MY ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE
By Adam Kwestel
Six thousand lives, fifteen thousand injuries
Overcome were the enemies
A country’s independence won
The war, anything but fun
Egypt, Jordan and Syria objected to Israel’s goal
We fought them as one nation, as a whole
The fighting lasted six days
All of Israel is in a craze
Israel attacks Egypt’s planes
Trying to break the restricting chains
Other countries limit our say
Israel continues bombing planes the next day
The end of the war Egypt retreating
All of Israel dancing and cheering
Israel is now its own state
They are free to decide their fate
The jewish people constantly fighting
Displayed in the books of torah writing
Even though many situations look frail
The Israelites always prevail
ISRAEL
By Amanda Schwartz
Never before have I been there,
The place that has stood for sixty years.
As a people, we have encountered ups and downs,
And our spirits have been tampered with.
Yet here we are, still standing,
Since 1948, when we were victorious
And won our Jewish state.
The only piece of land that Jews can truly call their home.
She is full of culture and pride
And has had many great heroes,
David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Menachem Begin,
And every unknown soldier that has ever died.
Our brave and devoted
Tzahal
Has battled in countless wars,
The War of Independence, the Six Day War, the Lebanon War,
And the ongoing war
Against terrorism.
The sirens wail.
Cries are heard.
The world is spinning
And is
Blurred with tears.
Why are the Jewish People the target?
Everyday we must look to God
To give us the strength
To deal with our enemies
Who spill the innocent blood of our people.
We must have hope and faith
For without them
We are lost.
The Jewish star.
A symbol of our nation,
Has been
Cut
Bruised
And scarred.
Through all the years
THE SECRET HEART OF EVERY JEW
By Aviva Mendelsohn
She walked down the street
With fear in her eyes,
What was in her heart
She would have to disguise.
If she let someone knew
How often she wept,
They would find out
The secret she’s kept.
She was a Jew
Deep down inside,
But that secret
She had to hide.
In 1948
She was finally free,
To live her own life
In her own country.
The pain she had felt
Will not fade away,
Forever in her heart
Her memories will stay.
ISRAEL OF TOMORROW
By Esti Routhenstein
Such sorrow you’ve seen,
Many tears you’ve shed.
For sixty years,
You’ve been strong of head.
The losses you suffered,
You’ve conquered them all.
Lives lost; bodies strewn,
Israel, you are our boon.
Children are gone,
We shall not soon forget.
The mothers whose hearts,
Have been torn by the threat.
Perhaps in the future,
Peace is our goal.
And wash away the sorrow,
Then Israel will be whole.
THE PROMISE LAND
By Dini Relkin
This land is our land forever
This land I will always remember
My family is there
Oh Israel, the land so fair
The connection I have with Israel is so strong
It will stay in my memories all along
I love it so dear
My love is so sincere
I have been there so many times
It usually makes me cry
The Kotel is so holy
It makes me want to daven so slowly
Mearat hamachpelah is where our fathers and mothers have died
There is where we cry
Even though our country is so small
We have many special and holy places like the Wailing Wall.
I think about our country every day
Israel etched in my mind, forever to stay
ISRAEL
By Rayna Landa
When I think of Israel,
I get really happy.
I think of Jerusalem-
the very beautiful Kotel
and everything inside the city.
From the Dead Sea to Masada’s sunrise
they’re both so electrifying, I can’t decide.
When I think of Israel,
I think of Eilat,
from your sandy beaches
to your relaxing sun
I can’t choose
between either one.
When I think of Israel,
my heart starts to beat,
through the amazing Tel Aviv streets.
All the places, they’re so much fun
I can’t wait to see each and every one!
MY ISRAEL | ISRAEL AT SIXTY
By Leora Golan
I wake up in Israel and spot Aba wrapping his Tifilin slowly up his arm.
He prays for his family as so many Jews are doing at this very moment.
In Israel I wake with a warm sun and always see so many people just like me.
Everyone is celebrating, as it is another holiday to share with my Israeli family.
Back in America, I imagine people dancing in the streets all over Israel.
They celebrate Israel’s sixtieth birthday with dancing and singing.
