The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv
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0:19 - 0:21What is the parents' dream?
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0:21 - 0:26If I asked you to choose two words
describing the parents' dream, -
0:27 - 0:31I believe most of you would say,
"A healthy child." -
0:31 - 0:37When we, on our cell phone,
show pictures of a successful child, -
0:38 - 0:39as a matter of fact,
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0:39 - 0:42we speak about ourselves,
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0:42 - 0:43because who made him?
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0:43 - 0:45(Laughter)
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0:45 - 0:48It's the extension of our own ego.
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0:50 - 0:53Our second child was born in 1984.
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0:54 - 0:58We gave him the name of my brother
that was killed in the war, -
0:58 - 1:03and expected him to be better than us;
more successful, more talented. -
1:03 - 1:05A source of pride.
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1:06 - 1:09At the age of eight months,
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1:09 - 1:11he was diagnosed -
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1:11 - 1:16Didi, my wife and me
were told by the psychologist, -
1:16 - 1:22"Your son has a combination
of autism and retardation. -
1:23 - 1:26Probably he will never speak.
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1:26 - 1:32Probably he will mentally,
stay as a child forever." -
1:34 - 1:36That was a shock.
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1:36 - 1:39The sky fell on our head.
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1:40 - 1:44The parents' dream
became broken parents' dream. -
1:44 - 1:50How do we continue managing our life
if our son has no future at all? -
1:52 - 1:56This son, all his life,
has never said one word. -
1:56 - 2:02Never said, (Hebrew) "Abba," Dad;
never said, (Hebrew) "Eema," Mum; -
2:02 - 2:04never made eye contact.
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2:05 - 2:09He was the greatest professor of my life.
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2:09 - 2:10He told me...
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2:10 - 2:14(Applause)
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2:18 - 2:22He told me more than any other human being
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2:22 - 2:28about myself, about our society,
about children like him. -
2:29 - 2:33These children, unable to eat
by themselves, -
2:33 - 2:36unable to dress by themselves,
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2:36 - 2:40even unable to say,
"Please replace my diaper." -
2:40 - 2:46These children are punished
for two life sentence. -
2:46 - 2:50One: a broken body for all their life.
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2:51 - 2:57Second, one day, being taken
and put in an institution, -
2:57 - 3:00which is a life-long jail.
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3:02 - 3:04When he was born,
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3:06 - 3:08at that time,
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3:08 - 3:14I was special force unit commander,
33 years old, Lieutenant Colonel, -
3:14 - 3:17leading operations in Sudan
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3:17 - 3:24to bring Jews who were in life danger
from Ethiopia to the State of Israel, -
3:24 - 3:27the only Jewish state in the world.
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3:27 - 3:30Behind me were hundreds of battles:
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3:30 - 3:36all over the Middle East in Lebanon,
Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and more. -
3:37 - 3:39Behind me
-
3:39 - 3:42was the very famous rescue operation
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3:42 - 3:45in Entebbe, 1976,
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3:45 - 3:51rescuing 105 Israeli hostages
who were kept for one week, -
3:51 - 3:55one week of their life hostage.
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3:55 - 3:57I was the first on the ground
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3:57 - 4:00(Applause)
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4:02 - 4:07I was the first on the ground and the last
to leave the Entebbe airfield. -
4:07 - 4:14Behind me were the memories
of the Yom Kippur War, 1973. -
4:15 - 4:19In this war, I lost many of my friends.
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4:20 - 4:25In many moments, I thought
I won't see the next morning. -
4:26 - 4:32But above all, the memories
of the telephone conversation -
4:32 - 4:36with my mother at the end of that war.
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4:36 - 4:40My brother fought in the Golan Heights.
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4:40 - 4:43I fought in the south,
and I was afraid to ask, -
4:43 - 4:47then, I got the courage and she said,
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4:47 - 4:52"We lost Eran, we have no Eran anymore."
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4:52 - 4:54My brother was killed.
