August 27, 2010

Interdependence

Written by: Gail Israel Weinstein, Site Manager/Academic Advocate, Bartlett High School

She had never walked on cement before. New to urban Anchorage, the high school for her 16 year old son had more people in one place than she’d ever experienced before. It was as if time itself stood still for her while the rest of the building swirled around at a frenetic pace. Gently, I moved her into the privacy of the office away from the crowds. We spoke quietly. We spoke of mother and son’s journey and their immediate needs. While son worked toward graduation mom hoped to attend college to begin her studies in nursing. It was a pleasure to attend to the family. As we reviewed ideas, options and resources she relaxed and I began to sense a more personal connection.

We exchanged phone numbers for follow-up and to keep in touch. After handing her my CITC business card the space in the room vibrated and went totally still. She stared at my card, at me, back to the card, “Gail Israel Weinstein” she read pointing to my middle name “Israel, Israel” she spoke “You are Jewish!” I took a deep breath unsure where we were headed. “Yes, I am.” Peacefully, she looked deep into my soul and quietly said “Shalom.” She reached over, hugged me and while wiping tears from her cheeks said, “You are the first Jewish person I’ve ever met, except for, my Grandfather.” It was my turn for time to stop.

She continued, “My grandfather escaped from Russia during a ‘pogrom’ of anti-Semitism against the Jewish people in the early 1900’s. His family and all the people of his village were killed.” She sighed, paused, and continued, “He ran away and traveled across many lands and seas, barely surviving yet managed to come into our area where our hunters found him just about dead… They brought him back to our village and nursed him back to life… One of the women became his wife, my Grandmother. My grandparents together lived to become respected elders in the community… After statehood he became a surveyor and there is a mountain range named after him… And that is how my Jewish Grandfather came to be an Alaskan Native.”

This is a story of our human family roots and our interconnectedness as experienced in Anchorage during the 2003-2004 school year.