An academic degree in engineering, a manual job in a vineyard in the first 2 years of emigration from the Ukraine, and the position of the Head of the Employment Department of the Ministry of Absorption with numerous media appearances and work with key figures of the Israeli establishment – this kaleidoscopic experience best explains why Claudia Katz refuses to "round up" human statistics. There's a person's life and family behind every fraction of a number. On her job, she is assisted by Ronit Reuben, and together they make a strong working tandem.

Claudia didn't have the time to go to the Hebrew class after she came to Israel from Western Ukraine in the early 90s. Her academic degree in water purification engineering didn't find her immediate employment, and soon after arrival the married mother of two young kids found herself in the country caught amidst the grim uncertainties of the Gulf War and working a manual job in a vineyard near her home.

"When I decided to look for another job after two years of pruning, shoveling, watering, and what not, I realized I had to try something else, and went to work in an insurance company, where my career was quite successful. Later on I came upon a job ad in one of the newspapers announcing a Head of Employment Department vacancy at the Ministry of Absorption. I submitted my candidature, and was accepted. It was 12 years ago. All of a sudden I was responsible for the employment of immigrant doctors, teachers, scientists, athletes, menial workers, and many other professions", says Claudia.

Looking at the elegant, tall, fashion model-looking lady across the table, I cannot help but admire the determination and the self-confidence, that, no doubt, were the key factors that brought her to the important post she has been holding.

-You have to deal with diverse employment issues. Is there any field that is closer to your heart and mind than any other?

- Basically, helping people find the right employment is a very rewarding. When I write reports, I am asked to round up statistical figures. And I reply that I simply cannot do that, because behind each figure there's the life of a person and his or her family. Of course, those projects that are connected to art and sports are very interesting.

-Do you like figure skating?

-Any person that grew up in the former Soviet Union loves figure skating. It was part of our life, our system. I grew up on it, like everybody else there. I try not to miss watching major figure skating events.

-You've managed to increase the Olympic grant twofold for newcomer athletes. Given the tight budget of our country in any other field and in sports in particular, how were you able to do that?

-We've increased the grant twice since I started working in my position. The second time came last summer, before this Olympic season. It comes from the understanding that immigrants have to be helped more than other sectors of the population.

On the eve of the International Women's Day the next question is unavoidable:

-It's always hard to persuade government officials to provide more funds. Statistically, more than half of them are men. You have your own distinctly feminine and elegant style in clothes – skirts, dresses, blouses. I've never seen you wearing trousers or shirts. Do you use your natural charm at work?

-While working for the insurance company, I was the only female supervisor of the staff. So, I used to hear comments like that: "Claudia is the best looking and smartest female supervisor in our company because she is the only one". Now I'm past such gender divisions and remarks at work and I think that what you are and how you do your work matters most. And as far as style goes, I do prefer skirts to trousers in my daily wear.

 
Apart from Claudia, Ronit Reuben was born and raised in Israel. The two ladies have been working closely together sharing a common vision of what they do and why. The busy mother of four, the eldest of whom is a student, and the youngest is barely 10 years old, Ronit has been able to combine parenthood with the dynamic working environment of the Ministry of Absorption, where she started working as a teenager in 1978, got promoted to management's secretary's position 4 years after, and lately has become  the assistant of  the Head of  the Employment Department of the ministry.

"I'll call you back." We often hear this phrase from many officials, and then… Nothing happens. Until we call again. Not with Ronit Reuben. If there's a problem and I call her, she gets back almost immediately and makes every effort to solve it.

-Ronit, when we began approaching various organizations, asking for help in funding our sport, which is badly underfinanced, your department was the only one that got back to us. What prompted you to reply, to initiate a meeting and then to put a lot of effort into increasing the grant for newcomer athletes?

-The letter was received in our department of Immigrant Employment, Claudia and I had a meeting and decided to come back to you and see if we can help with something.  Figure skating is a sport, where immigrants are in the majority, and assisting immigrants is our main job. Figure skating is also very special.

-We know it, and it's our chance to thank you. At previous meetings, you also told me that you're fond of figure skating. Where did you have a chance to see figure skating performances as the sport began to develop in Israel only in the early 90s?

-I've been watching it on television and was taken in by its beauty from the first time. It's so difficult and sophisticated at the same time.  I always think about how hard skaters have to train to show it. I admire them.