Israeli Pearl, citizen and history teacher, and social coordinator at Amit Kfar Batya, lives in Tel Aviv for several years and loves the city very much, running through its streets and going to the sea. Israeli says she is a “woman of people and words.” She loves people: loves talking to people, loves sitting in a cafe and watching passersby. People interest her, the stories, their point of view. To her, her students are first and foremost people. Before their grades, she sees them as people with hobbies, loves, and dreams. Israeli says her mission is to make them better people.
Who I am in 99 words
Pnina Israeli, citizen, history teacher, and social coordinator at AMIT Kfar Batya. Has lived in Tel Aviv for several years and loves the city very much, running through its streets and going to the sea. I am a woman of people and words. It has to do with choosing my profession; it has to do with choosing my hobbies; it’s woven into everything. Loves people: Loves talking to people, loves sitting in a cafe and watching passersby. People interest me: the stories, their point of view. My students are, for me, first and foremost people. Before their grades, I see them as people with hobbies, loves, and dreams. My mission is to make them better people.
I chose to be photographed with…
My cup of coffee and a pile of books. The Corona, closures, and time at home forced us to take care of ourselves as well. What helped me survive the instruction from afar were the cups of coffee, one after the other, and the books that filled the mind. Teaching via Zoom was very complex for me, and on days like these, what kept my eyes open was to keep my spirit world. Fill the heart.
One student, one story
Almost five years ago, a student of mine, Lz Wilchik, died of cancer just before his 16th birthday.LIz was a model for heroism for me, precisely because he was not a classic hero. He continued to be a regular teenager who played on the PlayStation, gets pissed off about school, and doesn’t like being excited about his illness too much. Always with black humor and a half-smile. In his final year, I got to know him closely, and every time we met to study history, we would talk about everything except the classes. He is missed by all, and his character still lives in my heart.
A teacher who influenced me
Shlomo Perla, a member of the team, and the citizenship teacher corresponding to me. Even though he has reached retirement age, he continues to teach and never stops teaching me either. It teaches about love for the profession, how citizenship teaches educators, and how political debates are a means to reach students’ hearts. He used to get messages from me at odd hours with questions about U.S. electors and Norwegian law and what led a particular party to pass a bill. But first of all, he teaches me that citizenship is the most important profession in school.
My dream as a teacher
Create a better reality. As a citizenship teacher and my perception as an educator, I feel I can make my students better people. I dream that my students will be sensitive, with open eyes and a heart in the right place.
I learned from my students in Corona
I think the youth who survived Corona are heroes. I would reward them. I learned from them about coping and how I adapt to the new reality. They got up every morning and chose to cope, even when it was hard for them. They were busy with their friends. They created frameworks of doing, of volunteering, of learning – simply inspiring. And those who did not: that they had a hard time, broken, heroes, heroes, heroes. Friends, if you read this – I adore you!
