Salt Lake City
In 1985, at the age of 26, Sabrina and the Shemesh family came to America. Coming over for work purposes, Sabrina and her husband got their visa, and settled into their home in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Shemesh's house in Salt Lake City, Utah
Weather in Utah
One of the largest changes from Israel to Utah was the weather. The average temperature in Tel Aviv is 79°F, and there are an average of about 300 sunny days per year. In Salt Lake City, the average temperature is a frigid 52°F, and it can get as cold as around -20°F. This drastic change in climate made it tough for Sabrina and her family to adjust to their new community. “[Israelis] don’t like the cold or the snow”, Sabrina shared when recalling her time in Salt Lake City, which was her first in a colder climate.
Sabrina and her kids, Lior and Nir, in the harsh Salt Lake City Winter
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Community in Utah
Another large change when coming to Salt Lake City was the culture and the community. Utah is not known for its diversity, and this was noticed by Sabrina during her time there. There was a “Very small community of Israelis”, Sabrina noted. She also added that the Mormon community was very prominent in the area, and were always trying to convert others in the area.