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4:54 - 4:55I came home,
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4:55 - 5:00continued to the Golan Heights
to investigate his last battle. -
5:00 - 5:02I found his burnt tank.
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5:02 - 5:07And shockingly, I learned to know
that he was shot by a Syrian tank, -
5:07 - 5:13thrown outside, bleeding, bleeding,
shouting for assistance for seven days. -
5:15 - 5:18He has evacuated, dead already.
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5:19 - 5:24I was rageous, frustrated, angry,
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5:24 - 5:26and I swore...
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5:26 - 5:31I swore to never ever leave
a wounded soldier behind . -
5:31 - 5:34(Applause)
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5:39 - 5:4211 years later,
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5:42 - 5:46Didi, my wife, and me are raising a child,
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5:46 - 5:50who is like the extension
of my bleeding brother. -
5:51 - 5:55And this child-like saying,
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5:55 - 6:00"My dear father, you know a lot
about special forces. -
6:00 - 6:03You know a lot
about highly motivated soldiers. -
6:03 - 6:08But my dear father,
you know zero about children like me. -
6:08 - 6:11About the shame,
the stigma, the stereotype. -
6:11 - 6:14Come over, my dear father,
give me your hand. -
6:14 - 6:21Let's go, let's move and see places
where children like me are hauled." -
6:22 - 6:26We moved from institute to institute.
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6:26 - 6:30We saw dirty, stinky, dark places.
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6:31 - 6:36Children like him
were ignored, abused, harassed. -
6:36 - 6:38We came home crying.
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6:39 - 6:43Then we started learning
about the shame. -
6:44 - 6:47For instance, Golda Meir,
-
6:47 - 6:52our commander-in-chief
during the Yom Kippur in the 70s, -
6:52 - 6:57the one who sent me and my friends
to hunt down the terrorists -
6:57 - 7:03behind the Munich massacre
of 11 Israeli sportsmen, 1972. -
7:03 - 7:08Golda Meir was also
a grandmother to Meira, -
7:08 - 7:11a Down syndrome granddaughter.
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7:12 - 7:16And Meira told the Israeli public
after Golda passing, -
7:17 - 7:20"Golda never visited me;
Golda didn't love me; -
7:20 - 7:24Golda was fully ashamed in my presence."
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7:24 - 7:28Golda told my mum to never mention
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7:28 - 7:32the Prime Minister of Israel
having a retarded granddaughter. -
7:33 - 7:40Then, we heard more stories
of distinguished and ordinary people -
7:40 - 7:46hiding their children overseas
and in some institute in Israel. -
7:49 - 7:55Inside me, I continued hearing
the sound of my child, -
7:55 - 7:58"My dear father, wake up!
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7:58 - 8:03I'm the hostage in our society,
unable to do anything by my power. -
8:03 - 8:06Will you fight for me?
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8:06 - 8:08Will you change our society?
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8:08 - 8:11Will you give me hope?"
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8:14 - 8:17We decided to fight for him.
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8:17 - 8:20We decided to love him,
never to be ashamed. -
8:22 - 8:26For him, and [others] like him,
we built a village. -
8:26 - 8:30A wonderful place, a paradise.
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8:31 - 8:35No longer isolated in an institution,
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8:35 - 8:38surrounded by walls of silence.
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8:38 - 8:40but rather social community center.
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8:40 - 8:44(Applause)
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8:48 - 8:52A paradise, Utopian society;
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8:52 - 8:56Christian, Muslims, and Jews,
working in full harmony -
8:56 - 8:59to serve children like our loved son,
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8:59 - 9:00(Applause)
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9:02 - 9:03to love them.
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9:05 - 9:07In this village,
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9:07 - 9:12we give them the best housing,
the best education, the best health care, -
9:12 - 9:15the best food, the best clothes,
the best social life, -
9:15 - 9:20culture, music, gardens, any need.
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9:20 - 9:22And in this village,
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9:23 - 9:28we created a new model of acceptance,
a new model of integration. -
9:28 - 9:31How come? By four elements.
