Volume 7, Issue 10 / Tisheri 5765 / October 2004

Going Swimmingly

Dima wearing 18 of the medals he has earned as a swimming champ. He couldn’t reach the others - they were too high in the closet.

"I had everything in St. Petersburg - a successful career, a lovely home, family - but I wanted to come to Israel," recalls Ina Glickman. "I can't explain it. Even now. But we're Jews and this is our land."

A psychologist at a teaching college with a second career in event planning, Ina grew up in Vitebsk, in Belarus. "I didn't experience anti-Semitism," she says. "Well," she reconsiders, "maybe a bit. My father, a Communist, was the editor of a newspaper in Vitebsk and he had to keep his religion under his hat."

After getting married, Ina moved to St. Petersburg. Due to a difficult pregnancy, she had to take a break from her busy work schedule. She decided to utilize the time to study Hebrew. She became so enthusiastic that she resolved to come to Israel.

Her husband, a non-Jew didn't share here enthusiasm, and, after the birth of their son, the couple divorced. Ina approached the Jewish Agency office in her city, who made arrangements for her aliyah. Lacking any family or support system in Israel, Ina decided to settle in a small city with a friendlier atmosphere. She decided upon Arad, near the Dead Sea. After learning basic Hebrew at a Jewish Agency ulpan, she settled baby Dima in nursery and began supporting her small family by cleaning houses.

Ina and Dima Glickman

Dima thrived in Israel, and become an outstanding student in school. Like a real Jewish mother, Ina pulls his report cards out of a plastic bag. She has what to be proud of: 100, 100, 100, 95...

Despite his outstanding academic record, Dima's favorite subject is sports. He played tennis, judo, and karate. But he decided to focus on swimming, which he began while still an infant in St. Petersburg. Two years ago he began participating in swimming competitions and quickly jumped to the lead team. He has so far won 27 medals in local matches.

Several months ago, Dima, twelve and a half, took part in a major European competition in Germany. He was able to make the trip thanks to funding provided by the communities of New Jersey and Delaware with which Arad is linked in the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000 program. Competing against 500 participants, the young Israeli won two silver medals and a bronze medal.

Everything's going swimmingly for the young sportsman and no one can be prouder than his mom!

Written by: Shifra Paikin
Photo by: Simon Peretz

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