Naches – Devorah Is Our Master

It’s harder to get degrees in Israel than in some other countries. Students have to pay money (well, their parents usually do that), do classwork, take tests, and write papers. They also have to cope with college bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is a way of life in the Middle East, and institutions of higher learning are not overly excited about giving away their precious degrees.

Her B.A. degree seemed to be too easy for her, so Devorah added a minor in Special Education at the end of her freshman course of studies for her baccalaureate degree. Only sixteen (well, now it’s seventeen) teachers in the entire country specialized that year in English for Special Education classes.

Background

Devorah joyfully taught retarded children in Nitzanim High School. Her father observed her teach once in that school. Ever since that time - and many years have passed - her students on the bus approach him and ask about Devorah. They also discuss other issues of importance to them.

She also taught autistic tots in Dekalim Kindergarten. The children loved her. Some Nitzanim students still remember her lessons – which is very unusual for the retarded – and they talk to her freely when they meet her on the street or in the bus.

Devorah developed methods involving Yiddishkeit to get through to some autistic children. For years, she walked around the house singing “hineh pil pil pil”, a simple song that Devorah wrote and then successfully taught her autistic children. They, in turn, sang that song in the school long after Devorah stopped working there.

She taught English part time while continuing her studies.

In February 2001, after teaching in Israeli schools for nearly four years, Devorah received her teaching license, and her B. Ed. graduation ceremony followed a week later.

During her fifth year of college studies, Devorah also took – and completed – her Masters degree.

Devorah probably set a breathless record for a person her age. She taught privately and in public schools, completed a complicated English–Special Education–Judaic Studies–Pedagogy undergraduate and Master degree, and still remained available for her many friends and loved ones.

Devorah now teaches English to normal children in two Israeli elementary schools.

Congratulations, Devorah!

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