The first time I visited the campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was in 1996. I was 18 years old and was studying at Machon Greenberg (the Hayyim Greenberg Institute for Teachers for the Diaspora). At that time, the program was directed by Dr. Yossi Goldstein, who is today a teacher in the Melton Center’s Master of Education program with a specialization in Jewish Education.
I remember walking between the multiple buildings and imagining what it would be like to be a student at such a prestigious university. With admiration and—I must confess —a little bit of healthy envy I eyed the students who, like me, were walking about with their backpacks, books, and thousands of dreams.
On the walk through campus, my legs, for some reason, took me to a building about eight stories high. Each floor was a library in itself, or, as Borges would say, a “paradise”, but here there were about eight. I approached a man who was ordering some books and innocently asked what would happen if I wanted a book that wasn't in the catalog. He very kindly took me to a computer. He told me that if I wrote the name of the book or its author or some other relevant information, the computer would “magically” tell me if the book was there – or in another library somewhere else in the world – and if it was available for borrowing, or if they should order it or buy it. Let's not forget that this was the year 1996. That was magic; I had no idea that one day it would look like the Internet we use every day (and that 25 years later, it would be the channel that would allow me to fulfill my dream).
From that visit onwards, I promised myself that I would study at the Hebrew University, no matter what. Due to life circumstances, I had to leave Israel and return to Argentina, where I decided to settle in Córdoba. At that time, the Machon Greenberg diploma required a year of practical teaching. Dr. Goldstein contacted the director of Colegio Israelita de Córdoba to accept me as a teacher for a one-year trial. That trial year became 22 years… until the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
2020 found me complaining about total confinement, with new challenges due to virtual classes and difficulties at home. At the same time, I was able to spend more time with my beautiful daughter—which I enjoyed as much as I could—and my pets. While I got used to a technological reality totally different from what I was used to, I found myself on one hand wasting a lot of time, and on the other hand discovering a door to the world that was beginning to open.
Among the flood of messages, zoom meetings, conferences, and more, I came across a door to the lost paradise I had left behind in 1996. On one of the many social networks – my only connection with the world during the pandemic– an announcement appeared that the Masters of Education specializing in Jewish Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was being made available, virtually, to educators around the world. Of course, my first reaction was excitement and enthusiasm, and I thanked God for coming across something that I wanted and had never been able to achieve. Israel and Argentina are separated by many kilometers, and until that day, for me, there was no way to bring them closer.
My second reaction was, “I can't pay for this,” “I can't do this.” "I don't, I don't..." But what if “I do”? What would happen if I made some inquiries? Absolutely nothing bad could come of trying. At that moment, I remembered what I always teach my students: it’s looking for the yes that matters. So I began inquiring, gathering the necessary documents, and applying for scholarships (all with the fantastic support of director Marcelo Dorfsman and his team). And almost before I knew it, in October 2021, my dream came true! I was registered as a student at the one and only Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Then came two intense years of studies, of sharing with colleagues from all over the world, of reading about everything related to Jewish Education with the same curiosity that I had that day, years ago, in the library. I won’t deny that I made many sacrifices and that I invested many hours of study and work, but I also cannot deny that everything I dreamed of came true. I finished my Master's degree with excellent grades, and after spending time in that paradise, the doors of heaven itself opened wide. Just by virtue of putting on my resume that I was a HUJI graduate, I had thousands of job opportunities of all kinds raining down on me, both virtually and in-person. Needless to say, putting “MA” instead of “certified teacher” certainly helped. Today, in addition to being a face-to-face and virtual teacher at different schools and academies, I am the institutional Director of the DAIA Córdoba branch in Argentina.
What can I say that won’t sound arrogant? I'm happy! Not only did I fulfill my dream after 25 years, but I also improved as a teacher, a person, and a professional. The Hebrew University gave me a little of all that prestige that characterizes the institution and helped me understand that dreams do come true, but it takes perseverance and a lot - a lot! - of dedication.
Meital Grin is a graduate of the MA in Education specializing in Jewish Education at the Melton Centre.