What are the chances that a student and teacher at the Fuchs Mizrachi School in Cleveland, Ohio, would meet again, years later, as student and teacher?
Amitai Bailey, a 15-year-old 10th-grade student from Chashmonaim, now goes to school at AMIT Sutker Modiin High School in Modiin. He recently reunited with Rav Dovalah Shachor who was his 3rd-grade teacher at Fuchs Mizrachi. Seven years after their experience in the United States the two are engaged in learning again, this time in Israel. Shachor, who served as a WZO shaliach from 2012 ̶ 2016, taught Hebrew to the Bailey.
Four years ago, the Bailey family made Aliyah. Naturally, Rav Shachor who became an ulpan teacher helped the family with their move and encouraged Amitai to attend AMIT Sutker Modiin.
Amitai shared: “My family and the Shachor family became very close during our time in Cleveland. They had a significant impact on our decision to make Aliyah. When I found out that Rav Shachor was going to be my homeroom teacher this year, I was so excited and moved. It felt like the closing of a circle. Making Aliyah wasn’t easy, and now there is someone who understands exactly where I’m coming from and can help provide me with helpful tools.”
Shachor stated: “Every shaliach hopes that one day, his or her students make Aliyah. To merit having a former student make Aliyah and teach them once again in Israel is the realization of a dream. This is a wonderful gift for the new year and is the actualization of the values of both the WZO and the AMIT Network, established by Zionist women in the United States 95 years ago.”
