It is a profound moment for parents to watch their child speak confidently before thousands of people.
That certainly was the case when Israeli-born Talia and Amos Baruch sat beaming as their 11-year-old son recited his contest-winning essay during a citizenship ceremony last week in Oakland’s Paramount Theatre.
What they didn’t know was that their son was equally as proud of his parents that day — for on Aug. 19, Talia and Amos joined 1,305 people from 103 countries in taking the Oath of Allegiance and becoming U.S. citizens.
As soon as that happened, their 15-year-old Israeli-born daughter, Noam, automatically became an American, too. And because her younger brother, Ido David, and younger sister, Maya, were already citizens (by virtue of being born in the United States), now all five members of the Baruch family are Americans.
It was a moment that had been a long time in the making — ever since Talia, Amos and then-toddler Noam moved from Israel to San Diego. But it didn’t happen until last week because the Baruchs were never quite sure if they were going to stay.
“Every year we said, ‘Next year, we’ll go back [to Israel],’ ” Talia said. “It is almost considered betrayal if you leave the country. I will never say that I won’t go back, but for now we’re here because our life is.”
At the ceremony, six Israelis, including Talia, 43, and Amos, 44, stood as their country was called, then simultaneously recited the oath. Miniature American flags waved in the dimly lit art-deco theater as the crowd boisterously welcomed the new Americans.
“It’s a special occasion to be here,” Amos, a leading researcher with Kai Pharmaceuticals in South San Francisco, said after the ceremony. “We’ve spent the last 12 years of our lives working and living in a new place and acclimating the kids, which was challenging. We feel connected to the United States and today it all came together.”
As if Talia and Amos taking the oath wasn’t momentous enough, Ido David also was selected to read his essay at the ceremony. Some 400 kids from around Northern California wrote on “Why I am glad America is a nation of immigrants,” and Ido David’s piece was one of three chosen.
The Northern California chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association has run the local contest for the past eight years.
Organized into a series of diary entries, his often humorous piece weaved the story of his family’s new life in the United States with cultural observations about Costco selling bread in bulk, arranged play dates and his Israeli heritage.
In the United States, he said, “The kids speak a different language. They talk fast and jumble the ends of words. And they even write in the opposite direction, from left to right. Why can’t they just write in Hebrew, from right to left?”
Afterward, Ido David said the experience was fun. “At first I was nervous,” he said, “but I couldn’t really see anyone because of the lights. Then I saw my parents, and that was cool.”
For a long time the Baruch family debated whether to stay in the Bay Area or return to Israel, where all of their family still resides. They moved from Tel Aviv to San Diego 12 years ago so Amos, a scientist specializing in molecular biology, could continue his postdoctoral work.
Three years later, they moved to San Francisco after UCSF invited Amos to conduct additional research. Talia found work as an account manager, then a year ago started her own creative copywriting firm, Copyous.
They raised their three children speaking both English and Hebrew, and also celebrated all the Jewish holidays. Mom and Dad stay in touch with Israel by tuning into Israeli television and radio on their computer, but that’s not to say they haven’t become entrenched in San Francisco.
“We established a strong community base from our kids’ schools,” Amos said. “The diverse community embraced us. Now our friends are family here.”
Among the long list of requirements to become a U.S. citizen, applicants must be at least 18 and able to read, write, speak and understand ordinary words in English. There’s a 100-question test on American history and politics, in addition to an interview and fingerprinting.
But those obstacles are distant details now, as Talia and Amos move on after what they said was such an important day.
“I’m excited to fill in all the years of living and prospering here,” said Talia, adding that she is more excited about voting than being called for jury duty. “I never felt like America was my country. I was a tourist or a passer-by. This is like a second marriage — it bonds you to a place.”
The Baruchs still try to visit Israel every year, not only to see family and friends but also to enjoy the comforts of their native home. That includes Israel’s white cheese.
“I don’t understand how this doesn’t exist [in the United States],” Talia said with a laugh. “I guarantee if you ask any Israeli in the U.S. a question, the big one is: ‘What can I spread on my bread?’ ”