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9:31 - 9:33Number one: rehabilitation.
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9:33 - 9:35Number two: education.
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9:35 - 9:37Number three: visits.
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9:37 - 9:39Number four: volunteers.
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9:40 - 9:43The rehabilitation model
is based on every day, -
9:44 - 9:48about 200 outpatients
from the outside community, -
9:49 - 9:53arriving to be treated together
with the most severely disabled children, -
9:53 - 9:59like our loved son,
metaphorically and physically. -
9:59 - 10:04It says that at the same swimming pool
you may find a soldier wounded in battle, -
10:05 - 10:08head of regional
municipality after stroke, -
10:08 - 10:13parliament member after a road accident,
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10:13 - 10:18Down syndrome, Bedouin girl,
and someone like our loved child. -
10:18 - 10:22We give them various kinds
of therapeutic treatment -
10:22 - 10:27like hydrotherapy, physiotherapy,
music therapy, horse riding, -
10:27 - 10:32animal therapy, vocational therapy,
anything, any therapy ever invented. -
10:32 - 10:34We have there.
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10:34 - 10:38The second element: education.
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10:38 - 10:42At the center
of the rehabilitation center, -
10:42 - 10:48we placed ordinary kindergarten
for ordinary kids from age one. -
10:49 - 10:54We teach children from age one
to accept those who are unable, -
10:54 - 10:58those who unprivileged,
the severely disabled. -
10:58 - 11:02We teach them
what is social responsibility -
11:02 - 11:04from age one.
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11:04 - 11:06(Applause)
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11:13 - 11:16The third element: visits.
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11:17 - 11:23Every day, about hundred people
are arriving to visit to see the wonder. -
11:25 - 11:27They are moved, they are excited.
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11:27 - 11:29People from the United States and Europe;
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11:29 - 11:34tourists, high-tech workers,
soldiers, veteran, parents. -
11:34 - 11:37People are arriving and saying,
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11:37 - 11:42"We got a propulsion.
We'll assist you to change our society. -
11:43 - 11:45We are your messengers."
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11:47 - 11:50Number four: volunteers.
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11:51 - 11:54We have more than 400 volunteers.
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11:55 - 11:59Some of them arriving from Germany,
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11:59 - 12:03and this young Christian from Berlin
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12:03 - 12:09saying, " We come for atonement
on the murder of the six million Jews -
12:09 - 12:11in the Second World War;
-
12:11 - 12:15we come for atonement
on Hitler's decision to kill the disabled -
12:15 - 12:18when Second World War started.
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12:19 - 12:20They are saying,
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12:20 - 12:24"No more discrimination. No more racism.
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12:24 - 12:26Human-being is human-being.
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12:26 - 12:31We all equal by our rights,
not equal by our power." -
12:31 - 12:37They are very well integrated
with about 100 Muslims workers, -
12:37 - 12:42Bedouin from the south,
with about 600 Jews, -
12:43 - 12:47to serve the severely disabled children.
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12:48 - 12:52They are saying,
"We are more given than giving. -
12:54 - 12:56We'll assist you to change the world.
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12:56 - 13:00We'll assist you
by being your ambassadors." -
13:03 - 13:08Tonight, exactly tonight, February 6.
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13:09 - 13:15We count ten years
for the passing of our loved child. -
13:17 - 13:19He's not anymore with us.
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13:19 - 13:23He was living for one
wonderful year in the village -
13:23 - 13:26that we built especially for him.
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13:26 - 13:31His spirit spread
to every corner of the village. -
13:31 - 13:35His spirit is here at my heart.
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13:35 - 13:37His spirit is the goodness in our world.
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13:37 - 13:41(Applause)
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13:49 - 13:5114 years ago,
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13:51 - 13:56I left the military as Major General
to build this village, -
13:57 - 14:01to be his mouthpiece;
to change our society; -
14:01 - 14:07for continued fighting for him,
and like him until my last day. -
14:08 - 14:12(Applause)
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14:14 - 14:16A year ago,
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14:16 - 14:20I was decorated by the highest award
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14:20 - 14:23the State of Israel can give to a citizen;
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14:23 - 14:26the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement
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14:27 - 14:28This prize...
