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Asya

This short documentary, part of the Children of Jerusalem series, profiles 11-year-old Russian immigrant Asya as she and her family get accustomed to life in Jerusalem. From issues of cultural, political and religious diversity to the simple act of making new friends, this portrait of Asya is indicative of life for many ethnic Jewish immigrants to Jerusalem.
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This short documentary, part of the Children of Jerusalem series, profiles 11-year-old Russian immigrant Asya as she and her family get accustomed to life in Jerusalem. From issues of cultural, political and religious diversity to the simple act of making new friends, this portrait of Asya is indicative of life for many ethnic Jewish immigrants to Jerusalem.

Foreign Countries Religion, Beliefs and Ethics Children and Youth All subjects
  • director
    Beverly Shaffer
  • producer
    Beverly Shaffer
    Colin Neale
  • executive producer
    Colin Neale
  • camera
    Kent Nason
  • sound
    Jacques Drouin
  • editing
    Rita Roy
  • sound editing
    Tony Reed
  • re-recording
    Hans Peter Strobl
    Serge Boivin
  • voice
    Maureen Hebert
  • music
    Chris Crilly
    Louis Hone

Education

Ages 10 to 14

Notes

Warning (if any): mentions of alcohol in discussion among adults

Brief “lesson launcher type” activity or a series of inquiry questions with a bit of context:

  • Profile of a 12-year-girl named Asya who immigrated to Jerusalem from Russia one year prior.
  • What was happening in Russia that made Asya’s parents decide to leave?
  • Asya describes several differences between Israeli culture and Russian culture. She outlines how she had to change herself to fit in and “integrate” into Israeli society. Do you think immigrants should have to change themselves to integrate into a new society, or should the society accept a variety of cultures as they are? Where is the line drawn?
  • How does Asya see that Arabs and Jews are not treated equally in Israeli society? How might she have been treated differently if her family was not Jewish?

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Asya
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