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= = ="Home Sweet Home" = = =

Rationale for research paper:
When I first heard about Olim al Madim I immediately thought about my living in Florida for three years when I was young and my difficulties to Israel returning and re-acclimating to the Israeli school system. This gave me a small insight into the larger picture of how immigrants struggle when coming to Israel. I was fortunate to be returning to my home, with both sets of grandparents nearby and parents who lived here and speak Hebrew. But I forgot my Hebrew, didn’t understand what the teacher was saying nor did I feel that she wanted to make extra efforts on my behalf. How hard it must be if every member of an immigrant family felt as I did, with parents who have not yet mastered Hebrew, who have no family nearby and whose parents still need to find work. Wow! The thought of that is so overwhelming. And yet, as I look around me, I see so many immigrants come here because they wanted to live a more meaningful life. For those 18- 26 year olds who come entirely alone to serve in the IDF, leaving behind their families, schooling and job opportunities to be part of the Israeli army is a remarkable idea.Due to this fact I decided to really look in to what ‘Olim al Madim' is and how we can help them so that they will not feel like I did when I came to Israel in 3rd grade. = = =Reaserch Paper=

** "But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor and help them" ** ** (Joshua 1,14) **

What is so special about Nefesh B'nefesh that changes people’s lives?

While the world seems to be attacking Israel like never before, there are young adults who are investing their future with the State of Israel, coming alone and without family support to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Lone soldiers are young Jewish men and women from all over the world who come alone to Israel as new Olim, and who serve in the IDF. Unlike young Israelis, these soldiers do not have families nearby who can comfort and advise them during this challenging time in their lives. Clearly, these individuals who make Aliyah alone and volunteer to join the IDF are truly special people. Every year Nefesh B’Nefesh assists approximately 400 lone soldiers to make Aliyah and complete their 3 year army service. By the end of 2011, Nefesh B’Nefesh will have brought over 30,000 Olim to Israel, among them 2,000 IDF lone soldiers (Chayalim Bodedim), all of whom are bringing their skills and love for Israel, to help the country become all it can be.

Aside from finding the lone soldiers adoptive families for Shabbat and Chagim, NBN makes sure that they are taken care of much in the way their mothers would look after them. They are in constant contact with the soldiers, speaking with high ranking IDF officers on their behalf, keeping an open line with their families abroad, sending packages, organizing fun social events and providing them with grants. Naturally, NBN is with them if G-d forbid, they are injured or hospitalized.

I am very connected to this Nefesh B’Nefesh program, as my mother was the first employee of the organization back when it started in Boca Raton in 2002, during my family’s shlichut. She was very involved in creating this special program as my father was a lone soldier and served for more than 5 years in the army. It was important to her that the young Olim soldiers coming now, have better conditions than my father had. When she was building the program she asked my father what was most difficult for him during his time as a lone soldier and he said that not having family here to go home to and to join him at his army ceremonies, was a very lonely feeling. He recalled that often on Saturday nights when his Israeli friends went out to town, he looked for a Laundromat; when his friends came back to base with home baked treats, he would come empty handed. It was difficult to scramble for a place for Shabbat and on more than one occasion fell asleep on the last bus to Jerusalem, only to have to go to a hotel to eat and promise to pay after Shabbat. Twice he was awarded outstanding soldier (chayal miztayen and chanich mofet) and no family was there to see him receive the awards. He said "it ‘built character’ for me, although many lone soldiers found it to be to difficult, and decided to leave Israel".

Nefesh B'Nefesh has been the ‘mother and father’ close to 2,000 chayalim bodedim and their help is ongoing for more than 3.5 years. From the moment the person shows interest in joining the IDF, Nefesh B’Nefesh staff flies out to meet with them and with the family. They even have contacts in the army to help each person with the process and to fast track them into the units they hope to join. They then organize a charter flight full of soon to be lone soldiers which gives the Olim a chance to connect to one another and to become friends. The flight is greeted by Ministers of Government; last year, President Shimon Peres personally shook the hand of every Oleh soldier as they came off the plane. The celebration at the airport continued with a mini concert by Ramie Klein stein, dancing and singing together with Israeli soldiers who greeted them with flags and flowers. This gave them a wonderful feeling that their contribution is so appreciated by Israelis. In order to include the parents back in North America and to show American Jews what these kids are doing, Nefesh B'Nefesh arranged a web cast so that when the flight landed, their families could watch each person disembark and see the celebration for them as they took place. This helps the parents feel involved in the important choice their child made.

