The results are in for CIE’s Israel@75 International Student Competition, and we’re excited to share the winners out of more than 100 entries across the three age groups.
Grades 3-5
We asked students to “exercise your creativity and design a commemorative stamp for Israel@75. You can create the stamp using any artistic media and/or electronic device, but be aware that just adding the number 75 to the Israeli flag probably won’t be a winning entry. You must write a paragraph of 150 words or fewer to explain the design of your stamp.”
First: Shoshana Orenstein, 8, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
Second: Zava Dayan, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
Third: Emmett Fleisch, 9, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
Honorable mentions: Naomi Bondar, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School; Yahel Cohen, 11, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School; Stella Gold, 10, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Davis Academy; Isaac Hayward, 10, Waltham, Massachusetts, and Micah Silverman, 11, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton; Leah Leisawitz, 10, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley; Mira Niederman, 9, Newtonville, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton; Daniella Sadoff, 11, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School; Charley Solomon, 10, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Davis Academy; Ellie Wainger, 9, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton; and Erika Wasserman, 9, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School.
Shoshana Orenstein, 8, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Shoshana Orenstein and I am a 3rd grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a diverse country to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses these pictures of diverse foods from Israel, and many other places and cultures that have come to Israel and are eaten there. I did this to show how important lots of different foods and cultures are to Israel and its diverse population. I love my design because it reminds me or teaches me that all kinds of people are welcome in Israel, because many different foods are welcome there.”
Zava Dayan, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“The beauty of Israel is what I wanted to capture in my stamp. I chose these symbols because I feel connected to them. They are beautiful things from the Holy Land, for example, these flowers because they specifically grow in Israel. All these symbols are enclosed in the map of Israel which conveys the burdens of culture and beauty within one small country. There is an Israeli flag drawn within the shape of Israel. To commemorate Israel’s 75th birthday, I included a decadent, tiered cake. I chose to incorporate all these symbols because to me, they showcase ‘The Land of Milk and Honey’ in all its complicated beauty. To share my hope for peace in Israel, a dove is seen flying over the land to spread peace and protect our nation. The materials I used to create this stamp design are pencil on paper, markers, sharpies and watercolor paints.”
Emmett Fleisch, 9, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“My stamp represents the development of Israel over 75 years. My stamp begins with the old city of Jerusalem before Israel was established. It continues to the War of Independence, which represents how people fought and struggled for Israel to be a strong and safe country. I chose the picture of the Israeli flag being raised where the city of Eilat stands today. Next, it goes from the Israeli Independence war to the Star of David. The Star of David represents for me the spirit that Israel needed to become what it is today. The next picture is a map of Israel, this represents Israel nowadays. Last, there are some Israelis celebrating, this represents how hard we worked for Israel and now it is definitely worth it!!!”
Naomi Bondar, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“The image of a hand holds a lot of meaning. It can represent help, kindness and identity. For my stamp design, the hand stands as a window looking into a Jewish home. The objects on the table include traditional candle sticks, a bottle of red wine for the blessing, a wine glass, and a plate of sliced challah. The symbols of Shabbat are near and dear to my heart. I wanted to convey the importance of keeping Shabbat, no matter where you live as it connects all Jewish people to our past. The window into the home is like the soul of a Jewish person within themselves that no one can take away. Israel lives inside every Jewish person, regardless of what country they live in. This is what I wanted to share in the form of a stamp to commemorate 75 years of our Homeland.”
Yahel Cohen, 11, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“So much has changed in seventy-five years from the moment Israel officially became a country in 1948. In my picture, I show a blue circle with a 75 in it. The 75 is divided into two pictures. The first one is a photo of when Israel became an official country in 1948. The second one is a recent photo of Israel. The reason why I chose to make this stamp was to show how much Israel has evolved and changed since 1948. I hope that Israel keeps evolving into the future to a place that is peaceful and I can still call my home. I was born there and moved to Canada when I was very young. But I know that every Jew who goes to Israel feels like they are returning home. I’m excited to see what comes in the future for Israel!!!”
Stella Gold, 10, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Davis Academy
“I made my stamp because when I went to Israel it was beautiful. It is Israel’s 75th birthday. I added the star of David because it represents protection and safety. I added trees because I planted an olive tree in israel. I put the western wall because it is one of Israel’s biggest landmarks. I wrote love and respect because Israel is both of those things. Thank you for listening!”
Isaac Hayward, 10, Waltham, Massachusetts, and Micah Silverman, 11, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! Our names are Micah Silverman and Isaac Hayward, and we are fifth graders living in Newton and Waltham, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. We focused on Israel as a Democracy in the Middle East to inspire our design for submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. Our stamp uses images of hands shaking and a Knesset stamp with the star of David to show how important Democracy is to Israel. We love our design because it taught us that Israel believes in the right to vote, many elections, and that human rights are very important to Israel, which makes Israel a very special place, especially in the Middle East.”
Leah Leisawitz, 10, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“I chose Israeli innovations because I thought of Israel’s 75th independence day to show how far Israel has come in 75 years. I chose a few innovations that Israel invented that I think are very important. One of the most important things that I have researched is the Netafim. The Netafim spreads water all over the desert to assure that the desert is getting enough water. The Netafim was created in 1965 in the Negev desert. Another one of Israel’s newer inventions is Waze. Waze was created in 2007 by an Israeli trio. Waze is a navigation app that creates a map of wherever you are. My stamp collection represents how Israeli minds have evolved over the seventy-five years and how crucial these inventions are to today. For Israel’s seventy-fifth anniversary, we should celebrate Israeli innovations and how far they came in seventy-five years.”
Mira Niederman, 9, Newtonville, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Mira, and I am a 4th grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as an innovative and creative place to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp has a picture of a light bulb with a Jewish star on it, surrounded by silver to show how important tech has been to Israeli innovation. I love my design because it also reminds me that it is our job as Jewish people to try to make a better world and do Tikkun Olam, which sometimes means making more sustainable tech choices.”
Daniella Sadoff, 11, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“Israel has many sparks and wonderful places. It shows light from different cultures, which I represented by including 4 pictures to share the variety of cultures, beliefs, and strengths within the Jewish State. I chose to include images of popular places to show what a beautiful place Israel has become. Israel has not always been this way. When Israel started out, it was just a piece of land. The people in Israel created something and then it would get destroyed, but they would never give up! People in Israel came together and kept trying to rebuild Israel repeatedly until the Israelites succeeded. Which is why today Israel is such a wonderful place. My goal is to represent everyone coming together and all of Israel being in one place and that is why I have put a Jewish star connecting every picture to symbolize everything and everyone as one.”
Charley Solomon, 10, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Davis Academy
“When I heard about this project, I really wanted to sign up. I chose to make my stamp because Israel needs more trees. That is why Tu Bishvat is a holiday. Trees are very important to Israel because they don’t get many of them. I chose the background because I thought it was a beautiful spot of Israel. Also, I thought other people would love to see it. I chose the Hebrew word that means friendship because in my opinion Israel is a place of friendship. I thought this beautiful stamp I am making for Israel would stand out from all of the other ones because it shows three things that represent israel. I hope you will pick my stamp because hopefully you will think it would be great for Israel. I think the stamp I made would be perfect for Israel’s big seventy-fifth birthday. Thanks for listening!”
