When new olim (immigrants) make their home in Israel, learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture can be challenging, especially when you’re a parent with young children.
As one new olim, who remembers what it was like arriving in Israel in 2022, and mother of nine, Anna, says, “As parents, we’re focused on survival—finding jobs, a home, and food. However, children think about different things. They want friendship. They want someone who understands them.”
For new olim families adjusting to life in Israel, The Fellowship set up children’s summer camps and activities, so children who are entering the 1st through 6th grade have access to Hebrew language classes and fun summer activities with other olim children. “It’s essential for children to feel like their lives are continuing, even after such a big change,” explains Anna. “These camps give them entertainment, the chance to make new friends, and most importantly, they can speak their own language. That emotional familiarity is so important.”
Anna explains that when she first arrived in Israel, she was overwhelmed with the culture change, and likely wouldn’t have known how to set up play dates or summer activities for her children. But sharing summer activities with friends and family is such an important part of childhood.
“Unless you’ve lived through something like this, it’s hard to fully understand just how much this kind of support means,” adds Anna. “When you see your child come home smiling, happy, and full of stories about their day—that’s everything. Both of my daughters made their first real friends through this camp. When we arrived, they had no one—all their friends were left behind… I thank you with all my heart.”