Once the chayalim bodedim are in the army, Nefesh B’Nefesh sends those packages, sets them up with buddy families for Shabbat and Chagim, organizes social events for them to meet up with each other and with Israelis, goes to their ceremonies and is there for them completely during their army service. Nefesh also helps them get ready for university when they are finishing their service and helps them find jobs as well.

By leaving their lives and opportunities abroad behind, the lone soldiers are making a statement that serving in the Israeli army and living in Israel allows them to be part of something greater than themselves. Nefesh B’Nefesh works hard to take care of these modern day heroes as they dedicate themselves to protecting our country.



= = =Rationale for profile: =

At the beginning of this assignment, it seemed clear to me that I need to interview an individual who has dedicated much time, energy and efforts towards helping the less <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">fortunate, those <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">whose life circumstances require them to be supported and buttressed by others. Until that point, my impression of charity was ‘kindness to others whose life circumstances are challenging’. The blessings seemed to me clear- you help someone else and you thank G-d all that much more for sparing you these challenges. What I surprisingly discovered is that my basic understanding of charity was inaccurate and my discussion with Simone Shiran taught me far more than I anticipated.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Before narrowing down my options as to who to interview, I had decided that I wanted to find someone who I can relate to; someone who can teach me how to infuse doing acts of kindness into my life, weaving it into my routine so that I do not become overwhelmed but rather appreciative of G-d’s kindness to me.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Simone Shiran immediately came to mind when thinking of this role model; A mother of 6 and a young grandmother, a school principal who was once my sister’s teacher, soft spoken always with a smile, and who lives right nearby. When I called her to explain my assignment, she seemed taken aback when I thought of her as a role model for someone who is involved in charity. In fact, she was not just taken aback, she was completely surprised. ‘But I don’t really do charity. I mean I never think about my involvement with converts as charity. I get so much more from them than the chicken and potatoes that I offer to them during our Shabbat meals together.” She was hesitant at first, but offered to share her thoughts with me about converts and her involvement with them. It was clear from the beginning, that charity is a two way street. Therefore, while our discussion focused upon the converts struggles in their journey towards becoming Jit also emphasized how much Simone and her family received while witnessing and sharing in the process.

= = = = =<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Profile - <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Interview with Simone Shiran =

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Many times people say that conversion for marital reasons is a lower level of conversion. However, Simone Shiran thinks it is actually a way of saving the life of a Jew and tells this remarkable story as proof. “My own paternal grandfather was an assimilated Jew who met my grandmother. Only at age 40, did she stand in front of a Bet Bin, dipped in a ritual bath (mikve), and received a name, Chana Bat Sarah. She was renamed as a Jew and her experience going to a ritual bath as a new Jew, is like rebirth. The fact that she converted and married my grandfather ensuring that their children were not only Jewish but observant, is why I think she saved him as a Jew. Until that time, he was disconnected jewishly and it was she who reconnected him to his past and reshaped his future. So I really don’t see conversion for marital reasons as negative- it is actually saving a Jewish soul in Israel.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">She goes on to say, “This process requires tremendous effort and devotion, not something to be taken for granted. Here we have her christening certificate, then her confirmation certificate and then when she takes a different turn in life, and becomes reborn as a Jew in England. I am holding my family’s history in my living room in Israel.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Simone continued to share how she became involved with those interested in converting. “When I was young and still in England, my mom connected me to a few women who were interested in possibly converting. I became friends with them, helped to mentor them, seeing them through their rebirth as Jews. In college, I even became friends with a nun who changed her course in life and became a Jew. Because my own grandmother was a convert, I connected to this idea.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This spark continued beyond Simone’s experiences in her college in London while still single. When her daughter, Avigail was in 7th grade, she came home and said ‘we come from a family of converts, let’s have girls who want to convert in our home. My young daughter felt connected to it as I did and so it became our family thing.’