Ellie Wainger, 9, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Ellie Wainger and I am a third grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a Religious and Holy place to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses pen, sharpie, tissue paper, and drawings of the symbols of the four major religions of Israel in a stained glass window. It shows how important Israel is to many different religions. I love my design because it taught me that Israel is not just a spiritual place for Jewish people but also Christian, Muslim and Baha’i people, which makes Israel a very special place.”
Erika Wasserman, 9, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“My art is about Israel, and there is a Magen David in the middle of the picture, and there is a city underneath. There is a map of Israel with people and houses in it. There is a heart, moon, and bird with an olive branch representing the peace that we want in Israel and in the entire world. And earth and any other kinds of planets. The images that I included not only symbolize Israel, they symbolize me. The city represents Jerusalem. That is the capital of Israel. The heart is about the connection that is in Israel between all the cultures that we all have. I made the moon because it makes me think about Israel at night. The moon is also part of the solar system, and the solar system is big like my feelings towards Israel.”
The following entries from third- to fifth-graders in our Israel@75 International Student Competition were not judged as winners but are too good not to share. CIE appreciates the effort these students put into engaging with ideas about Israel and creating art.
Lindsay Allen, 9, Newton Center, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Lindsay Allen and I am a fourth grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as an innovative and creative place to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses the colors blue and brown, black sharpie, watercolor and collaged images of Israel’s national tree, the Olive Tree, to show how important agriculture and drip irrigation is to Israel. I also have a drip irrigation pipe and a water droplet in the picture. I love my design because it taught me about how much the environment and its preservation is important to Israel.”
Emma Andler, 9, Wellesley, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Emma and I am a 3rd grader living in Wellesley, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on the topic Israel as a Democracy in the Middle East to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp is an abstract collage mixed-media design of the Knesset. I love my design because in the research I learned that Israel’s Knesset is a place where we can argue but also can vote to make changes. There are many political parties in Israel which are represented by the squares I used to collage the walls of the Knesset.”
Zoe Apple, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“I created a stamp of Israel to represent happiness and joy. The sun is very bright to represent a bright future. There is also a building that is big and tall with a girl looking out of a window. There is a dog walking on the beach next to a beach towel and flip flops. Lastly in big numbers and letters it says ‘75 חי.’ Thank you for reading and considering my stamp design. I really appreciate it.”
Adin Arnold, 10, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“‘Orange In The Water.’ This is a good stamp for Israel because an orange is a favorite fruit in Israel. There is a big company that sends out oranges called Israeli Fruits. In the summer of 1974, servers came out carrying large baskets and handed everyone an orange with tiny green stickers that read ‘Jaffa’. This inspired me to draw this picture because I love oranges. I put the number 75 because Israel is 75. I drew flowers because Israel is always blooming with new ideas like a flower. The stem on the orange represents when Israel was just starting to build.”
Alyssa Ash, 8, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“The falafel represents Israel’s food. The orange tree represents Israelis growing food. The beach represents Israel’s water. The 75 represents Israel’s 75 years.”
Jacob Benchimol, 10, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“I created a simple but meaningful piece. I added Stars of David to my Sea of Galilee to show that Maccabees, who had Jewish stars on their shields, still protect us. Jewish symbols in the mountain show that Judaism is everywhere in the earth of Israel. I used the pomegranates to signify the growth of the Jewish people and the 613 Torah commandments. To me, the menorah symbolizes Hashem with the middle candle and the 7 days of creation. I included the Kiddush cup because the way that wine is formed is like a growing human body (we learned this in Havdalah) and the Jewish population is growing! The sky is simple so judges can focus on one detail at a time. The reason the sea has so many colors is so they blend, like the real Sea of Galilee does. 75 celebrates the 75 years of Israel!”
Edan Berkman, 9, Auburndale, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Edan and I am a third grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as an innovative and creative place to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp has a picture of a light bulb with a Jewish star on it, next to a computer key also with a star to show how important tech has been to Israeli innovation and also the economy. ּBecause my topic was about tech I used the computer to enhance the drawing after we took the picture. My design is simple but I think it’s cool.”
Noa Berman, 9, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Noa Berman and I am a 4th grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a homeland for the Jewish People to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses the image of a sunset and people waving flags and celebrating being in Israel. I love my design because it reminds me that all Jewish people are welcome in Israel, and reminds me of what I learned about the Law of Return that everybody Jewish is welcome even though all Jewish people are different.”
Avior Carati, 9, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“We’re celebrating Israel’s 75th birthday and created stamps that represent this small but mighty country. I made a pomegranate to represent Rosh Hashanah with an Israeli flag inside and in the flag I put 75. I also put an oil jug to represent Hanukkah. I added a dove with an olive branch in its mouth. And finally I put an olive vine around the page. My color choices are blue for the Mediterranean Sea and magenta for the sunset. Also I did green for the olive tree. I did beige for the sand and yellow for the sun. Also purple for the grape juice on Shabbat.”
Shiran Cohen, 9, Richmond, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“I made a big 75 floating and surrounded by the Kotel. I made the Kotel, ,which is also known as the Western Wall and inside of that I did a big 75. It says Israel in 3 different languages: English, Hebrew and Arabic. Israel is turning 75 and the 3 walls are really really holy so I designed my stamp with those things. I used the colors brown and two different shades of blue and for the 75 I used some green and another shade of blue. To make the Kotel I used a ruler and used it to make the squares.”
Meah Corea Reyes, 10, Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“Israel has not always been a peaceful place. Israel has been in many wars and fights with other countries. I wanted to show everyone coming together and helping each other, that is why I made the world with people together to symbolize that. I made the background with a bunch of different colors to show all the different cultures and beliefs that people show in Israel. The 75 shows and represents that it is Israel’s 75th birthday. The flag is to show this is Israel. The main concept though was to show Israel coming together.”
Layla Costin, 9, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“We’re celebrating Israel’s amazing 75th birthday. I created a dazzling stamp to represent this small but mighty country. My design is a sandy beach, a pink and orange sunset with blue water, a silver and pink hammock that is hanging from two palm trees, a pair of flip flops near the hammock, an Israeli flag in the distance and footprints in the sand. These images represent Israel because you feel calm when you go to a beach in Israel. These can also represent all the bodies of water in Israel. I chose these bright colours because there are lots of exciting places in Israel or you can also go somewhere to relax. I have never been to Israel, but when I go I’ll definitely go see the beautiful sandy beaches. I think Israel is a strong, mighty, brilliant place.”
Kaden Davis, 9, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“The Dead Sea is a very interesting place to explore and float on. It is a fun place to celebrate the 75th birthday party of Israel. The Dead Sea is drying up and it is a shame. I hope Israel can help because it is fun and it would be sad to see it go.”
