Volume 8, Issue 8 / Tammuz 5765 / August 2005
On Her Own
Rosa Gluzman (19) grew up in Moldova and attended a Jewish school. She had a very strong Jewish identity and chose to lead an observant lifestyle.
When she began studying at University in Moldova, there was no blatant anti-Semitism, but Rosa always felt that she was different. In the middle of February 2004, shortly after she began her studies, Rosa made aliyah.
Rosa's first home in Israel was at a Jewish Agency for Israel Kibbutz Ulpan. Rosa lived and studied Hebrew with young new immigrants from India, Holland, the United States and Australia. "Although we were all from different cultures we shared our desire to live in Israel," recalls Rosa. Rosa also worked a few days a week in the kibbutz nursery school and adored working with the children.
In September 2004, Rosa began her studies at Machon Tal, the Jerusalem College of Technology Institute of Engineering for Women. The four-year program combines a degree in accounting with Jewish text and Torah studies.
As a lone immigrant student, Rosa receives assistance from the Jewish Agency's Fund for Lone Immigrant Students and Soldiers. This fund provides monthly stipends that help to alleviate some of the financial burden on students who have no immediate family in Israel. Rosa also works cleaning houses in order to help make ends meet.
"I am an only child and I have not seen my parents since I made aliyah," says Rosa. "I have saved enough money for a ticket and I will visit them in a few weeks."
Rosa attributes her smooth aliyah to her knowledge of Hebrew. "Other new immigrants have difficulty because of the language. I knew Hebrew when I came and this gave me immediate access to Israeli society."
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