Blue and white flags are waving and faces are proud. Everyone joins in and no one is left out.
I can’t wait to go back to Israel and to my large family there.
There where everyone is like me, where I can feel that I am Jewish with every step I take.
There where I can celebrate the honor of being in a true Jewish girl in a homeland of peace.
Before I go to Shul, I put on my long skirt, my shirt, my tights, my warm coat, and I make sure to help my Sister and Brother ready themselves while Aba clips his belt and ties his shoes.
When we are all ready, we take the long walk to the Shul.
When I am there, I can go in and learn and teach my young Brother the Parasha
so that we can all be better Jews.
I love when the people throw candy in celebration, as it makes the Shabbat so sweet.
At home Ema finishes preparing the beautiful Shabbat table.
I think about the yummy Moroccan Chulent that she has made.
The whole house smells of cooking on Shabbat morning, and I look forward to a day that I can relax, be with my family, as so many Jewish people do.
To celebrate Sixty years of Israel, you have to love Israel. You have to be proud of being a Jew.
I could not be more proud to call myself a Jew than I am today.
When I wake up in America and see the warm sun shining through my window, I know that it is the same sun that warms me in Israel, and I feel good knowing that one day soon
I will be in Israel again.
ISRAEL
By Emanuel Levin
Relax
at the sandy beaches
go to
the lakes of gilgal
daven
At the Kotel of Jerusalem
float
in the salty sea
pray
at Marat Hamachpelat
take
a walk through Tel Aviv
happy
People visit the places in
Israel
ISRAEL
By Sophia Friedman
When I think of Israel
I think of beautiful fantastic places
Like davening at the Kotel
Taking Dead Sea mud baths
Aaah….
Visiting Ma’arat Hamachpelah
Hiking up Masada
All these things are so much fun
You’ll never want to go back home.
ISRAEL
By Ariella Shua
Migdal David, Kever Rachel
The Yam Soof, Kinneret
Galil, Masada
Miarat Hamachpaelah
Kibbutzim, The Kotel
The Negev Desert
The Dead Sea
Haifa, Eilat, Jerusalem
Add Chevron and Israel is made.
IN ISRAEL
By Orly Mobilio
In Israel there are
Haifa,
Tel Aviv,
Kinneret
and Beit Lechem.
In Israel there are
Eilat,
Jerusalem,
Galil
and Chevron.
In Israel there are
Kibbutzim,
the Miarat haMachpela,
the Negev,
the yam soof
and the Kotel,
These are the places of Israel
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
By Gabriel Dardik
Israel is special. Muslims, Asians, Bedouins, Jews, and Arabs get along. Well, at least most of the time.
Israel is like a bonding station. People come and go forming bonds and friendships on the way. The people of Israel are one big family. They’re strong, brave, tolerant, and prepared for everything. They must be united, otherwise Israel would tear apart.
In Israel the people, white or black, Arabic or Jewish, religious or not, should come to love each other. I believe that Israel is just the beacon, that one day everyone, everywhere, will love each other.
STILL STANDING TALL
By Alex Mendelsohn
Sixty long years
With many tears
And after it all
Israel’s still standing tall
Even with all the nations at Israel’s feet
The Israeli army just can’t be beat
Although they are very small
They just give it their all
And all other nations are bound to fall
Israel was ours from the very beginning
That is why our army is always winning
I don’t know why they want it so
But we must never let it go
HOPE
By Andrew Eichen
We hear the cries of Israel in our hearts and in our souls,
We understand their fight for survival demands many tolls.
We hear the sound of Jews dieing one by one,
But we will not stop fighting for our land until the job is done.
We all stand united in our love of Eretz Yisrael,
Supporting our Israeli brethren in their struggle so they don’t fail.
We think about them through our lives each and every day,
They are very important to us especially when we pray.
We pray that Moshiach comes so we are all united in the end,
And when he comes, life will be better and everything will mend.
ISRAEL
By Kurt Moskovitz
Israel our one homeland,
Whose Mountains and rivers are so grand.
Israel we are fighting for you,
because G-d made you the land for a Jew.
