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Kitah Dalet Jewish Expo Art and Essay Contest Winners
The writings below have been selected from many other entries throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The contest entries were based on one of the following topics:
1. What Israel means to me.
2. You are able to travel back in time to conduct an interview with Yehuda Maccabee. Describe your experience and interview.
3. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you or someone you know?
The winners were awarded ribbons at the Jewish Expo on Sunday, December 17, 2006. Yasher koach to these talented fourth-grade writers!
What Israel Means to Me
By Mallory Astrow
Honorable Mention
Israel means a retreat to run away to. A safe, happy, wonderful place to go to. A nice place with a lot of wonderful food, history, wildlife, and fun. It also means a lot to me because there is the Western Wall, the Old City of Jerusalem, and a lot of historical people were buried there. But the problem is that I’ve never been there!
I Went to the Time of the Maccabees
By Coby Benheim
Honorable Mention
Hi, I’m Coby. I am going to tell you a tale of when I went back in time.
One day, I was skateboarding in the street when I saw something in a bush. So I went to the bush and saw a charm bracelet with only one charm on it. It was an hour glass. I picked it up and put it on.
Suddenly, I saw everything spiraling and turning and flipping. The sand in the hour glass was going from one end to the other. I saw a giant clock with the hands quickly spinning backwards and suddenly, it stopped. In giant numbers, I saw the date 12/25/164 BCE. Suddenly, I realized that that was the date of the Maccabees. So I ran over to a cave. I saw people playing draydle.
“I am not Greek. I am Jewish,” I said.
“How do we know?” they said.
“Let’s see. My Bar Mitzvah was last week. My Hebrew name is Yaakov, and your name is Judah, son of Mattathias. Is that enough for you?!” I convinced them.
“O.K.”, they sighed, “that is enough for us.”
“So,” I said, While I am here, I might as well ask you some questions.”
“Fine,” said Judah.
“Question number one: Where did you find the oil?”
“What oil?” he questioned.
“Oh, yeah!” That did not happen yet!,” I said. “Sorry.”
“O.K. Ask me another question.”
“Are you scared of elephants?”
“No!”
“Have you ever been tackled by one?”
“No.”
“Have you ever been caught studying the Torah?”
“No.”
“Are you brave?”
“No. I mean, yes.”
“O.K.” I said, “Bye.”
“Bye.”
“Hope you win the war.”
“O.K.,” they said as I left.
Suddenly, I realized how do I get home. Then a wizard appeared and said, “Shake your wrist.” Then he vanished.
So I shook my wrist and…..everything was spinning. A jumbo clock was quickly spinning forward. Then in big numbers were 11/3/06. That is the day I left so I saw my skateboard and rode away.
One of the Nicest Things Someone Did for Me
By Natalie Berkowitz
Honorable Mention
One of the nicest things someone told me was that I was her best FRIEND FOREVER, but then the person moved to Ecuador. Her name was Elli Goldberg. She was my BFF – Best Friend Forever.
When she moved, I felt extremely sad. Before she moved, we had gone everywhere together. We liked the same stuff as each other. She had two dogs, but both died. She got a new one, but she had to sell it because the puppy was not allowed in the apartment.
She has two brothers. One is named Max and is four and a half; the other is Ari, he is two and a half.
We send e-mails and presents and cool stuff like that. She forgot Hebrew and a little English. Before she left, she gave me a gift like this:
[illustration]
She has the other half. I miss her so much. I wish that I could see her again soon.
Back to Israel We Go
By Sarah Forstater
Honorable Mention
When I went back to Israel land
I had a time that was so grand.
I went to the old city
That felt very important to me.
I went by the Western Wall
It looked to me like it was about to fall.
I prayed and prayed until the sun went down.
I was so tired I thought I was going to drown.
It was lat at night so I went to sleep
And laid in bed and rested my feet.
Israel Means A Lot
By Jason Kappel
Honorable Mention
I think Israel means a lot to me because it is the Jews’ homeland. They also put so much into it and went through many wars to get it. Israel was also the home of the start of our religion—Abraham and Sarah.
Israel is a popular country and many nations wanted it, but the Jews fought hard to get some land. Israel can mean more to someone who has relatives in Israel and that could be where their family started.
Israel is still in war, but they have held on for fifty years. The Western Wall also has a lot of thought. When I think about Israel, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Western Wall because it is part of the wall surrounding the old temple (the second). It also brings back thoughts about King David, one of the greatest kings known to Israel. The Western Wall has lots of thoughts because it has been around for a long time, and it was protected by G-d so people feel close to G-d there.
Israel also means a lot because it has the graves of three of the four mothers from The Bible. You can still go and see the graves today.
The Day I Met the Maccabees
By Joshua Young
Honorable Mention
I took a deep breath. I looked at the time machine I just made. I got inside the machine to see what it looked like….when I got an idea. I went to my room, got paper and a pencil. I’ll explain why later.
I got in the time machine, pressed a random button, and…..POW!!! I was off moving backwards…..hold it! I was certain I had pressed a year that was yet to come; but when I looked at the button closely, I saw two tiny letters on it: B.C.
I finally got outside. When I got outside, I saw Yeduda Maccabee!! Now, I’ll tell you why I brought paper. I needed to do an imaginary interview for homework. I thought that was stupid, and no one would believe I interviewed someone in a different time, would they?
So I caught up with the Maccabees, and asked, “Could I interview Yehuda?”
“Alright,” one of them answered.
We went under a tree and started.
“What’s your favorite food?”
“Sushi.”
“What is your favorite color?”
“Blue.”
I thought. What could I ask him that mattered? Then it hit me. “If you could go to the future, would you?”
“Yes.”
A mischievous grin flitted across my face. “Well, then you’re in luck!”
My Interview with Yehuda Maccabee
By Leanne Young
First Place
When I went to Israel to interview Yehuda Maccabee,
Yehuda was very nice to me.
He said that when they won the war, he was glad.
But when an elephant fell on his brother, he was sad.
Also, when we couldn’t be Jewish
It was bad.
He said to get the courage to fight, he had to be brave.
It was hard studying Torah in a cave.
I asked him, “Where did you find the oil for the light?”
He said, “I forget. It could have been outside the temple, it might.”
The last thing he said was he was glad he did the big thing
Because now every year everyone is rejoicing and celebrating.
Israel
By Samantha Zimmerman
Honorable Mention
Israel is important to me because if you want to pray to G-d, it is the closet place. Israel means a lot to me because it is where our Jewish history is.
I have actually been to Israel with my mom and dad. I think it is very cool that Israel has been in a lot of wars and always won. Yeah, Israel!
I think Israel is a great place and anybody who lives there or is going to is very lucky. I want to go there again. I love Israel! |
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