Mishpacha Junior: What was it like growing up in Egypt?

Mrs. Bella Sharer: I had a very happy childhood. I grew up in luxury with my family and extended family around me. I attended an exclusive girls-only Lycee Francais a French-speaking school. On Sundays we went to Hebrew school. In fact I am fluent in five languages: Arabic French Hebrew English and Yiddish.

MJ: Did you ever see the pyramids?

BS: We used to take family trips to the pyramids a 45-minute drive from our home. My father would hold me high above his head until with the tips of my fingers I found a groove in the huge stone. I hefted myself up scrambled on and looked down triumphant. I had made it! I was standing on the very first stone of the Egyptian pyramids. I looked around and could see the Arab teenagers racing each other up the stones. They charged tourists quite a sum to perform this feat and the money jangled in their pockets as they climbed.

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