Even though there are many people who protect,
In your history there have been more who wreck.
Wars have been fought some battles have been won,
And many other things have been done.
To create peace of some sort,
Through war, a treaty, or a court.
Still we have had Israel for sixty years,
So today should be a day without any tears
A PLACE WHERE THERE’S A FACE OF ISRAEL
By David Zuckerman
Going to a place that everybody loves,
Watching people at the Kotel,
Seeing many soldiers and Chassidim,
Black hats and uniforms is what I see,
I look up and see the beautiful sky,
Breathing the air of Jerusalem is what is wanted,
Walking around watching the Mediterranean Sea flow,
Seeing fish, sharks and dolphins roam,
Going to Eilat where you can see children at the beach,
Playing a game of volleyball, watching them dive into the sand,
There is a favorite food people like to eat,
Falafel is the best choice, with your favorite topping on it,
I still watch Muslims, Jews, Christians, rabbis, and soldiers,
Joining in the gathering in the land of Israel
EIN GEDI
By Aaron Buechler
Ein Gedi is an amazing place
Its beauty puts a smile on your face
Ein Gedi has such a great atmosphere
You get drawn into the nature and forget your fear
The water flows
That’s how the scenery of Israel grows
As you plunge under the waterfall
Life is like a free for all
The ibex run loose and free
Oh what a sight they are to see
The rock hyrax like to sit out in the sun
To them this is considered fun
The mountains jut into the sky
Make it that much harder to say good-bye
The young children play
All you can think about is wanting to stay
ISRAEL
By Elizabeth Rubin
Israel, the land of milk and honey.
The place I call my home.
The home of my nation
A country all along
Israel, a land of tears and joy
A place of holiness and blessing.
No one knows what to expect,
A country that keeps us guessing.
Israel, a land of war and peace
A place of fears and dreams.
Mercaz Harav, Yerushalayim,
A country where nothing is as it seems.
ISRAEL
By Ayala Tammam
She felt people staring
The only thing she could do
Is put on her face of caring
And look like a Jew
She walked to the kotel
Took out her siddur
And praised Hashem
That everything would get better
She needs her two brothers
They’re fighting in war
They told me they would be home
Oh, they swore
We got a phone call
On this day
That they wouldn’t be coming home
Our hearts are empty and astray
I pray everyday
That they are watching me
Oh I miss them so much
We were the three
I walk the streets
No one has a clue
Tear drops fall
Oh my heart feels so small
TRAGEDIES OF ISRAEL
By Joseph Kotzker
Oh Israel, your tragedies know no ends.
Your rivers flow with the blood of your slain,
And the Palestinians make no amends.
Gunfire rings in your settlements,
Death lingers in the air.
Innocent children’s lives are lost,
While the world continues to stare.
When will all this end, I wonder,
When will this war cease?
When will endless death and bloodshed,
Finally give way to peace?
IN ISRAEL THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY
By Ari Slonim
A little girl walks down a street,
Looking at all the people on the concrete.
Tears welling in her eyes,
Trying not to listen to all the cries.
All she wants is her mom and dad,
Thinking of this makes her sad.
Her parents came to pick her up from school as a surprise,
While a man walked in a busy street wearing a disguise.
The little girl and her parents were walking down that street,
When the man stood up without a beat.
The girl told him to stop,
But the man in the disguise did not.
Just before it stared to rain,
The street burst up in flames.
In Israel this happens every day,
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
That little girl who walks the street,
No longer runs with happy feet.
Prayers to Hashem we do say
Trying to find peace every day!
HOW DOES MUSIC UNITE US AS ONE NATION?
By Alex Carmeli
All over the world there are many ways to connect to the Jewish religion. Music is one way to connect to Judaism because it show how much compassion we have toward our religion. Over the course of history Jews are always united through song on occasions of happiness and sorrow.
We see that even at the worst times in history the Jews will use song to get through hard times and experiences. During the Holocaust when thousands of people marched to the gas chambers they filled the streets and chambers with song and hope. They chanted “Am Yisroel Chai” the nation of Israel lives! Throughout the entire duration of simchas we see how people rejoice with music and dancing, whether it be at a bat mitzvah or a wedding. We also see song was used to celebrate when Moses led the Jews across the Red Sea, out of Egypt and on to freedom.
