintaining a positive attitude. It stems from the fact that I am a southern person. I saw my grandfather sowing in the desert. How do you sow in the desert? You sow in the sand and then wait. If it rains, there will be a harvest. Have you seen the desert after the rain? It’s like Brittany! One day you walk on completely burnt ground, and then it rains and what happens next? You wonder where it came from: flowers, vegetables! This happens simply because the seeds were already there… This picture is set in my mind since childhood. You have to sow. Even in the desert, you have to sow.”
We must build a relationship of mutual respect and recognition with the Palestinians.
