Although the students at YULA Girls believe that they are completely informed about the personality of their omniscient and happy principal, I was granted the opportunity to learn more about him.
Rabbi Lieberman say when he looks at YULA students, he sees their potential. Although one may assume that Rabbi Lieberman learned about the nature of teenage women from his daughters, he says the opposite is true; his students have taught him about the nature of his daughters.
Rabbi Lieberman believes the challenges and difficulties of teenage girls are similar in YULA and in his previous school Shulamith in Brooklyn, New York. When asked what the hardest part of his job is, he said, “It is difficult when he wishes to aid his students and they do not wish to internalize his advice.”
At the end of this interview I asked Rabbi Lieberman how he would measure his success as Principal of YULA Girls School? He said that he would wait until the High school reunion of his first graduating class of 2012 ten years after graduation. If his students achieve success then he will consider himself a success.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Racheli Schuraytz - "Two Jews Walk Into a Deli"
“Chaim’s Love Song” is Marvin Chernoff’s only published play and is the basis for YULA Girl’s production of “Two Jews Walk Into A Deli”. During a recent interview in his Westlake Village home, Mr. Chernoff explained that “Chaim’s Love Song” is really his family’s story. The play tells the life-story of Chaim Shotsky, a 78-year-old Jewish man living in Brooklyn with his wife. He meets Kelly Burke, a young Irish Catholic girl from Iowa and proceeds to share his philosophy of life, marriage, parenting, and love with both her and the audience. The inspiration for Chaim’s character was Chernoff’s cousin Morris Baron who worked as a furrier and later a seltzer deliveryman. Although neither of his parents were Holocaust survivors, Chernoff was very much influenced by it as a child. Specifically, the character of Chaim’s wife, Tzwarah, came from Chernoff’s sister-in-law, a survivor of Auschwitz.
But many of the emotions in Chernoff’s plays are closer to home. For example, Chaim’s wife Tzawarah expresses a deep desire to visit Israel and then live there. For Mr. Chernoff, it was also “love at first sight” when he was in Israel from 1984 to 1985. Kelly’s character is none other than Mr. Chernoff’s first wife. Just like Kelly in the play, Elaine was a devout Catholic school-teacher from Iowa. Ironically, after their divorce, Elaine married another Jewish man; this time she converted to Judaism.
Chernoff’s other short stories involve even more personal stories. In his well-acclaimed book, Howie Learns America, and the accompanying play, The Howie Monologues, Chernoff tells his own childhood story about growing up in Glen Falls, New York.
When asked if he would ever consider turning “Chaim’s Love Song” into movie, Chernoff chuckled. So far, the only adaptation of the play has been an attempt at a musical. With eighteen song numbers, the musical version seemed to lose the emotion of the stage play. But even though the musical never spread beyond its premiere in Toronto, Chernoff is willing to try again. If life has taught him anything, Chernoff believes, it has taught him to adapt. That definitely rings true for a man who began writing at age six and stopped to pursue a career in psychology, only to return to writing at age fifty. Now a retired educational psychology and counseling professor at CSUN, Chernoff spends much of his time writing. But most of his ideas come in chunks as he does not schedule his writing. Instead, he will sit up all night, every night for a week or so and then forget the manuscript for another two. In fact, earlier in his career, Chernoff wrote almost an entire play working eighteen hours a day for three weeks.
Today, Chernoff lives in the West Valley with his second wife, Sharon Bloom. The two are honorary members of “The Not-So-Young Reader’s Theater,” a group of seniors that get together to present short plays in a variety of venues. Chernoff is also working on revising all of his unpublished works that include more full-length plays, multiple one-acts, and some short stories. Although “Chaim’s Love Song” is currently Chernoff’s only published play, that fact might change in the next few years. But at 78 years old, and after suffering from over eleven years of Parkinson’s, it is enough that Chernoff is still an active writer. The trick, he says: “surround yourself with writers,” as they are often “more interesting than reality.”