Taylor Dayson, 9, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“Hi, I made a stamp representing Israel’s 75th birthday. On my stamp I put the Western Wall as the background to represent what Israel has gone through and the wishes of the people of Israel. For my centerpiece I put the hamsa to scare off the people that want to harm Israel. For a side piece I put the Israeli flag to represent the Jews and what we stand for. Thank you for considering my stamp in this project. Goodbye.”
Aaron Franken, 9, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“My stamp shows the shape of Israel and the resistance it showed. I chose the symbol of Israel because it shows how much time it has been standing for, 75 years. I chose to color the stamp blue, green, and brown because those colours represent a thriving country from now until forever. Blue represents the sky, green represents the grass and trees, and brown represents the soil no matter how much time it took to compose. I wrote on the bottom corner the word Israel in English, Hebrew, and Arabic because those are the languages spoken in Israel and I want to make sure everyone is included so they know what this means. I changed my stamp from wide to long to represent the shape of the country. Israel is a small country but it feels big in my heart.”
Lyla Golding, 10, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“I included a Jewish star, hamsas, an Israeli flag, a map of Israel, and an anniversary logo. The Jewish star represents our survival — a symbol once worn by Jewish people during the Holocaust to identify who they are now standing in the center of our Israeli flag. The hamsa hands help ward off the evil spirit and this one is extra special because of all of the hidden Jewish pictures from a menorah to the word CHAI! I chose to include the map of Israel to show how our borders have changed slightly over the years. I have been to Israel three times and I always look at the map. I included the Israeli flag because it is one of the most recognizable symbols. The playful font of the word Israel was selected to represent Israel’s start-up nation, creativity, and zest for life — this is our Israel.”
Samuel Guss, 10, Brookline, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Samuel Guss and I am a fifth grader living in Brookline, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a Religious and Holy place to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses abstract drawings of a menorah, the Dome of the Rock, and the colors of a sunset to show how Jewish and Muslim people both consider the land holy, and how they can live in harmony. It shows how important Israel is to many different religions. I love my design because it taught me that there can be peaceful practice of many religions in Israel.”
David Itin, 10, Surrey, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“Jerusalem is where you are closest to Hashem. I wanted to convey that feeling through my stamp design. When I land in the capital of Israel, it always feels like coming home. The warm weather is just as strong as the welcoming feeling from the people who live there. I included the fireworks in the sky exploding over the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock to celebrate Israel’s 75th Anniversary!!! I drew Jerusalem with the number 75 celebrating the birthday of Israel, using sharpie, pencil, pencil crayons, paper, and my imagination.”
Nora Klein, 10, Auburndale, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Nora Klein and I am a 4th grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a homeland for the Jewish People to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses the image of a door in blue and the stained glass windows in it to show how important the Right of Return is to the Jewish people, using the metaphor that Israel is a door we can all see into, and citizenship is just a door push away. I love my design because it reminds me that all Jewish people are welcome in Israel.”
Naomi Kleiner, 11, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“Hello, I’m Naomi and this is why I chose my stamp. I chose this because 75 represents Israel turning 75. I chose the camel because Israel has camels. I chose the Israeli flag because it’s the beautiful Israeli flag. I chose two people who are not the same color holding hands because you love who you love and equality matters. And I chose the rose to add a pop of color into the stamp drawing. I chose this whole theme because it is Israel’s 75 birthday and because everything in my stamp drawing matters and is true.”
“Hi. It’s a picture of a beach with an Israeli flag in the middle. It also has rocks and mountains as well as a few boats in the background. I chose to put the flag of Israel in it because the flag is a symbol of the country. Israel is celebrating its 75th birthday and I don’t want to miss out in all the fun. My picture has a very blue sky and ocean to represent Israel. I put a lot of work into my stamp so I hope it makes a good ranking. It started out as a black and white photo of the sea, 2 boats and an Israeli flag. I liked my rough copy but I could do more so that’s what I did and it turned out great! So that’s my Israeli stamp. Oh, and to Israel, happy birthday!”
Noga Levy-Moonshine, 8, Needham, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“The colors represent Israel. The flag represents Israel. The 75 represents the 75th birthday. The party hat represents the birthday. The party represents people that are celebrating Israel’s 75th birthday.”
Ari Luft, 9, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“This israeli stamp has a dove for parasha נח. and also an Israeli flag, a Jewish star and the western wall for the temple that was destroyed and one wall was left standing. It’s really hard to believe that Israel’s 75th anniversary is here.”
Jonathan Lustig, 9, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“In this Art Stamp for Israel’s 75 birthday, you will see olives in olive oil and a silver menorah and the olive is dripping into the fire and all of the candles are lit and that means it is Shabbat when you rest.”
Maya Lyerly, 9, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“The theme of my stamp collection is from Holocaust to nation. In my stamp collection, I have included pictures that show the progress of the Jewish nation from the Holocaust to nation. The Holocaust was an event that had a great impact on the establishment of the state of Israel. I used pictures from the Holocaust, and pictures that memorialize the Holocaust in the Jewish nation. I believe that the state of Israel can’t celebrate the 75th day of independence without remembering the Holocaust. In my stamp collection, I showed on one side pictures from the Holocaust, and on the other side, I showed how Israel memorializes the Holocaust.”
Zoe Lyerly, 10, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“I chose the Pillcam because I wanted to show an Israeli invention that has improved lives and helps people nowadays. I included the camera and the broken open pillcam to show that there is a camera inside of the pill that takes pictures of your insides. I did the colors blue and white to show the Israeli flag colors. I did the name Gavriel Iddan and Pillcam, 2001, because that’s who invented the pillcam and that was the year it was invented. I chose to spotlight an Israeli invention because it shows that they can make successful inventions that people around the world use.”
Reese Mann, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“My stamp is about the ‘Raid On Entebbe’ because it was a very sad time and I felt like we should recognize what Israel has gone through, to feel more excited that Israel has been an independent country for 74 turning 75 years! I included a Hercules plane, a black Mercedes limousine, Yoni Netanyahu who died in the fight, the Israeli flag, and the Kotel (Western Wall). The Hercules plane represents how the soldiers transported themselves to Entebbe. The Mercedes was how they ‘camouflaged’ themselves. I wrote ‘Israel 75’ in Arabic, Hebrew and English to show that there are more than Jews welcome in Israel. I want to bring out feelings of sadness for the story of this fight but happiness for Israel’s 75th birthday. I did not put background colours to not distract from the meaning. I hope Israel has a happy birthday and stays around for much longer.”
Gabriel Marlin, 10, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“In my stamp, I chose to have the topic of Israeli symbols because the symbols have grown just like how Israel gets older. On my stamp, you will see the star of David, the Israeli flag, Israel’s symbol the menorah, the dove, the IDF’s symbol, and a Chamsa. The Jewish star and flag both are very well-known and used. They both represent Israel and how it is a country of its own. Israel’s national symbol, the menorah with olive branches, is meaningful and powerful. The IDF’s symbol represents how Israel is strong and protected. The Chamsa is a symbol of universal protection. In my personal opinion, I think that all those symbols represent important things and should be celebrated during Israel’s 75th birthday.”
