I think we’re all trying to be considerate of each other. As my father said, “We became such good friends!”

Chayala is 16 years old and lives a 15-minute drive from Yerushalayim. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Chayala’s mother had a baby boy (joining his 9 sisters and 4 brothers!) and the family made a beautiful home-catered bris in their living room. During that time, Chayala’s beloved grandfather was in critical condition from the virus, and after Pesach he was niftar. It was a very emotional time for Chayala and her family.

As a bilingual teenager, what’s the funniest language mix-up you’ve ever encountered?

Oh, gosh, there are waaaaay too many to even choose. There was a kid I babysat for who told me, “I’m DO gonna get!” when I said I didn’t know if she was going to get a treat. But we have a funny expression in our house: “Atah noheg oti egozim!” Which makes absolutely no sense at all in Hebrew, but if you translate each word separately, it means “You’re driving me nuts!”

What was your family’s attitude during the lockdown in Eretz Yisrael?

We were pretty chilled even though we were being careful since the very beginning. Even now my mother makes sure we all disinfect our hands and keep “shtei metter” (six feet) from other people. On the other hand, we became so close to each other at home! We play a lot of family games, overall the attitude at home is loving and warm, and I think we’re all trying to be considerate of each other. As my father said, “We became such good friends!” The other day my older sister commented that now we actually know each other. Usually the boys are in yeshivah all day and by the time the girls who are in high school and above get home the younger ones are going to bed. These days we’re all together all day.