Molly Livingstone, a recent immigrant, talks about her adjustment period to Israel in Jerusalem’s Merkaz Hamagshimim.

“For two thousand years in exile, Jews cried and prayed to return to their Land... Being in Israel today, I am showing myself, my God, and the world that we really do believe in what we are praying for. And that we really believe our dreams will come true.” Sol Jakubowicz, new immigrant

I have an American accent when I speak Hebrew. No matter how many Hebrew classes I take, forced conversations with Israelis I have, or practice by reading the newspaper out loud, I cannot escape my accent. The same is true for many Anglos (as we refer to ourselves) in Israel. We eat a kilo of hummus, push our way through crowds and hang out at the most popular cafes. But every now and then, we search for a place to give the gutturals a rest.

For me, the best place to refuel is the Merkaz Hamagshimim Hadassah, located in the Germany Colony of Jerusalem, about a five minute walk from trendy Emek Refaim St. It is both an absorption center and community center, basically, a young Anglo community support system.

A former resident myself, I know that the Merkaz is the social pulse of a varied Anglo community (Americans, South Africans, British, Australians, etc.) in the capital, providing theater, lectures, chugim (activities), art cafes, comedy nights, hiking trips and more.

“I met my closest friends at the Merkaz. Even though we don’t live there anymore we still go back for events, and to check out the new faces,” says Rebecca, originally from New Jersey, a former resident who works as a graphic designer and webmaster.

She explains, “It is hard to fall through the cracks with such a wide range of activities — from yoga to Creative Midrash to stand-up comedy. For those with a more theatrical bent, the Merkaz has made a name for itself with its year round theater productions. Center Stage Theater (CST) is “the only English-speaking theater in Israel to produce Shakespeare on a regular basis,” explains Shannon, the Artistic director of Center Stage.

CST has produced one Shakespeare play annually for the past ten years along with a diverse selection of comedies, dramas and modern classic pieces. “We have a tradition of producing edgy, provocative pieces, not always seen in the English-speaking theater here,” Shannon says. Auditions are being held for CST’s 2008 production of ‘Matchless’.

The Merkaz has established itself in the core of local activism. It’s Center for Social and Environmental Activitism, organizes, to name a few, volunteering with Ethiopian immigrants, demonstrations against sex trafficking and community recycling projects.

With Israeli movie nights, conversational ulpan (Hebrew class) and Sabra (Israeli native) residents, the Merkaz also helps bridge the gap between cultures. I found that I could take on the Israeli culture at my own pace. Through lectures and the Activitism Center, I found out I can make a difference in government policy even as an English speaker. And I was able to keep my passion of theater alive by acting in a CST production. This is a home that grows with me.