Wechsler Volunteers Bring English Across the Sea

Distance and language are no obstacle for participants of an English conversation program that pairs native English speakers in the U.S. with high school students in Israel through a unique collaboration between The Wechsler Center for Modern Aging and the Municipality of Jerusalem.

English Overseas was launched in December 2020, at the height of the pandemic. With most in-person gatherings curtailed, the municipality saw what at the time seemed a short-term opportunity (tied to the isolation of COVID) for high school students to improve their conversational English skills in preparation for the rigorous exams, or bagrut, required for graduation, as well as encourage intergenerational and cross-cultural relationships.

Wechsler Center Director Susan Lechter was immediately intrigued. "I said to myself, this is THE best match ever."

Under the management of Rabbi Brian Fink, the Wechsler Center recruited three volunteer program leaders, Marcy Gregory, Barry Langer, and Randy Solomon, to collaborate with municipality colleagues on volunteer outreach, training materials, and program logistics. Fifty pairs began speaking that December. Two months later, that number had nearly doubled. As of February 2024, three years into the program, there are 250 active matches, with a lifetime total to date of over 500. Many pairs continue over multiple school years; in some cases, volunteers and their former students continue to check in post-graduation, and those pairs are not included in the official count.

A unique pilot begun in Fall 2022 matched volunteers with approximately 20 Muslim students from two schools in East Jerusalem, a program that has continued into 2024. Education departments in other parts of Israel have expressed interest in bringing the program to their schools as well, an option the English Overseas administrators are exploring.

Volunteers have a range of backgrounds. Many are retired, some are not. Most are from the New York area (though there are pockets of volunteers in other parts of the country as well) and most are Jewish. Their professional backgrounds are diverse, as are their interests, which helps municipality colleagues match them with students, whose interests and English proficiency are noted when they apply for the program.

The older adults do not serve as teachers, or tutors, and in general do not correct students' English. Rabbi Fink explains, "The purpose of the program is to help students improve their conversational skills," as they talk about topics such as entertainment, families, friends, vacations, holidays, and more. Through these discussions, via WhatsApp or Zoom, the pairs also form connections and friendships. The face-to-face interaction sets this apart from most volunteer programs.

Gail Levine-Fried, Ph.D. began speaking with student Adi Sassoon in November 2021. "It was foremost learning about each other and our lives," she says. When Adi graduated, Levine-Fried, who developed a relationship with Adi's family as well, was thrilled to be invited and help her celebrate in Israel. Others have met with their students on solo trips, and in March 2023, 20 volunteers traveled as a group and met their East and West Jerusalem students, as well as municipality officials including Jerusalem's mayor.

The potential for subsequent trips with more volunteers is being considered.

Throughout the year, volunteers and students come together virtually for community-building and learning activities, including end of year and graduation celebrations. During the latter, in 2023, both students and volunteers were honored with personalized certificates of appreciation and achievement.

"This program is one of the most mission-consistent ones the Wechsler Center has," says Lechter. "It's cross-cultural, intergenerational, supports Israel, and, of course, there's the volunteering piece."

The program has exceeded her expectations (as well as those of her colleagues, volunteers, and teens). "I knew we had something special, but I had no idea how special." As for the future of the program, Lechter says, "There is just so much potential for growth and expansion."

"It's unique because it's accessible, it's real, and it can go deep," Rabbi Fink adds. "You get a window into someone else's world and they get a window into yours." Both volunteers and students have been surprised by some of the things they've learned. Student Adi Bruchim said she was unaware "that a lot of eyes around the world are looking at Israel. I didn't know that at all."

Because both students and volunteers use Zoom or WhatsApp from their homes, each gets the added bonus of meeting and getting to know each others' families, and some volunteers have even started working with siblings of their original match.

Through her student Halel Levy and her family, Barbara Sacks was exposed to a lifestyle that was unfamiliar to her. "There's an exotic piece to it," she says. "I have a much renewed respect for the maintenance of religious life. It has transformed me some."

"We have become best friends," says Karen Korman of her student. "I am crazy about her and can't wait to meet with her every week." Michele Tenenbaum said that when she and her husband met her student on a recent trip, "it was like visiting a long-lost grandson!"

The ongoing conversations are very important, says Adiel Ish Shalom, who manages the program for the Municipality and says that "English can be a real barrier. Sometimes the students can be very successful with their exams, but still will lack confidence to use it outside or in the workplace."

"I see myself not as a teacher, but as a friend and a grandparent. I don't see the academic component as my role," says Lois Cohen, who says the three students she has worked with since starting this program have "added to my wealth of grandchildren."

Agam Sultan says that despite their differences, she counts volunteer Sylvia Tomasch as being among her "BFFs. We come from such different communities, but we always find something common to talk about because we're very interested in each other." Or, more simply, "What I love, she loves."

Linda Lichtman echoes the sentiments of many of her fellow volunteers. "English Overseas transcends a program. You get back so much more than you give" she adds. "These are special relationships."

Sherri Lerner is the former editorial director at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. She has written and edited for numerous publications and is currently on the staff of the Wechsler Center.