Second generation of immigrants from German speaking countries ("Yekkes")

Naomi Yariv has lived all her life in Tel Aviv. During her high school time she had psychological problems because of which she finished high school late. She studied to become a teacher and works as high school teacher for handicapped children and children who have difficulties with learning or psychological problems. Later she studied informatics and special pedagogy. She is married and has three sons. ; NY's elder brother was very talented and therefore her parents spent a lot of time with him. Especially her father was extremely proud of him. This situation caused NY problems and she thinks her father made a big mistake with regard to her. After her brother, who was trained to be a pilot in the army, had a fatal accident, she wanted to prove herself she could be successful too. NY does understand problem children because of her own childhood, many of them come from difficult families. NY's father behaved differently than her mother or other parents. When she was born he was already 41. Their relationship was difficult, NY could never really talk with him. The relationship with her mother was easier. Her father had very high expectations, he always compared her with her brother. Tidiness and punctuality are very important for him and he controlled her all the time. The relationship improved when got a family herself. Her father was very educated, intelligent and hard-working; he studied law in Israel and worked as a lawyer. He never went to a café because he considered it as a waste of money. Just like him, NY does not want to spend money on her own needs. Her mother liked to go out, her father preferred to invite people to their home. He never watched a play or a concert, her mother went out with friends and lived her own life. Her parents did love each other very much though. NY considers her father to be an individualist. When travelling her father seemed completely different. NY was not interested in her father's past when she was a child. ; NY's father is a Yekke, her mother came from Australia. NY and her brother spoke English with their parents until they learned to speak Hebrew in school. Sometimes their mother spoke English and the children answered in Hebrew. Their parents mixed English and German when they spoke with each other. Their mother learned Hebrew in Israel, later she hardly ever spoke English anymore. NY thinks it was very difficult for the Yekkes to adapt to the Middle Eastern way of life. NY herself only had oriental friends, which her father did not like. Her husband comes from a Moroccon family and NY loves the warmth of oriental families. ; NY's father was often invited to Germany, mainly by the German Lawyers' Association. Later he also went there for spa holidays. As a child NY already went to Germany, she once stayed there with a youth group. After her mother's death, she went to Germany with her father for a vacation. ; Towards the end of the interview NY's father, Abraham Friedlaender, joins the conversation. Together they talk about the Yekkish way of education. He describes his relationship with his son in law. He is very curious and a bit anxious about what his daughter told about him in the interview.