Levi Zak (24), single, resident of Jerusalem
Levy immigrated to Israel from Moscow in March this year, and is a music producer and music writer.
He studies Hebrew in a licensed studio of the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption, and explains that he decided to immigrate to Israel because of the war in Ukraine and because of the fear that he would be drafted.
"I felt in danger, I was afraid to go to war and kill people. It's terrible. I came to Israel, and I plan to live here. It was very difficult in Russia, I felt like I couldn't breathe, there was a very difficult atmosphere."
Levy really likes learning the Hebrew language.
"It's fun, I love the language. It's beautiful, unusual. It's very interesting to learn this ancient language, and to read the Bible in Hebrew.
I love letters and how they look in Hebrew.
They are very beautiful."
"Loves to learn the Hebrew language", immigrant Levi Zak (24), photo: courtesy of the photographer
Which word do you like the most?
"It's hard for me to choose one word, I like the way words sound," he says, and explains that he likes several words - especially ones that contain the letters S, R and E, such as "to call" or "to advertise".
"I love these letters and their melody. It sounds very Israeli."
Sergey Pakhrasian (38), married and father of a 6-year-old girl, resident of Petah Tikva
Sergey was born in Ukraine, and immigrated to Israel with his wife and daughter nine months ago.
They fled the war in Ukraine and reunited with his sister, who has been living here for several years.
"I'm Jewish, and I didn't want to stay there because of the war," explains Sergey, an economist and businessman, who studies Hebrew at a studio in Petach Tikva.
"I didn't want to stay in Ukraine because of the war", the immigrant Sergey Pashrian with his family, photo: courtesy of the photographers
The conversation with him is held alternately in Hebrew and English.
In fact, his command of Hebrew at this stage is very impressive, and he loves the language.
"For me it's not a difficult language. I like math. In English and Russian there are a lot of illogical rules that you just have to remember and memorize. In Hebrew there are tables and rules like in math, with logic."
Which word do you like the most?
"'Passport.'
Yulia Leshanko (46), divorced and mother of two sons, resident of the Jerusalem area
Yulia arrived in Israel with her little son about three months ago, and joined her older son, 21 years old, who immigrated to Israel three years ago to enlist in the army.
She came from Russia, and she too chose to take the step she had been thinking about for many years when the war broke out.
"I had long planned to join my son, but the war in Ukraine hastened the decision," she says.
Yulia is studying Hebrew at a licensed studio in Jerusalem and loves the language.
In Russia she worked as an English teacher, so she has access to and talent for languages.
"Learning Hebrew is not a problem, it's fun," she says.
"Loves the word peace", the immigrant Yulia Leshanko, photo: courtesy of the photographer
Which word do you like the most?
"I like speaking Hebrew and learning new words. It's special. If I have to choose one word, then it's the word 'peace'. Because of its meaning. Peace is very important, especially these days, when there's a war in my country."
Andrei Pervertev (42), married and father of a 10-year-old and a 6-year-old, resident of Petah Tikva
The Pervertev family immigrated to Israel shortly after the war in Ukraine broke out.
Andrey is originally from Moscow, and when he got married he moved to Kiev.
He is an electrical engineer by profession, but now he is studying Hebrew at a studio in Petah Tikva, and already manages to hold a conversation in Hebrew seasoned with English.
The two children, he says, integrated well in the city school.
"We planned to immigrate to Israel, but there were delays, and when the terrible war broke out, we decided to leave. We had one chance to do it so that we would all be safe together, and we took advantage of it."
"We had one chance to leave Ukraine and we took advantage of it," immigrant Andrey Pervertev, photo: courtesy of the photographer
Andrey speaks Russian, Ukrainian, English and French.
In Kiev he learned some Hebrew - but he had already forgotten it.
Now he is learning it all over again.
"Step by step, I'm learning again. For me it's like a new reality that the mind has to learn, because Hebrew has a different logic."
To remember the new words in Hebrew he uses his imagination, separates the words and imagines a situation.
"I separate the syllables and use the English description. 'Meet' (meet) and 'Bach' (the composer). When I go to my kitchen in the apartment, I say to myself: 'Hey, Bach, nice to meet you'. I imagine I'm meeting the composer My favorite in the kitchen."
Which word do you like the most?
"I like words in Hebrew that I can use my imagination to remember."
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