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14:28 - 14:31(Applause)
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14:31 - 14:35This price should be given
to him, not to me. -
14:35 - 14:37I am only the messenger.
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14:38 - 14:40He changed me.
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14:40 - 14:46He made me a better human being;
more humble, less selfish, less arrogant. -
14:46 - 14:50If the number of children like him
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14:50 - 14:54is only one per cent
of the worlds population, -
14:54 - 14:58this one per cent
can change the 99 per cent. -
14:59 - 15:05This one per cent can be the teacher
and educator the same as he was for me. -
15:06 - 15:11This one per cent can make the 99 per cent
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15:11 - 15:15more humble, less selfish, less arrogant.
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15:16 - 15:20(Applause)
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15:23 - 15:30The social chain is always
measured by its weakest link. -
15:30 - 15:36The more we do to strengthen this link,
the better and stronger society we are. -
15:38 - 15:39In the military,
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15:39 - 15:44we decorate people and soldiers
for bravery and courage. -
15:45 - 15:46In our social life,
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15:46 - 15:50it seems to me the highest decoration
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15:50 - 15:53a person can be given by the disabled,
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15:53 - 15:58by the one per cent children like him
is the title: 'human being.' -
15:58 - 16:00Thank you.
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16:00 - 16:03(Applause)
- Title:
- The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv
- Description:
-
In a moving lecture that doesn’t leave anyone dry-eyed, Major General (Res.) Doron Almog describes how his son, Eran, the boy who never spoke, who never called him “dad,” who never made eye contact, became the greatest teacher of his life, the boy for whom Maj. Gen. Almog concluded his army service in order to lead the battle of his life – the battle for a better world, to build a Utopian society.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organised by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TEDxTalks
- Duration:
- 16:38
Ellen commented on English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv | ||
Shoko Takaki commented on English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv | ||
Ellen commented on English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv | ||
Ellen edited English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv | ||
Shoko Takaki commented on English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv | ||
Ellen commented on English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv | ||
Ellen edited English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv | ||
Ellen commented on English subtitles for The greatest teacher of my life | Doron Almog | TEDxTelAviv |
Maricene Crus
7:03 - 7:07
Golda Meir was also
a grandmother to my Eran, => a grandmother to Meira
Thank you!
Maricene Crus
7:12 - 7:16
And Meir told the Israeli public => And Meira told...
after Golda passing,
Thank you!
Ellen
English edited 22/06/17
7:03 - 7:07
Golda Meir was also
a grandmother to my Eran, => a grandmother to Meira
7:03 - 7:07
Golda Meir was also
a grandmother to my Eran, => a grandmother to Meira
Ellen
27/10/2017 English edited
6:30.99
"Children like him were ignored, abused, arrested" -> "Children like him were ignored, abused, harassed"
6:52.02
"the one who sent me and my friends to hand down the terrorists" -> "the one who sent me and my friends to hunt down the terrorists"
11:36:53
"We got a proportion. We'll assist you to change our society." -> "We got a propulsion. We'll assist you to change our society."
12:10.77
"we come for atonement on Italy's decision to kill the disabled" -> "we come for atonement on Hitler's decision to kill the disabled"
Shoko Takaki
3:08 - 3:14
I was special force unit commander,
33 years old, Lieutenant Coronel, => 33 years old, Lieutenant Colonel
Ellen
07/07/2017
3:08 typo fixed
Shoko Takaki
9:53 - 9:59
like our loved son, -> like our loved son.
metaphorically and physically. Metaphorically and physically,
Ellen
Comment about 9:53 noted but change not made.
Reason for this: Not an error for a preferential change. his task went through the three-step process and between transcriber, review, approval, it was decided this was the flow of the sentence. Not going to adapt now for a preferential change to the sentence structure.