Victoria Braverman – You’re Never Too Old to Be an Activist
So here’s the thing. My aliyah, at the age of 48, wasn’t an escape from life’s challenges. The opposite. I needed greater challenges. And where better than Israel? A country with its own unique set of challenges, a country with a language that is not my native tongue, a culture which differs significantly from my native British one, a country where I feel truly alive. Two years down the line, my Hebrew is starting to improve significantly, I’m living in a predominantly Israeli neighbourhood, I have dealt with and put behind me a little bout of breast cancer (not a challenge I would have chosen, but hey) and I’m getting active.
It bothers me that the world is suffering, really suffering, from a shortage of great leaders. So when I see someone with great charisma and, on the whole, political beliefs that I can agree with, that’s where I’m headed. On my To Do list, I had already made a note to contact the Yesh Atid headquarters to offer my services as an English speaker with many years of broadcast production experience. It seemed to me that Yair Lapid, a wonderful broadcaster in his native tongue, could nevertheless do with a few pointers when it comes to addressing an English speaking audience and maybe I’d be the right person to help.
How fortuitous, then, that I should spot a message on Facebook asking for volunteers to join the English Speaking Activists branch of Yesh Atid. I went along to the first meeting and was suitably enthused. There was a real spirit of “can do” in the room and a feeling that we could all make this country a better place by getting involved in the campaign to bring Yair Lapid and his party to victory in the next election. Yair himself made an appearance, despite being full of cold, and was thoroughly charming and impressive.
I’ve met some fascinating people through the group, from all walks of life. Politically diverse (because that’s actually the whole idea behind Yesh Atid’s “centrist” stance), religiously diverse, financially diverse. The one thing we all have in common is the desire to strengthen this country and its people, both immediately and in the long term. That, and our ability to express ourselves in English.
And the point of this article? Well, I just want to be an evangelist for political activism. There’s no age limit, it gives you a real connection to your country and it’s a way of meeting some really interesting new friends.
To find out more about Yesh Atid’s special group for English speakers, join the Facebook Group “Yesh Atid English-Speakers” or email english@yeshatid.org.il