Sophie Milstein, 10, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“The design of my stamp is a menorah about to turn 75, like Israel is about to. There are 4 hamzas and they spell years in Hebrew. The hamzas are in different colors because of how Israel is such a colorful country. The blue water represents the Mediterranean Sea. There is a big yellow background that symbolizes how sunny Israel is and it also has blue streaks. And there are two flowers because 75 is two numbers.”
Elijah Miner, 10, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“The idea behind my stamp: I figured that if it’s the 75th independence day of Israel then I should make the Israeli flag made out of 75s. I made it crooked to show Israel’s creativity. I like Israel and in honor of the 75th anniversary, I made the Israeli flag out of 75. It is blue and white because the Israeli colors are blue and white. Happy 75th independence day Israel! Israel is awesome, and I can not wait until the 76th.”
Elias Modell, 9, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“I started with an Israeli star because it represents all of Israel. The person on the star says yay יש ياي for the 3 main languages of Israel. They are saying 75 because it is Israel’s special birthday. The Dead Sea represents the most famous sea in Israel because it has a lot of salt and people can float on it and because it is the lowest point on earth.”
Olivier Mostovsky, 9, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“G-D promised thousands of years ago to the prophet Abraham that he would have a land of his own and ‘his people’ would be as many as the stars in the sky. And now after 75 years of Israel being an official country we should remark on this amazing country with the basics such as the flag, and the national coat of arms with a taste of Hatikvah. I think this will remind everyone who buys this stamp of the establishment of Israel in 5708 and hope late leaders of Israel are looking down on these stamps.”
Lily Myers, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“The dove represents how in the parsha (נח) when there was a flood, it came back with an olive branch which meant there was land. So they could get off the boat and see their loved ones. The flag represents how our land is a small place but has big celebrations and is very mighty and strong. The dreidel represents when the Jews had to go into caves during a war against the Greeks. They didn’t allow them to speak Hebrew and study Torah. They had to pretend to play a game of dreidel. That is when the Miracle happened (the oil lasted 8 days when it was only enough for one day). In Vancouver, we say נס גדול היה שם. In Israel you say נס גדול היה פה. I wrote shalom because we all speak different languages and it’s fun to see a different language on a stamp!”
Elias Nash, 11, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“My theme for my stamp collection is award-winning Israeli authors. I think on Israeli independence day we should celebrate literature. My authors are Yuval Noah Harari, Yehudit Hendel, Zeruya Shalev, Meir Shalev, Etgar Keret, and Ruth Almog. I chose literature because I love to read. I love to read because it gives me the thrill of a story without staring blankly at a screen. It can also teach you things and skills for school. My favorite genre of literature is probably adventure, but I like mystery a lot as well.”
Ora Newmark, 8, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Ora Newmark, and I am a 3rd grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses these images of a passport and people holding Israeli flags to show how important the Right of Return is to the Jewish people, and that every Jewish person is welcome in Israel. I love my design because it reminds me or teaches me that all Jewish people can have a home in Israel no matter how observant they are.”
Rhapsody O’Gara, 10, Jamestown, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“On my stamp I have put a lot of objects that represent Israel. I have a Torah, a menorah with the Israeli flag, a blue heart 💙, and a flower. The flower represents ‘let’s make the desert bloom,’ one of the goals of the early settlers in Israel, and that’s just the objects I put on the western wall. On the sun is the 75, there is a soldier holding a flag, a Star of David,and a picture of Israel with its name underneath.”
Tom Ori, 10, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“My stamp represents peace to the trees of Israel. The hand motion of peace with Israeli trees and a Magen David symbolize the beauty of the trees of Israel. The many languages saying ‘Israel’ represent how everyone can help stop pollution and the cutting down of trees. The reason I chose this for Israel’s 75th birthday is because this upcoming year, when Israel is 75, we can become better at keeping Israel’s nature and plants healthier and cleaner.”
Eliza Osher, 9, Brookline, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“The rainbow means a colorful life ahead of us. The 75 means the 75th anniversary of Israel. The colors in the 75 symbolize Israel. The sun shining down on the rainbow means a happy and healthy life. The butterfly means lots of life now and lots of life to come. The flock of birds means harmony throughout all of Israel. The blue sky means a clear life for everybody.”
Sophia Pildis, 9, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“In Israel, there are a lot of ways to celebrate the 75th Israel Independence Day but nature is a very, very great way. The reason I decided to make a stamp about nature is that I think nature is very important and pretty. A great way to celebrate Israel’s nature is to float in the Dead Sea. Another way to celebrate Israel’s nature is to surf in the Mediterranean Sea. My stamp has 75s because it is Israel’s 75th celebration. I also have an Israel flag because that celebrates Israel. I choose nature as my theme because nature is interesting and important. On my stamp, I have the Dead Sea because it is really famous and the Kalanit which only grows during the winter in Israel. I also have an Israeli gazelle that represents Israel and a mountain in Israel. I hope that everyone respects nature.”
Daniel Preis, 11, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Daniel Preis and I am a 5th grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a place of beauty and culture to see as inspiration for my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses pictures I printed from the computer and collaged to show some of my favorite places to tour in Israel, and places I think other people should visit. Israel is a really cool place!”
Avi Pritzker, 9, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Epstein School
“עץ זית שלום Olive Tree Peace. I created an olive tree art stamp in honor of Israel’s 75th birthday. I was inspired by Van Gough’s The Olive Trees and used mixed multiple blue and green oil pastels together to make the stamp. The name of my stamp is entitled, ‘Olive Tree Peace.’ The olive tree represents peace and has become an important symbol of the State of Israel. Olive trees also provide oil and have been used for religious ceremonies and in food for thousands of years throughout Israel’s history. The stamp is an abstract piece of art and has a sunset background. My love of stamps came from my Sabba, who has a collection of hundreds of Israeli stamps. Through stamps, I have learned about history, art, music, sports, science and many other subjects. I hope that my stamp will add to the celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary.”
Shiralee Pront, 9, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“My stamp art is a rainbow for Israel’s 75th birthday. G-d promised to us that there would never be a flood like the one in Noah’s ark. G-d also promised Abraham that he would have a special land for us Israel. It’s two promises in one. Noah’s promise and Abraham’s promise.”
Alma Raber, 9, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“My stamp is a cake for Israel’s 75th birthday. It has three parts: The Hamsa, Star of David, and the Menorah. I picked these symbols because they represent Israel to me. I chose the shades of blue and green. The blue is a color that represents Israel and the blue skies in Israel. The green because of the beautiful nature in Israel. I also chose the color yellow because it reminds me of the yellow hot sun.”
Saige Reuther, 10, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“For my stamp, I am doing sports and medals. On my stamp, I have Gal Fridman. He won gold and bronze medals. On my stamp, I have Yael Arad. She won a silver medal. Yael and Gal were the first Israeli people to win an Olympic medal. Why I chose Olympic medals: because I love sports and love learning about them. For Israel’s 75th birthday, I want to recognize the people that worked hard to win the awards. I also want people to be inspired to try and work hard and reach for their dreams.”
