Helping Israel from Home

Jessica Ross Endorses English B’Yachad for Support & Connection

On October 7th, the Jewish world was rocked and shaken to the core. I was here in South Bend, but my heart was in Israel. What could I do to help Israel? I began to say Tehillim (psalms) nightly. I gave money to my friend’s husband, who was traveling around Israel with the sole mission of bringing supplies to understocked army bases around the country. I hung up posters of the kidnapped hostages in downtown South Bend (they were immediately torn down) to raise awareness of their plight here.

In November, my father and I attended the massive Pro-Israel rally at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. And yet, it felt like our efforts still weren’t close to being meaningful help to Israel, which includes the paramount goal of freeing the hostages. I began to look online to inquire if I could travel to Israel and volunteer.

Sadly, traveling to Israel as a volunteer wouldn’t be possible due to my family situation. However, while researching volunteer opportunities in Israel, I came across an organization called English B’Yachad.

From NoCamels: Israeli Innovation News

“The Israeli tech sector is largely considered to be the backbone for the country’s economy, accounting for some 40 percent of Israel’s total exports annually and employing about eight percent of the working population. For many Israelis from the Ethiopian community, however, the high-tech industry remains largely out of reach due to several factors including educational gaps, socio-economic hardships, and systematic discrimination.”

English B’Yachad (EBY) allows Israelis from the Ethiopian community to learn English. They match native English speakers with Israelis of primarily Ethiopian descent who have finished the army and are either in college, technical school, or working and who would like to improve their English. Many Israeli Ethiopians come from families where their parents cannot help them learn English as they do not know it. Growing up in Israel, they learned English in school, but not at a high enough level to be successful in the high-tech industry. Now, as adults, they want to learn English at a level that will afford them opportunities in the Tech sector. This is a way to connect them to a fluent English speaker without paying for a tutor. EBY provides English tutoring for well-established partners organized to provide multi-faceted career support to young Israelis from communities on the periphery of society.

I am a teacher by training, and I am currently on leave. This sounded like something I could do, so I signed up. I had a Zoom interview, and then I was matched to a woman working in Sderot and Hadera. The only commitment at EBY for us was we agreed to meet for a minimum of 10 sessions, approximately 1 hour a week. However, there is flexibility. For example, during Passover, we took a 2-week break.

My partner’s name is Roman. She is 35 and works in a job providing social services within the Ethiopian community. She was in Sderot on October 7th. She and her family hid until Monday, October 9th, when they escaped to her sister’s house in Netanya. She helps take care of her parents. Her father is 95, and her mother is 89. We have become friends. I hope to travel to Israel and meet her in person. This is not just me helping her learn English; I have also learned so much.

EBY doesn’t just connect people and leave you without support; they are there for any issues you may be experiencing, as well as providing tutoring support. They also have monthly tutor talks in which tutors get together and discuss helpful issues and topics. I have joined a community where I am gaining as much as giving. EBY is currently looking for tutors. I hope you will consider a tutoring opportunity at EBY, a wonderful organization, as it is truly a rewarding experience, and you can see the direct, positive impact on the Israeli-Ethiopian community.

Here is their advertisement:

Help Israel from Home - Volunteer as an online English language mentor through English B’Yachad. Create new possibilities for young Israeli adults from less advantaged Israeli communities. Support their economic empowerment to contribute to Israel’s success. To learn more or sign up, please contact Marla Gamoran at mgamoran@skillvolunteerisrael.org.

Jessica Ross
Community Contributor