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Simone went on to share some remarkable stories of some of the converts that were adoptive family to the Shirans. Daniela Shira is the granddaughter of Mexico’s Minister of Education, from catholic descent, who met someone with an Israeli name in the University of Mexico. She wanted to get married but he said, “We can’t get married unless you are Jewish”. He is not observant at all, his parents are even communists. So she said to him, “then why do you care?” He said, “I don’t know why, but I do”. So she said to him, “Let’s learn about what Judaism is together”. Daniela and her Jewish boyfriend came here and they learned together. Simone said that they started to live a life of Halacha. “They became very close to us. After the conversion, they lived here- it was very emotional and everyone was on a high. After the ritual dipping, you become a regular Jew. And all that investment of energy, wow, very emotional, like being born again. It is about a person who takes upon himself from his free will, to become a Jew. And it all began because of her desire for them both to learn about Judaism. And now they are both halachik Jews. “You see”, continued Simone, “we decided to have them for meals and for shabbatot- we give them some chicken and rice. And look what they give our children, our family. It’s all about values and people who choose Judaism after living completely different lives. This is the real education- its teaching your children something that is hard to put into words but that they can learn from watching, from listening, from witnessing, and from being a part of their process. What an amazing opportunity for our children to learn and to love being Jewish.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Simone made a big sigh and there was a pause before she went on to share her next story.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“We had another convert who became part of our family- Mariano- Meir Ben Sarah, what a sweet person from a fishing village in southern Chile. He came here through his girlfriend. He came to learn, his journey was not easy and while he was here he started getting headaches which unfortunately was brain cancer. Towards the end of his life I had a conversation with him. I asked him, ‘How are you?’ and he said ‘not so good’. So I said to him, ‘look what kind of a journey you have made.’ What he said moved me then and still moves me to this very day. In a weak voice he said ‘Apparently I had to die as a Jew.’

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">“<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Every time I think of Meir Ben Sarah, I think of what he gave us, how much their unbelievable stories teach us. How hard it is, how difficult it is to separate from family, from your belief system until that time and begin a new soul as a Jew. Not everyone can undertake this type of a journey and those who do, are special and to be commended. That is why I think it’s an honor to marry someone like this, to have them as our guests. And it doesn’t seem like charity to me because it’s amazing and we get so much from it. These people come into our lives for a reason.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">When I asked Simone if they ever asked questions that were challenging to them, Simone said” A lot of times, we have had to open books together to learn something together. In fact, one time, we had a question and we asked Daniela a halachik question on ‘muktze’- because she was so learned!”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Many of the converts who came to the Shirans were from South and Central America and from 'zera Anusim'- descendants of 'Marranos' originating from Spain.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“One time someone came to me from Mexico who was so obsessive about being Jewish, whose family had suffered as a result of their being from Jewish ancestry. He said to me why do you not see me as a Jew- why can’t I touch your wine, dance with the Torah? He was very hurt that the Rabbanut didn’t see him as a Jew when he felt so strongly Jewish. We hugged him and saw him through this and in time he converted and became a halachik Jew.”

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">Another girl was named Ayelet Hashachar from birth even though she wasn’t born Jewish! Can you imagine such a name in Mexico! Simone said “Ayelets father loved tehillim, and they were from Anusim, so he called her Ayelet Hashachar, and in their mindset, they believed that they were Jewish. They kept three mitzvoth strictly- ‘Peah’,’ Kiddush’ and’ Matzos’. So she grew up, researched the subject, and dedicated her doctorate to this subject. As an adult, she went to the registrar in Mexico and researched her own family from 400 years earlier-the family name was Corona which originated from the Jewish High Priests. But because they were from Anusim, they were used to living two lives. To the world they acted like they were non Jews but at home they kept Judaism as they knew it. She eventually came to the understanding that she needed to undergo a conversion process, though not all Anusim understand the need.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Simone’s face lights up when she speaks about Ayelet Hashachar’s journey. “She came to us for the ‘Seder’ and when they got to ‘Dayenu’, Ayelet said this song ‘summarizes my situation.’