Sydney Sachs, 10, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Davis Academy
“I did a basket of fruit for the fest of trees. I put lots of detail, which I normally don’t. I tried to make it as realistic as possible.”
Adi Schilling, 10, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Davis Academy
“This new Israeli stamp is a royal blue background with white letters. These are the colors of the Israeli flag. Also, the blue is the Mediterranean Sea where Israel is located. I then added the Israeli state flower, anemones, at the top. At the bottom, I wrote in Hebrew that ‘Everything Will Be OK.’ The Hebrew was inspired by the recent pandemic of Covid-19 and the recent attacks on Israelis.”
Ayla Schlossberg, 10, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
“My stamp collection is about the Israeli wars. My stamp collection includes Israeli wars such as The Independence War, The Six Day War, The War of Attrition, the Lebanon War of 1981, the Lebanon War of 2006, and Operation Strong Cliff. I chose this because without Israeli wars people would just think Israel is a small country, but when Israel has wars it shows that Israel is strong but tiny. Israel’s 75th Independence Day would not have happened without the bravery of Israeli soldiers because The Independence War made Israel. Without the wars, no one would believe Israel could do it. That is why I chose the Israeli wars. Also, I loved the way that even when Israel thought they would lose they still tried their best, and because of that they won.”
Natalie Schmutter, 9, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“My stamp symbolizes peace. The olive branch shows hope like on Noah’s ark when he sent a dove and it came back with an olive branch showing Noah and his family that there was land. At that point, they realized that there was hope. The purple shield with a Menora inside is a reference to the Emblem of Israel. The palm trees that you can find on either side of the painting remind me of the beautiful beaches in Israel like Dolphin Reef Beach. The banner plane in the back shows the observance of Israel’s 75th birthday.”
Ori Shavelsky, 9, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Ori Shavelsky and I am a 4th grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as a place of beauty and culture to see to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp uses Kosher Salt, water color, sharpie marker, and colored pencil to draw a scene from the Dead Sea. This picture shows how important the Dead Sea is to Israel, and tourism is to Israel. I love my design because it reminds me about a family trip to Israel visiting the Dead Sea and how fun it was to float in the water with my family. It’s a fun place for everyone and I wanted to show that in my design.”
Abraham Sheppard, 9, West Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“This represents the flag of Israel and 75 years. I chose these photos because they looked unique.”
Gil Shor, 8, Needham, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“All the Stars of David represent Israel but the big one represents the 75th birthday. And why I did stars is because it’s creative.”
Avigail Sofer, 9, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“Hello! My name is Avigail and I am a 4th grader living in Newton, MA, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies at Kesher Newton. I focused on Israel as an innovative and creative place to inspire my design for my submission to the Israel@75 stamp contest. My stamp has a picture of an iPhone with cute cherry tomatoes on it to show how important both tech and agriculture have been to Israeli culture. I used wood grain as the phone screen because of the plants in Israel. I love my design because it is cute and kind of funny, but also shows how technology and farming doesn’t have to be against each other. Also I eat tomatoes that are made in Israel, which is pretty awesome.”
Hannah Spielman, 11, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“Hi. I am entering a contest to make a stamp for Israel’s 75 birthday. You might notice that some stars are different than the others. The ones behind the dove are Israel in the past, the ones in front represent Israel in the future. The dove represents peace in Israel because we need peace in Israel. I drew this for my passion for Israel and art. I love to learn about Israel and all the fun things that happened. I love art. I do it at home and at school. I chose these designs because even if it is a little simple, but these objects can mean a lot like the little things that make a difference in our lives.”
Eli Stefanek, 9, Surrey, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“What I want to communicate in my stamp is that everybody in Israel is free to carry their own beliefs. In Israel many religions coexist: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and of course, Judaism. I want peace for everyone in Israel. Expressing my thoughts on world peace really makes me happy, so maybe if we could have peace in Israel I could wear a big smile on my face. The fact that Israel is celebrating its 75 years is incredible since for many centuries the Jews thought we would never belong to any country, and now we have one! And my stamp tries to show how amazing the first 75 years in Israel have been. We chose these images because it felt the most meaningful and the most respectful to the other religions. Our stamp is very meaningful due to it having many religions and a peace sign.”
Vienna Stefanek, 11, Surrey, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“Israel is for everybody. I have added four pictures that represent two places, Jerusalem, which is the capital city of Israel, and Tel-Aviv. I added Jerusalem because there is room for every culture to feel safe and at home. My art stands for all the differences and cultures in Israel and how beautiful and peaceful that can be. I think Israel stands for the people being free and happy despite their differences. In Israel there is a bunch of diverse cultures coming together to make a beautiful, strong, powerful country. I enjoy learning about the history and culture. I can’t wait to visit Israel and see these places that I added in my art and see these places for myself. Get to understand more about the people and places, all the diverse cultures. To get to know every place without looking at a map is my goal.”
Madison Strasser, 11, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“When my art teacher told me and my class about this project I immediately thought I wanted to have sections of places Israel is known for. I thought long and hard and came up with 7 sections. #1 is a waterfall to represent all the beautiful waterfalls in Israel. #2 represents the crops that are grown in Israel. #3 is a Jewish star representing how Israel accepts all different colors of people and diversity. Top sections represent how the Dead Sea is dying and how we’re supposed to float but the floor is sinking. The five in the 75 is rising up and hopefully this year they’ll do something to help the Dead Sea instead of letting it shrink. My top right corner represents all the mountains in Israel, and the different colors represent all the religions. The right bottom corner represents how beautiful all the bodies of water are in Israel.”
Dean Sutton, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“We’re celebrating Israel’s 75th birthday and creating stamps that represent this small but mighty land. I chose a ram because a ram’s horn is what a shofar is made of. I chose a dove because a dove symbolizes peace and Noah sent out a dove to see if there was land above the water and it came back with an olive branch. I wrote חי in the middle because I really want Israel to have peace with all the places around them. I also chose a body of water because of the Mediterranean Sea. I chose bright colors to represent happiness and peace.”
Blake Switzer, 10, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“I was excited to make a stamp for Israel because at our school we learn a bit about it. I worked hard on this to make sure it was what I liked and if it reminded me of Israel. I made a big 75 in the middle of it because to me that is the most important thing. Around it I put some Jewish symbols that are important to me. I chose the Torah because Judaism formed around the Torah. It is so old and it shows that God wants the Jews to live. I also added the word Israel in Arabic, English and Hebrew. It shows that Israel is home to many cultures and religions. In the background I added the colors blue and purple because it reminds me of Shabbat at home and in Whistler with my family. The blue is for calmness and the purple for hope.”
Asher Wainger, 8, Newton, Massachusetts, Kesher Newton
“The design is for 75 years of Israel making incredible inventions that make life easier!”
Yuval Wallach, 9, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“I drew a Hamsa because it is a sign of peace and hope. Behind the Hamsa is a Star of David, representing Israel. On the Hamsa there are a lot of decorations. including a Chanukia with ‘75’ printed on the bottom. On the bottom of the stamp in the background, there are hearts, representing my love for the state of Israel. The two lines on either side of the Hamsa represent the flag of Israel. The stamp was drawn using sharpies and water paint.”
