Creativity is the winner in contest

Some of the contestants and winners in the contest.

Fran Ostendorf

Posted Thursday, January 5, 2017 8:01 am

JEWISH VOICE STAFF

Teens had an opportunity to win tickets to Israel in a contest sponsored by El Al Israel Airlines and the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Participants were asked to respond creatively to the prompt “I love Israel because…”.

Entries included collage, drawings, videos, music, poetry and prose. “We got it all,” said Jana Brenman, who is in charge of the Israel Desk at the Jewish Alliance. “There was a tremendous diversity of work.”

Months ago, El Al Israel Airlines approached the Jewish Alliance to offer a contest to Rhode Island Jewish teens as a means of increasing the teens’ identification with Israel. A committee chaired by Avi Nevel, a community member and businessman, chose the prompt.

A panel of four professional artists judged the submissions from students in grades 9 through 12. The winners were announced in a ceremony Dec. 13 at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC.

Julia Keizler, a junior at Classical High School in Providence, won first prize for her poem. She received two round-trip tickets to Israel on El Al, as well a week at two hotels, one part of the Isrotel chain and one part of the Prima chain.

Ester Kapilevich, a sophomore at the New England Academy of Torah, won second place for her collage. Penina Satlow, a senior at Classical High School, won third place for her poem. Ester and Penina received autographed books from the office of the Consulate General to New England.

See winning entries below.

First place winner Julia Keizler and Paul Dell’Isola of El Al Israel Airlines. Photos | Fran Ostendorf

I love Israel because …

How can someone be in love with a place they have never even been to? How can someone confidently stand up against their peers and defend one of the most controversial countries in the world? How can someone make three separate visits to Capitol Hill to lobby senators and congressman to vote on a bill for a country they have never even had the honor of stepping foot in. I love Israel because, it answers all these questions just by existing.

I love Israel because I have fantasized about stepping off the plane at Ben Gurion airport and feeling the warm sun on my face and the heartwarming feeling of finally being in the Jewish homeland.

I love Israel because I can confidently stand up to my ignorant peers who refer to it as a nation of terrorists and explain to them how that is so far from the truth.

I love Israel because of the brave men and women who give two or more years of their lives to defend the Jewish homeland and ensure a Jewish State for generations to come.

I love Israel because it’s leading the world in technology development and medical research bringing pride to Jews around the world.

I love Israel because on culture day at my public high school I can proudly wave a flag along with my ethnic peers because I too have a country I call home.

I love Israel because it inspires me every day to be resilient.

I love Israel because after the biggest mass genocide in the history of humanity it gives the Jewish people a place to call home.

I love Israel for the blue and white of the flag that originally was meant to represent a prayer shawl but now serves as colors of courage for Jews around the world.

I love Israel because it gives me the strength to be the proud Jewish person I am!

By Julia Keizler