The impact David and Tzvia had on the Community cannot be overestimated. Over a 70 year period they taught 4 generations to speak Ivrit and transformed the community’s life from every aspect;from name changes (from Arabic to Hebrew), dress (Arab robes to modest modern attire) to enabling integration into Israeli society with ease when making Aliya. They were awarded several accolades in Israel and the Diaspora because of this and the community was and remains incredibly proud of ‘their’ school.
THE FOUNDER - David Kidouchim
David's CHILDHOOD
David received a typical boy’s education in Djerba as he grew up in the first half of the twentieth century. He would have attended a yeshiva that taught Chumash and Gemara from the Hebrew and Aramaic to Tunisian Arabic. He probably picked up a bit of French and enough general education for an isolated Jewish life on the island. No secular subjects were taught in the yeshiva ever since a nineteenth century ban on such instruction was instituted as a response to the failed attempt by the Alliance Israelite Universelle to establish a school on the island.
He would also have been exposed to the long and glorious history of Djerban Jews, an ancient, still thriving community over 2000 years old. He lived in Hara Kebira, one of two communities on the island. His Hebrew was textual, used only for study and prayer. When he met Tzivia the only language they could communicate with was their native dialect of Arabic, since Djerban girls did not go to school.
IN THE FORTIES
In the forties a Palestinian Jewish soldier of the British Army’s Jewish Brigade ended up on Djerba, and when David met him he was astounded to hear spoken Hebrew for the first time. He was overwhelmed by the experience, both linguistically and spiritually. He decided to learn what was then Palestinian/Yishuv Hebrew, and soon became the Eliezer Ben-Yehuda of Djerba! He wanted to teach his new language, but realized that given the rabbinic authority in Djerba, it would not be possible to alter the curriculum of the yeshiva. So, he opened Djerba’s first school for girls, Torah v’Chinuch. At first, only limudei kodesh were taught, but completely in Hebrew.
BY THE FIFTIES
By the fifties he received texts from the Israeli mamlachti dati curriculum. In this he was supported by a JDC worker, Stanley Abramovitch, who became a close friend of both David and Tzivia. In time, David decided to add some general subjects such as arithmetic, geography, and history to the course of studies since the rabbinic ban applied only to boys. For these additions, new texts were again supplied by the JDC, all in Hebrew. Once a pre-school was established, JDC’s early education expert, Evelyn Peters, came on the scene with her valuable experience and knowledge. What came of all this was the only Hebrew Immersion school outside of Israel, parallel to the pre-war Tarbut schools in Poland. And in an ancient community isolated on a Tunisian island!
IMPACT OF THE WORK
The enormity of David Kidouchim’s work was evident when I started visiting the island in the eighties. Several generations of women had passed through the schools. The teachers who supplemented David and Tzivia in the school were products of Torah v’Chinuch. Most received some training abroad, but returned to the island to marry, have many children, and continue teaching. When one entered a home in Hara Kebira, it was the mother who spoke Hebrew, proud of her connection to both ancient Djerba and the conversational version of an ancient language. While most of the men had enough general knowledge to be involved in the occupation of choice, jewellery manufacture and sales, it was the women who had received a full education. And all in Hebrew!
The success story of TvH is the result of a partnership between the JDC and David z’’l in the realization of his vision. Extending over seventy years the relationship between the JDC representatives and David z’’l was one of close friendship, mutual respect and appreciation. For this the Family Kidouchim and the Djerbian community is eternally thankful to JDC for its benevolence and support.
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