Mason Wescott, 10, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“I chose this drawing because I think that camels are a big part of Israel and Jewish tradition and culture. I know that Israel is turning 75 this year and I want to show my interest in art for Israel. I chose an oak tree and part of its leaves are green and some are yellow. The yellow is changing like Israel’s age. I put a well from the famous story of Rebecca and the camels and I put a camel too. My sky is all different shades of blue to look more interesting.”
Franklin Zaientz, 6, New York, New York, Schechter Manhattan
“Israel is an awesome land of contrasts. In the center there is a white and blue peace sign, with colors from the flag, to represent the freedom of Israel. Around the peace sign, I put a menorah to represent the culture of Israel, this also represents freedom. There is a cellular phone that symbolizes how technologically advanced Israel is and it has the first three letters of the languages of Israel — Hebrew, English, and Arabic. The sea is painted at the top because Israel has famous seas like the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. The bottom of the page is the desert because Israel is full of deserts and they are beautiful. There is an olive branch in the center with one black olive and a green olive on the other side. I drew this to represent the peace of Israel.”
Grades 6-8
We asked students, as Israel approaches its 75th birthday, to “consider what it should celebrate, what it must do better or what support it needs from the Diaspora, and represent it in your own Zionist poster. Be thoughtful about the images, colors and slogans. Try to make your poster compelling for your target audience. You can create the poster using any artistic media and/or electronic device. You also must write a paragraph or two (250 words or fewer) explaining your message and your design choices.”
First: Madelyn Renne, 11, Jamestown, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
Second: Mila Teicher, 13, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
Third: Leah Neitlich, 13, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
Honorable mentions: Talya Claussen, 12, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School; Daniel Flit, 12, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School; Daniel Nider, 12, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School; and Nicole Wasserman, 11, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School.
Madelyn Renne, 11, Jamestown, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“This Zionist poster is directed toward the Women of the Wall. I drew a woman wearing a tallit and holding a Torah to represent what they do. I also drew the wall on the other side of her head to represent the name. This is a Zionism poster because I think they should be able to be at the wall and not get in trouble for it. It should be fair because nowadays women should be able to pray just as men do.”
Mila Teicher, 13, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“My picture is a beautiful way to explain the beauty and color of Israel. The people are very kind and hopeful which I know to be true. I wanted to create an image that shows excitement and joy. This is because I know I will be feeling that joy when I land in Israel for the first time. Such as I will be feeling when I visit Israel. I made it look more like graffiti art because graffiti is a work of art and it almost makes you feel enthusiastic when you notice it. Another important choice was to make it into a circle, showing that being Jewish and Jewish life is neverending. I made the Israeli flag and added a lot of stars of David as well as the hamsa symbol and made them holding a sign that says ‘home’. The reason I did that is to show that we love Israel and feel a deep connection with it like how people feel with a home. I wrote ‘Jewish people deserve a home to come to’ because we do. As well as everyone else.”
Leah Neitlich, 13, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“Since Israel was founded 75 years ago, the United States has been a big ally to Israel. My drawing represents the friendship between Israel and the United States. In our world today, we all wish that there will be world peace, and the United States and Israel are trying to make that dream come true. I specifically drew an American girl shaking hands with an Israelite girl who is also in the army. “
Talya Claussen, 12, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“In my Zionist poster celebrating Israel’s 75th birthday I am showing how Israel is not perfect. I wrote the words ‘Equality For ALL’ on my poster. I put these words to make the statement that Israel does not treat everyone equal (including Jews of color and Palestinian people). I drew the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. I also drew Israel and Palestine in between the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall instead of just Israel. I wanted to acknowledge that they both should exist even if both sides do not think that way. On the bottom of the poster I drew a flag, but it isn’t just a normal flag, it is a mix of the Israeli and Palestinian flags. I thought it would be important to show that I believe that Israel and Palestine should both exist and can exist in harmony.”
Daniel Flit, 12, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“The history of Israel is layered and so is my design. It is a picture of Jerusalem with a picture of Theodor Herzl on it and the number 75. I chose Jerusalem because it is one of the most important cities in Jewish history. So many things have happened there like the 1st and 2nd temple were built there, it was invaded by both the Romans and the Greeks and so much more! I picked Theodor Herzl because if it weren’t for him the first Israeli National Congress would have not happened. He also did a lot of things to make the dream of a nation for us possible and he promoted Jewish immigration to Israel. The seventy five is to celebrate Israel’s seventy fifth birthday, one of Herzl’s dreams. The 75 is coloured because Israel is alive, full of color, and light.
“I feel extremely connected to this poster, because of many reasons:
“1. My great-grandfather Salomon Flit was the leader of Zionism in Brazil.
“2. Israel is the home of the Jews.
“To make this poster, I used Adobe Photoshop. I made the picture of Jerusalem black and white and I added a picture of Theodor Herzl. I reduced the picture’s opacity and added bevel and emboss to him. Then I added the 75 and converted it to a shape and using a clipping mask and I made it colored with the photo of Jerusalem.
“Thank you for looking at my poster and essay.”
Daniel Nider, 12, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“I chose the flags because I really like flags and they are able to represent people and symbolize where people are from, especially people of the LGBTQ community and to show how much Israel has changed from back when it was just a province of a different empire to a whole new state. I put in the El Al logo and the Dome Of The Rock. I also put in the symbols of Islam and Christianity because they each make a part of Israel. And it is Zionist because once you see how beautiful Israel is, you won’t want it to be destroyed and you will stand with it no matter what. My poster says that no matter where you are or who you are, you are always part of Israel and you are welcome in Israel no matter your skin color, race, etc., and in mine and many others’ opinions it’s true and that is one of the reasons I think this is a meaningful poster and I think you will agree with me because we will support others and lift them up and allow them to help others because that is the Israeli way.”
Nicole Wasserman, 11, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“I drew this picture because Israel has worked hard for everything it has today. For me Israel is a lovely and gorgeous place that has magic all around it, no matter how much hate others give it. We are a proud and caring country. Israel is in the middle of the world surrounded by big and strong countries. Sometimes Israel feels alone. But luckily, there are some countries that are kind hearted and helped Israel make progress. Israel is not just home to Jews, it’s a place for many others that call Israel home. The tap represents the water that we need to take care of. The tank represents all the war Israel has been through, even after all the war and hate Israel is still standing proudly. The cloud and glider represents the magic Israel has. The ships represent the adventures Israel has been through and will go through. The sea life represents how close Israel is to the Mediterranean sea. This is why I created this poster.”
The following entries from sixth- to eighth-graders in our Israel@75 International Student Competition were not judged as winners but are too good not to share. CIE appreciates the effort these students put into engaging with ideas about Israel and creating art.
