Adults in Israel get second chance at learning to read

It happened 20 years ago, but Rachel Douki remembers the humiliating feeling, the tears that stung her eyes. That day she went to buy herself a skirt and blouse at the Ata store in downtown Jerusalem. Proudly, she pulled out her new checkbook, the first one she ever had, and gave it to the cashier. “Write whatever is needed, I'll sign,” she said. But the cashier refused. “You have to write, not me,”she said. Ashamed, Douki left the items at the register and ran from the store.

Now, at age 66, Douki has learned to read. She and her sister, Hanna Reuveni, have been attending a basic education class at the community offices in Jerusalem’s Baka neighborhood. Around 40 women aged 55 to 75 take part in morning or evening classes. Read how they are learning to read at Haaertz.com.