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“We recited the Dayenu with all the levels of frustration and struggles of becoming Jewish. Ayelet said it was her wish that by next Pesach she wanted to go to the Seder as a Jew and eat from ritual sacrificial lamb of Pesach as a Jew. In the end, she converted on the eve of Shavuot and did in fact join our next Seder as a Jew!”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Simone says that perhaps the greatest blessing that the converts gave her was that they taught them the meaning of faith. “If God wants this from us, then so it will be, is the way many converts feel. You think you give and give but really you get so much from being a part of their lives. Maybe that’s the secret of charity.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Simone continued by saying that the message in being involved with converts is that everyone has something to give to them, to help them, to embrace them through the journey. “They should look around and see what he can give and that will be his personal calling. Just like G-d gives to us so much unconditionally, we too have to give to them. Because nothing is really ours at the end of the day and so if we give and give, we get and get. It’s a balance. This was a big part of my life- part of it without my realizing it- I didn’t understand why I was drawn to this and why I was doing what I was doing when I was younger, and then as I got older, I learned so much about myself. My grandmother, Chana Sarah, said to me, I promised my husband that my children and grandchildren will grow up as observant and ‘orthodox Jews. It was in her will!”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The whole story with converts began with my grandmother who converted in 1939 in Germany, when there was so much hatred towards Jews and especially in Germany. She herself was blond, blue eyed and ultimately converted in Brussels Belgium, because at that time it was not easy to convert in Germany. Three generations later and it is Chana Sarah’s granddaughter who is attempting to ease the journey for other converts. As a 7th generation Israeli, Simone’s husband Eli is her partner in the process as are her children.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“When you asked me about charity- I don’t see myself as someone who does charity. Charity is a ‘middah’ of God- Hashem wants us to do the right thing, to live the right way. As a school principal Simone often tell her teachers that to teach young minds how to live the right way, as G-d wants us to do, is the ultimate charity. These are middot of G-d and everything that G-d does, we need to try to imitate. Loving the convert is another such wonderful opportunity to enrich their lives while strengthening ours.



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Simone’s grandmothers convert papers = = = = =<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Rationale Personal Connection for “What Israel Means to Me”. =

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Growing up in a family where Israel is always at the forefront of our discussions ok amongst ourselves as well as with others, I believe that this project is tailor made for me. Ever since I was born, our home has been filled with students, teenagers and senior citizens, who made their way to Israel to study in my father’s program which shared with them the beauty of Judaism and infused in them with a love for Israel at the same time. People are naturally curious why our family lives a religious orthodox lifestyle and why we chose to move to Israel so I became used to hearing their questions and seeing them fall in love with Israel from the moment they landed. They would pay attention to the discussions between my siblings and me, sometimes in Hebrew, sometimes in English and it fascinated them. Here are Americans having political discussions in Hebrew and a moment later talking pop culture in English. It completely fascinated them.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Fast forward a few years and my family found itself in Boca Raton for a three year shlichut for my father’s role in working with the alumni of this program. Just at that time, the building blocks for Nefesh B’Nefesh were being created. My mother and Rabbi Fass, sitting across a broken folding table in the spare room of his house, founded Nefesh Benefesh whose mission is to help people make their Aliyah dream come true. So, as tradition goes, the discussions about Israel, the passion about wanting to live here, the desire of people to ‘return home’ filled the air all around me through my parent's jobs and around our Shabbat table. This assignment seems a natural step for me to directly connect with people who have made Aliyah, to uncover for myself the reason for each person’s decision to change their lives and make the move to Israel.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Israel has many different cultures due to the many different people in Israel. In Israel there are Moroccans, Yemenites, Americans, French, Israeli’s and many more but the one quality that combines everyone is that we are all Jews, living in a Jewish state.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">In addition to the different cultures, Israel is a very ancient land, from the times of the bible with more sites being uncovered regularly by archeologists all the time. Jews feel connected to their ancient homeland and hiking for leisure is a common activity that Israelis undertake. Another unique quality that is so special in our country is the obligation and commitment every teenager undertakes to defend our country. Every teenager who completed high school contributes to the State of Israel by joining the Israel Defense Forces or doing National Service. Whereas in other countries, 18 year olds head off to college to develop themselves, Israelis leave home to undertake extremely challenging tasks as they prepare to fight in Israel’s army and to protect the nation as a whole. Given that Israel is regularly under attack, every Israeli grows up understanding that protecting the nation means protecting their families and their home front.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">This makes Israel so special for me that I would never, even for an instant decide to move to a different country. I love Israel and I thank G-d every day for letting me live in Israel safe and happy.