Jonathan Appelberg, 12, Vancouver, British Columbia, Vancouver Talmud Torah
“The land of Israel. This poster represents a few of the many successes Israel has done. The main idea is that today Israel has all the water they need because of all the technological innovations Israel has invented. The poster I have designed has a lake and a dam to show this. It also shows it with the tree in the corner that has well fertilized soil. The tall building represents Israel’s great success and how it was once not a country and now it is a big and striving nation. The synagogue beside the big building is to express that Israel after a long time is able to celebrate their religion without any of the problems they had in the past. The sentence I added is also a direct reference to what Israel was promised to be. I used ‘A land filled with milk and honey’ to connect to Jewish religion. My poster is to show all the successes of Israel and why you should move to this beautiful and constantly growing country.”
Gershom Brannon-Reutter, 11, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“The subject of my Zionist poster is inclusion because the Zionist dream is for a Jewish state where every Jew can be themselves. First the Jewish pride flag is the center of the picture. I included the Islamic mosque and the Kotel to represent inclusion of all religions. The words on it are Israel, life, and peace. The outline of the state of Israel is in the pride flag, and the pink in Israel symbolizes how Israel supports LGBTQ+ people.”
Samara Cathcart, 12, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“This is an online drawing of the Star of David, מגן דודץ, for Israel’s 75th birthday and my Zionist poster. When I think of Israel and the Jewish people, I think of the star.”
Elena LeBauer, 12, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“My Zionist poster is a drawing of Israel. It is not just any map, it has milk and honey. Doing my research I found out that honey symbolizes ‘pleasure, sweetness, truth and knowledge,’ and milk symbolizes ‘purity, nourishment, and wholesomeness.’ This is everything that Israel represents to so many people.”
Mira Luft, 13, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“My art project shows an Israeli matryoshka doll. But not just an ordinary, smiley matryoshka doll, an Israeli one that shows problems that affect Israel. These problems really stood out to me and I thought it would be interesting to put it into a picture. The matryoshka has a thought bubble above her head with a pitcher of water. Israel needs more water and that’s a big problem that affects Israel majorly. Next, on the right side, coming from her smile into a frown is fire. Israel has had a ton of wildfires, a lot of the time near the borders. On the left side of the frown is a Yeminite and Israeli holding hands. That shows wanting peace between the two. On her right hand is blood dripping down, just to show all the pain and suffering they’ve gone through. Last but not least is her face. Three different colors showing that all races should be treated the same and that they want racial equality. In conclusion, my picture represents a few but major problems that Israel faces. I hope after reading this and seeing my picture that you realize how much Israel goes through, especially because this is only a few of many many problems.”
Noah Strasser, 13, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
[Our apologies. The description was lost through a technical glitch.]
Tyler Strasser, 13, Greensboro, North Carolina, B’nai Shalom Day School
“My Zionist art project represents the Mediterranean Sea.Many people surf on the waves or go sailing. Israel is a great country. There are so many things to do there, including swimming and playing in the Mediterranean Sea. It is so important and incredibly special for Israel to be 75 years old this year!”
Hila Tavor, 11, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“The setting of this drawing is space because I feel that when people think of 75 years of Israel they think of the dark times, the sad times and the war. But when people think of Israel I want them to think of light of happiness. I want them to think ‘75 years of LIGHT’. Space is dark, it’s empty. But I want people to think of light. I didn’t use the word hope because hope is not action. Hope is just waiting and wishing but light is bright and powerful. It’s not just waiting and wishing. It means: action. Israel isn’t just about hope, it’s about lighting up the world. Just like Theodor Herzl said, “If you will it, it is no dream. And if you don’t, a dream it is, and a dream it will stay.” What I’m saying is Israel isn’t hope. It’s not just a wish or a dream. It lights up space. It lights up the world. Israel is light, it’s action, it’s reality.”
Ula Teicher, 13, Richmond, British Columbia, Richmond Jewish Day School
“Israel means to me the place and its religion. I can’t believe I was naturally born Jewish and had a Christmas with 8 crazy nights rather than just 1! I guess this was a rare occurrence and I am happy that I was born a Jew. Israel is a country and they do have really cool airplanes and aquariums there. There are palm trees and there are different types of birds and reptiles living here. I put pictures of things you can find in Israel as well as their flag along with other countries like Ukraine that we should support as the war is going on. I think we are going to Israel after the bat and bar mitzvah later this year like in October to visit and explore the differences visiting a different continent for the first time! I have been to Colombia before. Just couldn’t remember much going there. But I feel excited about the trip and maybe we should take a train or explore the city to explore and find new animals, aquariums, hotels, waterslides, buses, pools, trains, museums, planes and much much more! My mother showed me a waterpark in Israel that looks very cool! It kinda looks like the waterslides in UAE. I am excited to visit Israel soon! Todah and Shalom!!!!!!”
Grades 9-12
We asked students, for a museum staging an exhibit for Israel’s 75th year, to “create a visual representation of how one aspect of Israel has changed from 1948 to now. You must include something showing the status in 1948, something from the past year to show the current status, and at least two items from moments in the intervening 75 years. The combination of those visuals should show the process of change. You can use existing images, existing objects, and/or images or objects you create. Your representation can be physical or virtual, created with your choice of materials or applications. Your creation could include photos, artifacts, timelines, re-created objects, documents, videos, animation, or any other visual representation that fits your skills and interests. The minimum number of elements in your creation is four; the maximum is 10 … along with a written exhibit introduction in 500 words or fewer to address what you are representing, how it has changed, and how the visuals you have chosen demonstrate that change.”
First: Leeya Ilan, 15, Alpharetta, Georgia, The Weber School
Second: Renee Vaysman, 17, Brookhaven, Georgia, The Weber School
Third: Ezra Adler, 15, Sandy Springs, Georgia, and Adam Jacobson, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School
Honorable mentions: Rany Granath, 17, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Weber School; Hannah Reznik, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School; Layla Rothberg, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School; and Tahel Shantzer, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School.
First place
Leeya Ilan, 15, Alpharetta, Georgia, The Weber School
“Even before the creation of the country of Israel in 1948, Israeli women served in combat roles in support of the British and then would later become big parts in the soon-to-be-created IDF. Women joined combat rank and platoon commanders in the Palmach and Haganah, working side by side with men. In 1994, Alice Miller stood up for opening women’s roles in the army. She didn’t pass army assignments and tests due to its level (it was the exact same for women and men). She then followed to protest and opened the gap and allowed for women to now be pilots. This broke the bridge for women in the army. In between 1948 and the 1990s, women were an essential part of the military, but the roles were limited non-combat roles. They were still incorporated in amazing ways, in cerebral roles such as training men, commanding, mathematical roles. There is a huge unit in the army called the “Chel Nashim” that lit up a spark in women to get an important part in the IDF. In 2000, the door opened for women to have bigger roles in the army. As much as combat soldiers were needed, women were needed in training men, helping them, and preparing them for what they had to come. It was then allowed for women to enlist in the prestigious Moran, Meitar, amd Skyrider units as combat soldiers, leaders, and officers. Today, women are seen in every field and unit. It is remarkable that a country surrounded by strict countries that don’t allow women simple rights does allow amazing and incredible jobs and ranking in the army. Most even train and are in charge of men, preparing them for everything they need to know. The amazing opportunities given to women truly show what an inclusive and supportive country Israel is and it represents the incredible future the country has yet to come!”
