Spanish Soap Operas Bring Argentinean Immigrants and Israelis Together

Haya is always looking for a creative way to help new immigrants start a business - that's her job. She is the Senior Program Manager for Employment and Entrepreneurial Projects at JDC-Israel.

So when she read in a Jerusalem newspaper that a famous Argentinean actor who starred in an immensely popular Spanish-language soap opera is now a new immigrant in Israel, she nearly yelled "Eureka!"

Boris, better known as "Ignacio" from "Chiquititas" to his young fans, presently lives in an Absorption Center in Ranaana: "It wasn't bad for me in Argentina," Boris explained. "But something was missing. I have had strong feelings as a Jew, tied to the history of the Jewish people, to Jewish theater, and it was clear that at some point I would come to Israel."

Boris' arrival sparked an exciting idea: Haya decided to launch a course for new immigrants from Argentina to instruct them how to teach Spanish, using telenovellas (soap operas) as their primary teaching tool. The course would include instruction in business skills to provide the immigrants with the tools to open their own businesses.

"Telenovellas are a craze in Israel. Everybody watches them," observed Haya. "Teenage boys and retired women alike are trying to learn Spanish so they can understand their favorite soap." Discussions are now underway to turn this idea into reality.

"The response has been fantastic," described Haya. "People are excited - the new immigrants at the prospect of becoming self-sufficient, and Israelis, at the thought of learning Spanish in a fun way."

While Boris would be a great draw to the program, whether or not the Argentinean- now Israeli- actor will instruct his ex-patriate peers in the ins and outs of soap opera Spanish is less important than the idea he inspired - one that will turn the frivolity of telenovellas into a livelihood for immigrants, and Spanish proficiency for their students. Once trained, thousands of Israelis will be forever grateful to their new immigrant instructors for helping them better understand their televised heroes.