From this we see how whether the Jews are rejoicing or mourning we will always stand united as and “Am Yisroel Chai”.
ILAN RAMON
By Danielle Rabinowitz
A hero is someone who is brave, strong, and a risk-taker. A hero of Israel is someone who did or does something to help the country Israel. The name of my hero of Israel is Ilan Ramon.
Ilan Ramon was born on June 20, 1954 in Ramat Gan, Israel. He died when his space shuttle exploded on February 1st, 2003 (age 48) over Texas. Ilan was the first Israeli astronaut to be in outer space. When he was in an interview he said he feels that he’s representing all Jews and Israelis. Ilan was also the first spaceflight participant to request kosher food.
I chose Ilan Ramon because he was a brave man and he was the first Jewish Israeli to go to outer space. He is a hero because he was brave enough to do something first, while other people might be too sacred.
ISRAELI HERO ESSAY
By Emily Weissman
A hero is a person who is brave, courageous, and smart, a hero also helps people when they are in distress or in need. An Israeli hero is someone who is not afraid to fight for their state or country. The hero that I chose is Golda Meir.
Golda Meir was born in 1898 in Kiev which was in the Russian Ukraine. She died in Hadassah Hospital on December 8, 1978. During her lifetime Golda Meir was a hero for many reasons. She traveled to America and raised over $50 million for the Israeli War of Independence, she became Israel’s ambassador to the Soviet Union, and last but not least she was the Prime Minister of Israel.
I chose this person to be my Israeli hero because I have heard a lot about her and I wanted to find out more about her. Golda Meir is a hero of Israel because she tried hard to raise money for Israel and she was a foreign Minister until 1966 and then became the fourth Prime Minister of the state of Israel. Golda Meir was the architect of Israel’s attempt to make bridges to the emerging countries of Africa via an assistance program based on the Israeli experience in the nation building. She was also the head of the Histadrut Political Department.
MY BEST TRAVEL PARTNER
By Tali Zeldin
Israel is my favorite lady because she has such exciting and historic stories to tell and interesting experiences to share with us. Although very ancient she admits to being 60 on this next birthday. I want to celebrate by learning more about her and meeting people who live in her land. We can explore so much together. I have seen her pictures in lots of books but want to go with her to see her favorite places, her birth places (the places of the Torah) and her life today. For example, I know we want to go snorkeling in Eilat, see the Chagall windows at Hadassah Hospital, and see the painting “Loneliness” at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. I want to daven with her in the Conegliano Veneto Synagogue and see the beautiful Aron Kodesh. I would like to feel the salty water on my skin as I float in Yam Hamelach. Another place I want to go to is the Negev desert, to feel the soft sand on our feet. And I want to travel with her to Me’arat Keshet which is a cave without a roof and a bridge in the air that has a great view. I know she will always be my best travel partner.
ISRAEL AT 60!
By Gabriel Maron
Wow! I can’t believe Israel is almost 60! I wish I could go to Tiberias where there’s a beach. I would play in the rocks and go in the Kinneret to relax. The beach at the Kinneret is different than the beach in New York. In New York, when you go to the beach you walk on hot sand. It’s softer than the rocks in the Kinneret. It’s easier to roll and do things on the sand. But, in the Kinneret you can collect interesting rocks. A good think about the Kinneret is that the water isn’t salty. It’s also good because it won’t hurt if you open your eyes under water. When I get tired of swimming, I would go to downtown Tiberias and go bowling. In Israel everything is in Hebrew so the signs and scores at the bowling alley would be in Hebrew. After I go bowling I would go to a pizza store and try new foods.
When I am in Tiberias I would also visit my Grandfather who is an archaeologist and help him dig. We may find fossils, pottery, gold, statues and buildings. I think it’s special because those things were used thousands of years ago. People lived in Israel thousands of years ago. Israel is the Jewish people’s home because Hashem gave us Israel.