But many of the emotions in Chernoff’s plays are closer to home. For example, Chaim’s wife Tzawarah expresses a deep desire to visit Israel and then live there. For Mr. Chernoff, it was also “love at first sight” when he was in Israel from 1984 to 1985. Kelly’s character is none other than Mr. Chernoff’s first wife. Just like Kelly in the play, Elaine was a devout Catholic school-teacher from Iowa. Ironically, after their divorce, Elaine married another Jewish man; this time she converted to Judaism.
Chernoff’s other short stories involve even more personal stories. In his well-acclaimed book, Howie Learns America, and the accompanying play, The Howie Monologues, Chernoff tells his own childhood story about growing up in Glen Falls, New York.
When asked if he would ever consider turning “Chaim’s Love Song” into movie, Chernoff chuckled. So far, the only adaptation of the play has been an attempt at a musical. With eighteen song numbers, the musical version seemed to lose the emotion of the stage play. But even though the musical never spread beyond its premiere in Toronto, Chernoff is willing to try again. If life has taught him anything, Chernoff believes, it has taught him to adapt. That definitely rings true for a man who began writing at age six and stopped to pursue a career in psychology, only to return to writing at age fifty. Now a retired educational psychology and counseling professor at CSUN, Chernoff spends much of his time writing. But most of his ideas come in chunks as he does not schedule his writing. Instead, he will sit up all night, every night for a week or so and then forget the manuscript for another two. In fact, earlier in his career, Chernoff wrote almost an entire play working eighteen hours a day for three weeks.
Today, Chernoff lives in the West Valley with his second wife, Sharon Bloom. The two are honorary members of “The Not-So-Young Reader’s Theater,” a group of seniors that get together to present short plays in a variety of venues. Chernoff is also working on revising all of his unpublished works that include more full-length plays, multiple one-acts, and some short stories. Although “Chaim’s Love Song” is currently Chernoff’s only published play, that fact might change in the next few years. But at 78 years old, and after suffering from over eleven years of Parkinson’s, it is enough that Chernoff is still an active writer. The trick, he says: “surround yourself with writers,” as they are often “more interesting than reality.”
Devorah Balakhaneh - My Parent's Journey from Iran to Los Angeles
The year was 1990. My parents were 27 and 34 living in Tehran with two young children. My dad, Shimon, owned a fabric store in Downtown, Tehran. He had to leave for an errand, and closed the store. Minutes later, he came back to find shattered glass all over the floor, the door was blown out, and the fabric was ripped. A missile had hit his store. For my parents, that was the last straw. They had to leave.
My mom says it was a buildup of different events. At the time there was a war between Iran and Iraq, and there were rockets continuously being thrown to Iran. It was definitely a dangerous place to be. They also started making the kids go to school on Shabbat. The Jews were being treated very poorly. There was a lot of propaganda against Jews, and religious leaders were put in jail. My father’s employees started treating him badly. Our neighbors thought badly of us and spread false rumors about our family to others. A big wake up call was when the missile hit the store. I interviewed my mom about her journey to America and the life changing experience of settling in a new country
What were you leaving behind?
We sold almost everything we had for much less than what we had paid for. Our house, our car, my husband's store. We gave away a lot of furniture. We had to quickly sell our expensive Persian rugs. I left my parents and my siblings. I didn't know whether or not they'd make it to America. My husband left behind parents and all his siblings except a brother--who had already moved.
What was your main concern about moving to a new country?
I was afraid my husband wouldn't be able to make a living. I was also afraid of the new culture. I was concerned about being able to learn English.
What were you most fearful of leaving behind?
I was mostly scared of leaving my parents. Also, Iran was my country. I was familiar with the culture, the language, and the people there. It is my homeland. I had friends and family there. I was leaving behind everything familiar to me. My family had lived there for countless generations. My roots are planted there.
What was the journey like?
We had to bribe the people who worked at the airport to make sure we got a flight out and that our belongings got to America. We got the chance to ship special heirlooms to America.