Second place
Renee Vaysman, 17, Brookhaven, Georgia, The Weber School
“Welcome to the exhibit on Israel fashion through the years. In this exhibit, we will be exploring the change of Israeli fashion from the 1950s to the present.
“Throughout the years, Israeli fashion has undergone changes, reflecting the country’s social, cultural, and political developments. In the 1950s, Israeli fashion began to take on a style which incorporated traditional elements into their designs. In the 1970s and 1960s the fashion looks completely altered and began to feature bold fabrics, different types of shapes and loose-fitting clothing. Continuing into the 1980s and 1990s, Israeli fashion continued to progress into the extravagant and bold colors that were demonstrated in the 1970s. As fashion designers began to experiment more with these bold colors, different patterns and vibrant fabrics, they also began to incorporate new materials which helped further the fashion industry. Progressing into the 2000s and onward saw a return to a more minimalist aesthetic, with designers focusing mostly on simplicity but still incorporating some aspects of the other decades. Today, Israeli fashion has evolved to become a unique blend of traditional and modern styles, with designers drawing inspiration from their cultural heritage while also incorporating contemporary trends and materials.
“Throughout this exhibit, we choose visuals, including photographs, sketches, and clothing items, to show the changes in Israeli fashion over the years. These visuals demonstrate the changes in Israeli fashion and styles over the years. We hope you enjoyed this exhibit and learned more about Israel fashion history.”
Third place
Ezra Adler, 15, Sandy Springs, Georgia, and Adam Jacobson, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School
“For our project, we focused on the growth and transition of the Tel Aviv beach line from the 1940s until today. Although some of the images are deceiving because of the different angles the photos were taken, the viewer can clearly see the changes in both the beach area and the surrounding buildings throughout the years. From the ’80s until today, the Tel Aviv beach has become more popular throughout the world and has emerged as a huge tourist attraction. By the images, you can clearly see how un-crowded the beach was, and how every year more people are seen on the beach. In the past 20 years, the Tel Aviv beach has been packed with tourists and Israelis during Saturdays and holidays. In the 1960s the Shalom Meir Tower was built. It was the tallest building in Asia until 2010, standing at a whopping 142 meters with 32 floors. In the following years, many tall buildings such as hotels, office buildings, and apartments were built to create a new skyline. As a result, today’s visitor at Tel Aviv can see a full city with many different attractions including the beach, a huge market, and even a huge graffiti tour. Today, you can see how Tel Aviv has turned from an unpopular, run-down city to one of the biggest modern cities in the world with many attractions.”
Honorable mentions
Rany Granath, 17, Sandy Springs, Georgia, The Weber School
[All text is on the slides.]Hannah Reznik, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School
“When I started to research Israeli sports in the past 75 years, there wasn’t as many popular sports in 1948 because of the War of Independence. Israel was busy establishing itself. Judo was the first sport to become popular in Israel. Israel’s next popular sport was basketball, which flourished in the ’70s. Around the same time, soccer became another popular sport in Israel. With games held on Saturdays for soccer, fans could always attend because they don’t work on Shabbat. As the country developed, so did the sports. One example is gymnastics, which had put Israel on the international map of sports. The 200 meter race was a new popular sport that started in the 2000s.”
Layla Rothberg, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School
“Israeli Art(s) has really changed over time. When Israel was founded in 1948, most art was about the Holocaust. With many Holocaust survivors immigrating to Israel, art is a good way to express deep feelings. The pieces are not as colorful because of that and have very deep meaning from the founding till 1968. Starting then, art started becoming more abstract and colorful because more people from all over the world started immigrating to Israel. Then in 1988, the Arab-Israeli conflict took center stage, so most art started to reflect the conflict. The next chapter of Israeli Art was sculptures that had a personal meaning to the artist. Right now, Israeli Art is very diverse and often focuses on critiquing both people and society.”
Tahel Shantzer, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School
“During the earlier years, fashion was more practical because of the need for agriculture. Women are pictured wearing shorts and a button up shirt, establishing a sort of ‘kibbutz style.’ However, through the evolution of Israel, and many immigrants from all over, fashion grew. The ’50s showcased a whole new wardrobe for women, long skirts, because as the conflict was ending, personal style evolved. However, because of the hot weather, these clothing pieces had to be made with cotton and linen. As the time passed, in 1969 skirts also became shorter and were paired with leather jackets in the cold winter season. In the ’80s, a brand named Gottex started to make headlines with their bright colored bathing suits. Continuing with Israel’s innovation, Gottex was known because of their innovative fabrics. Now, Tel Aviv street style has evolved into a sort of business casual. Many who live there also work in the city, contributing to the unique style in the city. The evolution of style has progressed throughout the years and helps women feel comfy and beautiful in their own clothing.”
The following entries from ninth- to twelfth-graders in our Israel@75 International Student Competition were not judged as winners but are too good not to share. CIE appreciates the effort these students put into engaging with ideas about Israel and creating art.
Aaron Berman, Ilan Berman and Ari Gordon, Atlanta area, Georgia, The Weber School
[All text is on the slides.]Mira Glusman, Zoe Gordon and Shiri Richman, Atlanta area, Georgia, The Weber School
“For our project, we focused on the evolution of the makeup in Israel from the year of 1948 to 2023. At first, Israel’s conception of makeup was more of a natural look due to practicality and survival. Women did not focus on wearing makeup because it was seen as a luxury. Israel followed the trends of makeup and other cosmetics from the United States, but soon after, around the 2010s, Israel started to expand their makeup horizons by creating their own Israeli makeup and cosmetic lines.”
Liyel Margolias, 15, Dunwoody, Georgia, The Weber School
[All text is on the slides.]Nathaniel Salzberg and Ethan Goodhart, Atlanta area, Georgia, The Weber School
“‘Celebrating Israel’s Contributions.’ Beginning in 1948, Israel innovation is seen with its design of the Uzi machine gun which is still used today by the IDF. That particular design came out of necessity as Israel was fighting for its independence and survival. The innovation was not limited to objects at this point, but rather to the expansion of the Jewish State and its future role in the world. In 1965, this time out of necessity to make the land of Israel’s desert more fertile, the drip irrigation system was introduced. The idea was to provide an agricultural advantage to a land in which soil is arid. This innovation has helped Israel become more visible in other countries, as it has been used since all over the globe.The ’80s brought another agricultural revolution with Israel’s BioBee, a company dedicated to infusing technology into pest management and control of pollination. Mobileye was founded in 1999 and started out as one of the first AI driver assistance software companies. Its technology allowed users to detect incoming vehicles and pedestrians and potentially prevent accidents. Today, Mobileye has shifted to developing autonomous driving and was bought by Intel in 2017. In 2019 an Israeli startup made their debut at the Paris Air Show with the first ever electric plane. In 2022, the company officially completed its first flight.These inventions exemplify Israel’s dedication to improving not only herself, but also the entire world.”