I long to return to my routine — to cook Indian food in my own home, and not to eat the standard food of a hotel.
While I was away, pigeons and mice entered my home. The condition of the house is not good and requires thorough cleaning and care. That is what happens when there are no people in a house — the mice come.
I arrived from India in 1966 when I was 24 years old. My entire family immigrated together, and when we arrived, we lived in a transit camp in Lod.
In India, I was an academic. I studied at a Christian school, and English was my mother tongue. This helped me greatly in life.
When I arrived, Tadiran was looking for workers. I went there, and they knew nothing about me. They gave me a job in production for two years, manufacturing equipment for the army. When my manager recognized my abilities and my command of English, he pulled me out of production and transferred me to the development department, where I worked for several years.
Later, I met an Indian student and married him. We moved to Be’er Sheva because of his studies, and there too I was hired by the university because I knew English.
After my divorce, life was very difficult. I had young children, and our financial situation was extremely hard. I heard a rumor that anyone who came to Shlomi received an apartment from Amidar. I seized the opportunity, and that is how I arrived in Shlomi.
I gave my wonderful children names that all begin with the letter A: Atala, Annabel, and Ariel.
Here at the hotel, I began engaging in art and drawing. So many beautiful paintings, a visual travel diary, knitting, collage — a great deal of work with my hands.
Creating has given me peace in my heart, and I kept drawing more and more.
Here — choose a painting from those hanging in this room. I no longer have space for all my creations in this small room.
I ask God that when my time comes, He will take me without chaos and without anger; that I will be healthy until my final day; that my children will continue to honor me and that we will remain close.
I hope to return to a normal life in Shlomi, and once a week to go to Nahariya — to sit there, eat a piece of cake, maybe buy myself something small, and then return home.
I do not want much — only to feel good about myself, to be happy, to be with my family. Who needs more than that?
69, born in Israel (Tiberias).
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
70, born in Casablanca, Morocco.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
76, born in Tunisia.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
69, born in Morocco.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
Age: 84
Born: Iran
Immigrated to Israel: 1951
Home: Kiryat Shmona
Evacuated to: An apartment in Migdal
Interviewer: Bracha Tor
Interview location: Oncology Day Clinic, Ziv Medical Center
70, born in Israel (Safed).
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
69.
Immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union in 1990.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
90, born in Yemen.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
87, born in Libya.
Immigrated from Morocco in 1949.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal
70, born in Israel.
Her home is in Shlomi. Evacuated to the Dan Mount Scopus Hotel, Jerusalem.
Interviewer: Nava Tal