First, my daughters and I went to Italy. We came as refugees through a program called "NAYANA" My husband came three months later, because he was waiting or his VISA. I got a job two days after arriving in Italy as a Judaic Studies teacher.
What were your living conditions in Italy?
We rented one apartment with three other families. It was a four-bedroom apartment, and each family got one room. It was a huge change from our house in Iran.
Tell me about your experience there.
We lived an hour and half away from Rome. There was no kosher meat there, so we had to travel to Rome every couple of weeks to stock up on meat. It was a beautiful city. There were always tourists around the area.
Where did you go afterwards?
We came to Brooklyn, New York. My family bought a house, and we stayed at their place. We stayed there for a year and a half while my husband searched for a job. It was very hard to find a job there back then. My husband also didn't like the weather in New York. He wanted to move to LA because he had a brother here and because we knew there was a Persian community we could adjust to. He bought a one-way ticket, and stayed.
What did you think about the Persian community once you got to Los Angeles.?
When we first got here, the Persian population was very small. Most of them were located in Pico-Robertson area, as they are now. The community has quadrupled since we arrived. The synagogue was very welcoming. The school I sent my kids to was very warm. At that time, there were only two Jewish markets, one pizza shop, and one meat restaurant.
Were you expecting to find such a big community?
I knew that there was going to be a Persian community, but I never imagined they would be this warm. I was able to find friends quickly, and I loved the schools that were open.
Going through the experience and seeing where you are now-if you were given the option to do it again, would you?
In a heartbeat. It was all worth it. The future for our kids is much brighter here. All the opportunities are unbelievable. Someone can go from being nothing to being so successful. Coming to the states was a great decision. Of course I miss Iran, but I know it's much better here.
If you were able to tell yourself something when you were 26, what would it be?
Gain balance in your life. Balance family and making time for yourself. Make sure you have time to relax. Live in the moment; don't get so caught up in the future. If something goes wrong, don't panic. Read books on self-growth; take seminars on how to believe in yourself. Make good friends. Get an education.
If you could go back and change the process, what would you change?
I wish I had learned not to rely so much on my family. I also wish I had continued my education and gotten a job. For a year and half I stayed with family in New York. I wish I had continued medical school and gotten a job so I would have been able to support my family
What do you have to say to women who are going through the same process now?
Changes in life are hard. Big changes are even harder. But you have to believe in yourself and educate yourself. Have good friends to help you when you are feeling down. Ask for help if you need it, there is so much available. There is so much opportunity in America too. Seize the opportunities. Work hard. Don't give up.
In the years that followed, my family managed to succeed in Los Angeles. At first, it was hard. My dad bought a fabric store downtown and when it still wasn’t making money, my two older sisters would sell candies on Sunday to help make ends meet. Eventually the store became profitable, and my parents had two other children—my younger sister and I. My two older sisters are now married with children, and I am a junior at YULA and hope to study television production in college. The rest of my family has moved to America, except for one of my father’s sisters. She says she loves Iran, but we don’t know her real opinion, as she could get in trouble for what she says about the Iranian government.
In the end I am very happy that my parents made the decision to leave Iran. The propaganda against the Jewish people still exists, and Jewish Iranians are still treated second class. I am thankful that I live in America, a place where I can express my Judaism without a fear of being persecuted.
My mom says it was a buildup of different events. At the time there was a war between Iran and Iraq, and there were rockets continuously being thrown to Iran. It was definitely a dangerous place to be. They also started making the kids go to school on Shabbat. The Jews were being treated very poorly. There was a lot of propaganda against Jews, and religious leaders were put in jail. My father’s employees started treating him badly. Our neighbors thought badly of us and spread false rumors about our family to others. A big wake up call was when the missile hit the store. I interviewed my mom about her journey to America and the life changing experience of settling in a new country
What were you leaving behind?
We sold almost everything we had for much less than what we had paid for. Our house, our car, my husband's store. We gave away a lot of furniture. We had to quickly sell our expensive Persian rugs. I left my parents and my siblings. I didn't know whether or not they'd make it to America. My husband left behind parents and all his siblings except a brother--who had already moved.
