May 4, 2006 6:54 pm US/Central
Chicago Generosity Helps Immigrants In Israel
Chicagoans Helping Ethiopian Children In Israel
by Jay Levine
KIRYAT GAT, Israel (CBS) ―
On Thursday, Mayor Daley was witness to the generosity of how Chicagoans make an impact halfway around the world.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports on how the mayor likes what he sees in Israel.
Throughout this trip, Mayor Daley has stressed people-to-people efforts and exchanges. They may not get the big headlines, but they make a big difference in peoples' lives. We saw one example of that Thursday in a central Israel city which has been experiencing wave after wave of immigrants.
It was one of those events which appeared routine but turned into a highlight.
The mayor of Kiryat Gat, a midsize urban melting pot, introduced Mayor Daley to a unique program: Chicagoans helping Ethiopians in Israel.
"To listen to the high school kids talk in English. These are folks who came from Ethiopia learning Hebrew, now speaking English beautifully to our mayor," said the Chicago Jewish Federation's Steve Nasiter.
By the time they went around the table telling success stories of the program Chicagoans got behind more than 20 years ago, everyone, including the Mayor's wife Maggie, was beaming.
"They're so excited with what they've accomplished. And their dreams are the dreams of kids in Chicago," Daley said.
"If there is no Chicago money, that means there is no higher education, there will be high school drop outs, and there will also be juvenile delinquency," said Nigist Mengesha with the Ethiopian National Project
But it was more than just Chicago money; it was also Chicago volunteers; three North Shore college students who found the experience helping teens having trouble adjusting to a new culture priceless.
"You would work with them and you would write it on the board and they were having a lot of trouble with it. And then one day, one of them, just a light bulb went up. They got it! They were explaining it to each other in Hebrew. It was just such a moment of pure joy," said Glencoe resident Rebecca Wallach.
"I thought the young people from Ethiopia were very impressive and what they're learning and what this has meant to them in their lives. And then our three young Chicago area youngsters who graduate from college and come over here to be of service for a year. It's impressive," Maggie Daley said.
It was a real feel good event, similar to others we've reported on this week, such as the computers donated by a Chicago college dean to a poor church school and a domestic violence program funded by a prominent Chicago couple, both in Jordan.
Mayor Daley came here hoping to gain insight on security issues, but he'll leave with a whole lot more.
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