=<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Personal Connection - Video Clip =

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">My video will express the beauty of Israel, the many faces of this country all showing how lucky we are to have this as our home, the Land of Israel.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">One of the pictures that are in the video describes my married sister and brother and law, sitting in their new apartment, wearing their army uniforms. While teenagers in other countries are warring about them self and there big questions are to which college they should go to, Israeli teenagers are warring about protecting the state of Israel and the Jewish people as well. Each family in the state of Israel feels connected to the Israeli army because after all they have family members that are part of it and that are risking their lives to save another live. Knowing that the people who love me are the people who protect me. in addition to this picture I put as well two beautiful views that are in Israel. The first picture I took was taken on the Ella Valley, right beside were David and Goliath fought. This road is one most beautiful road I know in Israel. Driving on this road during Chanukah made me realize how close I live to it and how much I missed out by not coming more often. My second picture that I put on the video about views was the old city of Jerusalem right beside a big menorah. The old city is a very special place. not only because my father runs a yeshiva post high-school there but also because I know that so much history was taking place every where I stand. I love going to the old city and seeing the different type of people and what makes them so happy that I take for granted. In addition to these photo's I also put photos of different types of people in Israel during holidays. Only in Israel will you find people playing instruments and dressed up on holidays. Seeing this site makes me so happy and realizes that I live in a special country. As well I put pictures of my family. In Israel I have two sets of grandparent, cousins and married siblings. I am so lucky to be in my home, the land of Israel with all the people I love.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">In my video I expressed the beauty of Israel, the many faces of this country all showing how lucky we are to have this as our home, the Land of Israel. media type="custom" key="12362084"

