Track1-Mic 1

Or Chaim Ozeri and Esther Tabugo discuss Esther's life story. She was born in Venezuela and moved to Canada at age 19 or 20 to attend school. Her childhood was connected, living in a community with her father, a priest, who had a choir. They later moved to a place that became a cemetery. Her father took care of the cemetery until he was 104 years old. Esther's parents founded a synagogue in Israel before it became a state. Her education was in a French school in Israel, where she learned Hebrew, English, and some French. She later taught at a high school. Esther's ancestors came from Syria and immigrated to Israel. She has been in Israel for 16 years and had dreams about her future and career. She taught at a high school and raised her own children. Hi, my name is Or Chaim Ozeri. Hi, my name is Esther Tabugo. Okay, hi Esther. So, we're here to hear your incredible story of your life, and I would like to ask you some questions about it. Sure. When I was a little girl, I was born in Venezuela. Then, when I was 19 or 20 years old, I moved to Venezuela to attend school. Wow. I would like to hear a little bit about your childhood, community, where you lived there. Okay. So, I was born in Canada, and my community that I lived with was very connected. My father, who was a priest, had a choir. Then, when we left the church, they sent us into a place, which they turned into a cemetery. This cemetery was until the last days of my father. That's when I was 104 years old. But, meanwhile, he was taking care of the cemetery with his father, and then later on with the children. But, they ordered for his father and his father to come with me. They told me to bring the cake, because he wanted to go away. He had no children to have, and they ordered for children. Because we lived together in our house. We wanted children. Yeah. So, it was very interesting. It was a kind of a house with a lot of kids. And, my grandfather, I used to live in his house also. My grandmother and I, we all lived in the same place. So, from then on, this thing was very different. And, he made sure that they always had... I mean, yeah. To the point that he would... He didn't say, he said, get your own house. Because he didn't move from the area where the synagogue was. I mean, people who are, they have children and they move. They move from the area where the synagogue was. Even my father moved. But, he was never seen, he was close to the synagogue. So, now he used to have people to come and shop with. He was kind of nice. He was, I mean, he was into sheep. One time, he would take me there. Just come and find me there. So, it was a very small Jewish family. Wow. So, Esra, if I'm understanding right, your dad was one of the bases of the community? Like, he started the community? Or, the community was big when he came? No. They founded him and he founded the community. My dad and my mom, he was the organizer of the synagogue. So, this is the synagogue. And, yeah, they just came to Israel. Before Israel came to Israel, they stayed. Because they were very excited to see my mom's parents and my dad's parents. One of them came when they were children. And, that's how I was born, as a child. And, yeah, their Jewish identity was very strong. Okay, so, I want to ask you a question. Did you, do you remember any special activities, events that you had in the community? Or, everything were... So, in the community, it wasn't that there was none. That there was none. We had events and, you know, shoes. But, you know, people come and so on. At that time, it was only, you know, even before I was born. They have rations to go out and buy food. They were the ones that made these rations. My grandfather was in Soray, who was there. And, he built a lot of things in Haifa. There were many Jewish people that came. And, Israel today, is full of Jewish people that came in the beginning, beginning. And, were ready to do anything and can change the world. I mean, my father was already gone and gone. But, he, you know, he is my dad. And, he went out and... Volunteered. Everybody did what they have to do. So, yeah. So, that's what... Where did your ancestors come from? So, my ancestors came from... They came from there. To Syria. And, they were there in advance in coming to Israel. They were friends. But, the British Jews from Syria to Israel. And, to come to Israel, or to come to Syria, They have a passion in going to visit Syria. In the... In the West. In the West. In the West, there is always... They have a tour to go to... To go to Syria. So, anyway, my father, he used to come a lot to do business. And, at the end of the day, they decided to come and visit Israel. With their families. So, this is before even the Syrian Jews were not allowed to leave Syria anymore. So, and here are the father's family, who still live in Syria. And, when their community has a tendency to run, to leave the community, Volunteers came to visit Israel and help them in their relationship. And, how that really works. Yes. So, Mary, you don't have to joke. Can you tell me about your education in Israel? Okay. So, my education, I went to the Al-Yam school. It was a French school. It was a private school. How did I get into that? Because they... Because they lived in Syria. They had French citizenship. When the French were there. So, I was able to go to a good school. So, Al-Yam. It was a private school. And, later on, they closed the school. You know, because there are a lot of Israelis. So, I was still in the people's club. But, the reason is that I had an education. Wow. So, was that a French school? So, it was a French school in Israel. So, they taught everything. French and English included. So, there you learned French there? Yes. So, you know Hebrew, English, and some French? Very good at French. I hope that. I haven't spoken any other. My dad doesn't know how to write in French. And, he doesn't know how to write in Arabic, in Hebrew. Because he learned in Syria. And, when he came, he didn't forget English. So, I took him to Syria. And, he said that when he comes here to Argentina. He would like to go to Argentina. So, I went there. You know, in the United States. It was pretty different. We both had our own lives. And, you know. Yeah. So, you're a journalist. But, you speak different languages. So, what was your favorite language that you spoke? So, in the beginning, it was Russian. That was my language. And, later on, when I came here. I started, not because I didn't want to. But, a couple of things happened. We lived in the States. Everybody was talking in English. Everybody was talking in English and Spanish. And, it happened very often. You read this book, or the other book, and so on. And, you get into reading English. And, now, sadly enough. I find myself reading English very easily. Sadly enough. I have to say. Yeah. So, let's go back to Israel for a second. Okay. How much time have you been there? How many years? I have been there 16 years. Wow. So, do you remember any dreams about the future? Did you set about your career? Yeah. Yeah. I have to say. Because, I was living in one house. With four other family in Atlanta. With lots of children. Two children. My father and father-in-law. They have seven children. And, the nation. Being in Atlanta. So, we keep time from school. But, they're not so far from us. But, by birth, they're in one. We are home. My mother and the other mother-in-law. They have to prepare lunch for the kids. They have to feed their kids. And, do their homework. And, my father-in-law was very strong. And, he used to feed little kids. And, help them do their homework. And, he was very strong. And, he was very young. So, that's how it was. So, what was your first job? Okay. So, over here. I didn't even have any babies. When the kids grew up. Because, I already didn't have enough time for me. I decided to teach. So, I was teaching in a high school. Where? In a town in Shasta. High school. And, I taught a lot. And, I taught a lot of people. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. And, I trained them. 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