ISRAEL IS SO COOL
By Alyssa Bloomberg
If I were to visit Israel on its 60th birthday, I would go everywhere! First I would eat at the kosher McDonalds at the airport and then I would go up north to Kibbutz Lavi. Breakfast is delicious there. I really like the pancakes with chocolate spread and the yogurt. I would visit the cows, play on the playground and if it was the right time of year, I would go to the fields to pick my own lulav and etrog.
After leaving Lavi, I would go on an ATV across the Galil and swim in the Kinneret. I would eat falafel for lunch at the Bedouin village. After dressing up as a Bedouin, I would go for a ride on a donkey. I would also want to visit Haifa because I hear it is beautiful.
I would then go south and spend the day on the beach in Tel Aviv. I would buy fruit and candy at the outdoor market, Shuk HaCarmel. Then I would travel further south to Chevron and go to Maarat Hamachpelah where Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov are buried. I would doven at Kever Rochel.
If I went to Israel, I would want to go to Masada and hear about what happened to the last Jews there. I would go to the Dead Sea and cover myself with the special mud. I would not go into the water because it burns. Maybe I would go for a camel ride in the desert or go to Eilat to swim with the fish.
I am lucky because I got to go to Israel and do many of these things. Israel is so cool because it is the Jewish homeland and full of our history, but it is also lots of fun and very modern. I would love to go back.
I AM A SABRA
By Dov Levitan
Israel is special because a lot of famous ancestors like Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov lived there. I was also born in Netanyah in Israel and lived in Zichron Yaakov. I am a Sabra! Israel inspires me because Hashem chose that land to be the home of the Jewish people. Israel also inspires me because at the Caesarea beach you can pretend to be like an archaeologist and search for history like pottery, roman glass and mosaics. My family tries to go to Israel at least once a year.
I FEEL LIKE I AM HOME
By Zachary Israeli
Israel is my homeland. I love it a lot. I’m going to explain why. My Saba moved to Israel in 1920. Back then it was called Palestine. They lived in a tent on Rehov King George. Now the same spot is a big apartment building. They ate grass soup. In 1948 my Saba fought in the War of Independence. Then it was named Israel.
My favorite place in Israel is Ein Gedi. Its great place to swim and relax. You can also go to Haifa. That’s where the sea port is. The tank museum in latrun is also a great place to visit. Historical tanks from all of Israel wars are stored there. When I climbed thru the tank I imagined I was a soldier in the Israeli army fighting for my homeland.
I am in the west but my heart is in the east. When I visit Israel I feel like I am home.
THE PLACES OF ISRAEL
By Esther Wagner
If I could go any place in Israel I would go to the Dead Sea with my family because I like to float.
NJJN Photo 2
In the Dead Sea there is a special rock that has a special type of mud on it. You can rub the mud on your body to make your skin smooth. It is fun to float in a sea with no sharks or fish so you can go very far back without drowning. You should be careful not to get the Dead Sea water in your eyes. It would sting your eyes very badly because there is a lot of salt in the Dead Sea. The reason why there are no sea creatures is because of the salt. There are so many layers of salt that all the animals died because the salt is very thick in the sea. It is very hot there. I met two friends there. I would love to go there again, make new friends and float with my brother far back in the sea. I want to put the mud on my skin and take pictures of myself and my family. The Dead Sea is where I want to be with my family and friends.
ISRAEL
By Melissa Braverman
Israel needs peace,
no more wars,
no more hatred,
I wish for love in Israel.
All the people that lost their children,
mothers, fathers, husbands and wives,
will soon be happy,
because peace will come with Moshiach,
and the soldiers will come home safely.
At least we will be as a nation,
in our home land.
(picture of Israeli flag)
Israel,
I love it,
And I always will.
WHEN I THINK OF ISRAEL
By Elana Israeli
When I think of Israel I think of ….
Majestic Jerusalem,
gorgeous Eilat,
beautiful Haifa,
amazing Tel Aviv,
tall Masada,
salty Dead Sea,
interesting Hebron,
awesome Beit Shemesh,
These are the most fascinating places in Israel
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