Nine-year-old Esther is a bright and energetic girl. Two years ago, she moves to Israel from France. However, circumstances prevent her family from taking good care of her. This has major consequences, including for her concentration at school. Then her teacher steps in.
Life in France
When Esther is only one year old, her parents are killed in a road accident. Her grandparents take her in and raise her as their youngest daughter. All goes well until grandfather Jacques falls ill with the coronavirus. He is in hospital for a long time and eventually is not fit enough to return to work. He cannot leave his bed or chair most days and the care of little Esther falls on grandmother Helene. One day, when Esther is at school and Helene is shopping, burglars break into the flat and hit Jacques so hard that he almost passes out. They shout that he is “a dirty Jew”.
Moving to Israel
After this incident, the family decides to leave their hometown of Marseille and move to Israel. Jacques' mental health deteriorates and he cannot adapt well to his new surroundings. For Helene, the burden of a new life with a sick husband and a young child becomes almost too much.
Contact with the mentor
Fortunately, Esther's mentor at Zalman Aran school in Jerusalem notices that the girl looks somewhat neglected and that she is restless. She cannot concentrate in class. After a home visit, it becomes clear that the family needs support.
Eating at school
At first, Esther's grandparents want to reject help because they are embarrassed. But the teacher insists it is in Esther's interest to be helped. So they decide together that Esther will get daily breakfast and lunch at school, provided by organisation Yad Elie. That way, Helene does not have to worry about shopping and cooking and Esther can be sure she will get at least two meals a day.
School feels like home
Now Esther is one of the highest-scoring students in her class. She speaks perfect Hebrew, is very ambitious and hopes to become a psychologist. She tells her teacher that she feels at home at school. He too sees the difference: “Esther's behaviour and concentration in class have improved enormously since she has been eating healthy meals at fixed, regular times,” he says.
Diaconate CGK supports the work of Yad Elie.