What was your main concern about moving to a new country?
I was afraid my husband wouldn't be able to make a living. I was also afraid of the new culture. I was concerned about being able to learn English.
What were you most fearful of leaving behind?
I was mostly scared of leaving my parents. Also, Iran was my country. I was familiar with the culture, the language, and the people there. It is my homeland. I had friends and family there. I was leaving behind everything familiar to me. My family had lived there for countless generations. My roots are planted there.
What was the journey like?
We had to bribe the people who worked at the airport to make sure we got a flight out and that our belongings got to America. We got the chance to ship special heirlooms to America.
First, my daughters and I went to Italy. We came as refugees through a program called "NAYANA" My husband came three months later, because he was waiting or his VISA. I got a job two days after arriving in Italy as a Judaic Studies teacher.
What were your living conditions in Italy?
We rented one apartment with three other families. It was a four-bedroom apartment, and each family got one room. It was a huge change from our house in Iran.
Tell me about your experience there.
We lived an hour and half away from Rome. There was no kosher meat there, so we had to travel to Rome every couple of weeks to stock up on meat. It was a beautiful city. There were always tourists around the area.
Where did you go afterwards?
We came to Brooklyn, New York. My family bought a house, and we stayed at their place. We stayed there for a year and a half while my husband searched for a job. It was very hard to find a job there back then. My husband also didn't like the weather in New York. He wanted to move to LA because he had a brother here and because we knew there was a Persian community we could adjust to. He bought a one-way ticket, and stayed.
What did you think about the Persian community once you got to Los Angeles.?
When we first got here, the Persian population was very small. Most of them were located in Pico-Robertson area, as they are now. The community has quadrupled since we arrived. The synagogue was very welcoming. The school I sent my kids to was very warm. At that time, there were only two Jewish markets, one pizza shop, and one meat restaurant.
Were you expecting to find such a big community?
I knew that there was going to be a Persian community, but I never imagined they would be this warm. I was able to find friends quickly, and I loved the schools that were open.
Going through the experience and seeing where you are now-if you were given the option to do it again, would you?
In a heartbeat. It was all worth it. The future for our kids is much brighter here. All the opportunities are unbelievable. Someone can go from being nothing to being so successful. Coming to the states was a great decision. Of course I miss Iran, but I know it's much better here.
If you were able to tell yourself something when you were 26, what would it be?
Gain balance in your life. Balance family and making time for yourself. Make sure you have time to relax. Live in the moment; don't get so caught up in the future. If something goes wrong, don't panic. Read books on self-growth; take seminars on how to believe in yourself. Make good friends. Get an education.
If you could go back and change the process, what would you change?
I wish I had learned not to rely so much on my family. I also wish I had continued my education and gotten a job. For a year and half I stayed with family in New York. I wish I had continued medical school and gotten a job so I would have been able to support my family
What do you have to say to women who are going through the same process now?
Changes in life are hard. Big changes are even harder. But you have to believe in yourself and educate yourself. Have good friends to help you when you are feeling down. Ask for help if you need it, there is so much available. There is so much opportunity in America too. Seize the opportunities. Work hard. Don't give up.
In the years that followed, my family managed to succeed in Los Angeles. At first, it was hard. My dad bought a fabric store downtown and when it still wasn’t making money, my two older sisters would sell candies on Sunday to help make ends meet. Eventually the store became profitable, and my parents had two other children—my younger sister and I. My two older sisters are now married with children, and I am a junior at YULA and hope to study television production in college. The rest of my family has moved to America, except for one of my father’s sisters. She says she loves Iran, but we don’t know her real opinion, as she could get in trouble for what she says about the Iranian government.
In the end I am very happy that my parents made the decision to leave Iran. The propaganda against the Jewish people still exists, and Jewish Iranians are still treated second class. I am thankful that I live in America, a place where I can express my Judaism without a fear of being persecuted.
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