=<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Reflection: =

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Taking upon myself the project of finding my personal connection to Israel while viewing the connection of others to this incredible country, gave me a renewed appreciation for my parents decision to individually make Aliyah many years ago making it all the more relevant for me now as a first generation sabra. Having had the gift of living in Florida for three years when I was young and having had to return and re-acclimate to the Israeli school system, gave me a small insight into the larger picture of how immigrants struggle when coming to Israel. I was fortunate to be returning to my home, with both sets of grandparents nearby and parents who lived here and as such speak Hebrew. But I forgot my Hebrew, didn’t understand what the teacher was saying nor did I feel that she wanted to make extra efforts on my behalf. How hard it must be if every member of an immigrant family feels as I did, with parents who have not yet mastered Hebrew, who have no family nearby and whose parents still need to find work. Wow! The thought of that is so overwhelming. And yet, as I look around me, I see so many children of immigrants whose families came here because they wanted to live a more meaningful life. For those 18- 26 year olds who come entirely alone to serve in the IDF, leaving behind their families, schooling and job opportunities to be part of the Israeli army is a remarkable idea.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Exactly what Aliyah means to every person may be different and upon this premise I based my project, 'Olim Al Madim', as I set out to frame my montage. I chose to focus my project upon the special program created specifically for lone immigrant soldiers that the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization runs called ‘Olim Al Madim’ which is also a play on the name that the IDF uses for their internet portal which all soldiers access to learn more about the IDF. Because my father and his brothers were lone soldiers during the first Lebanon War, because my cousin Benjy Hillman z’l who was a commander in the elite Egoz unit and was killed a mere 3 weeks after getting married during the second Lebanon War and who was very connected to the Lone soldiers in his unit (and as such the family has created a foundation to help lone and lonely soldiers called ‘HaBayit Shel Benjy’ in Raanana), I feel a tremendous personal connection to the subject of soldiers. Add to that my sister is an officer and is married to an officer in training. Their commitment to the IDF and the State of Israel does not afford them time to be together like ordinary couples and they see each other only on weekends when lucky. Sacrificing oneself for the IDF is something that resonates very deeply among all of these unique individuals. What drives this is what intrigued me to learn more. The images and comments I collected, attested to a country that is dynamic, young, vibrant and alive. As challenging as life is here, as tough as the army experience is, as hard as it can be to make a living and as difficult as it is for children to acclimate, the payoff seemed to be the same. This is our country, what we build is ours, we live in the present, build for the future upon foundations from the past. It is all part of one process, and something inside the soul of Jews when landing in this country, resonates that this place is home.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Having spoken to Birthright participants, I asked them how this trip is different than other trips that they have taken. All said the same thing- everyone here is Jewish, how amazing it is that this country is a Jewish country. We get to eat sufganiyot in the mall over Chanukah which serves kosher food and the dominant holidays are Jewish. That is mindboggling to so many teenagers overseas. What I discovered is that once that spark is lit, it changes the relationship of Jews to Israel. But it has to be nurtured. Those who stay connected, who develop relationships with Israelis, who feel closer to their traditions as a result, who visit again on their own, who decide to study Jewish concepts and who build this connection, are the ones who ultimately are prepared make the sacrifice of serving in the IDF. It made me more aware of how important a role I have in opening my home to those visiting here and sharing with them a little about our life, how when my sister and her new husband speak to Americans visiting Israel what a powerful message that must be. When my brother who is studying in a yeshiva speaks about his choice to develop himself spiritually and prepare himself physically before joining the army, what impression that must make upon an 18 year old American who is embarking on his own path. Each of us are ambassadors for Aliyah whether we want to be or not. We or our parents have made the choice to build our lives and our futures in Israel, and it is our duty to share the beauty of that decision, despite the difficulties. The future of our country depends upon those who build it today and we are all proud to be those builders.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">The notion of joining the IDF alone and giving to this country is a wonderful example of charity. Taking this one step further, I chose to interview Simone Shiran, also an immigrant, who moved here with her young family years ago and opened her home to converts. To me this seemed to be exceptional charity- having people stay with you for shabbatot and Holidays, teaching them about Judaism as well as being a role model are not easy tasks and require a lot of giving of oneself therefore a charity. What surprised me was that my premise was incorrect. Simone’s own grandmother was a convert. She connected to the idea of embracing people in their journey to Judaism as a continuation of the path that her grandmother chose. In no way did she see this as charity’ as a difficulty for her, where she is making a sacrifice of time, effort and energies on behalf of others. Simone in fact was completely taken aback when I said I see her charity as something I want to learn more about. She said I am welcome to speak with her “but giving some chicken and potatoes to Shabbat guests isn’t charity to me. To the contrary- they are giving so much to me and to my family.”

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">In my creative component of this project, I chose to film and photograph ‘what Israel means to me’. I chose snapshots of soldiers, of life in Israel, festivities during Chanukah, of the liveliness of day to day life, of interesting people I saw on the street, of family, of different faces of Israel. I asked others what Israel means to them so that a collective voice can be heard. What I learned is that at some point, every Israeli or his parents or grandparents were Olim. Thankfully, for most people it is easier to make Aliyah today than it once(there are foundations that are trying to help and make the Aliyah for the easier) was but the story of the Jewish people who are spread out all over the World yet deep inside feel connected to Israel as their home, is our story. Moving to Israel builds them as they build the country.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">What I discovered from my overall project is that giving to a cause- whether it is to the IDF or to converts is more about purpose and building. Just as the lone soldier feels fulfilled by a greater sense of purpose by building this country and strengthening it, so too does Simone feel a sense of purpose in helping converts in their journey towards becoming halachik Jews and new immigrants. All become builders of this nation and this country. All are driven by purpose.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">I was very inspired by this project, it gave me new perspectives about ‘giving’ and provided me with my own sense of purpose contributing to the building of my people in my country, in my own way!

= = =<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Bibliography: =

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Freedman, Doreet, Director of development, October 27th-january 3rd

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">Nefesh B’Nefesh, December 20 2011, [].>

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Shiran, Simone, Principal, Hagoren Street Teena Efrat, December 15