Ma'ayan's+I-Face+Project



RATIONALE

When my class received the assignment to choose an individual that would represent "the face of Israel" I didn’t know how to get started finding this unique person. What makes any individual a symbol of their home? And what, In my opinion does my home represent? All these qualities must be present in this special personality.

I started off trying to channel my thoughts. I focused on what Israel means to me before I went into the process of finding an individual to reflect that same meaning. One of this country's strengths is the bond its citizens have with it. Throughout this project I hope to reevaluate this bond, find the root for this connection and express the importance of it.

That is why I chose to do this project about Nadia Matar. From the little I know about her, it seems apparent that she cares deeply about her country and she is willing to dedicate her life to do what is best for her people and her land. I hope that with her cooperation I will strengthen my bond with Israel and with her help discover my "face of Israel".



INTERVIEW

Where did you go to high school? Did that school, in any way, affect your political views today? I grew up in Belgium. I don’t feel that my school affected my political stand point but I was always very active in my community naturally. The source of my political views as a child was at a youth group, very similar to beney akiva that led me to really understand what Israel and Judaism is all about. That youth group was the push that lead me to, at the age of 16 become religious, and at the age of 18 come to Israel.

When did u start being politically active, and what inspired/led you to your beliefs? I grew up in a not very religious but very Zionistic home. I remember as a child growing up in Belgium, when the Belgium news came on we could talk but when Israel was mentioned, we had to be quiet right away.

What does Israel represent to you? Country wise and nation wise. I feel that without living in Israel u cannot be a real Jew. It works some what like a triangle you must have all the links in order to really be a part of the whole-the land- the rules- and feeling a part of a nation bigger then just you and me.

What would you say makes Israel unique? And how do your political views represent that uniqueness? Israel’s uniqueness is something deeper then the land, it’s the energy that we feel stepping on its soil. That feeling, is what makes Israel unique, the bond a piece of land has with its people. That is exactly what I am fighting for, a chance for my children and grandchildren to live on this soil and a chance for them to be complete and proud Jews.

How much is your political views and opinions influenced by your religion? My political views are ONLY based on my religion. I fight for Israel through riles and make my voice heard so that we can all pursue our religion in this land.

What is your opinion about children being politically active/ aware? I think that a child that is not brought up in an aware environment is not raised correctly. A child can not understand the true value of Judaism or home, without being aware of the political stand point of it all. After the children grow up, if they do not wish to remain politically aware that would be up to them.



I understand you are chairwomen of the group "women in green"; please explain what that organization represents and what that job entails. Originally we called ourselves “women for Israel’s tomorrow” and we represented and represent till this day just that, fighting for Israel’s future. We fight and make our voices known by riles and protests and awaken people to the understanding that it’s up to us through fliers and other media.

You and Ruth are co presidents and founders of the group "women in green" ("women for tomorrow"). Do you Ruth ever have different opinions about a specific political event? How do you, as a group, decide how to respond to that event? we mostly get along, after you’ve been sent to jail for protesting with a person on more then one occasion you learn to get along for the most part and when we do disagree every now and then Ruth is after all my mother in law so at the end, what she says goes. Before organizing any event we sit as a group and discuss and agree on an approach and action that way we are all on the same page. Do you feel your political views affect friendships and relationships with people who have different political stand points? If so, explain how. Defiantly. I feel like I could never be extremely close with someone who doesn’t believe strongly in what I am fighting for. I have many friends that don’t think as strongly as I do, and are not politically active, but I could never be friends with some one that was completely opposed to my beliefs. It’s really very logic, leftists believe in making peace with our enemy. I could not be friends with some one who WANTS to be friends with someone who wants to kill me.

PROFILE

I grew up in Belgium. As a child I grew up in a very traditional Jewish home. The fact that we were Jewish meant something. Growing up, I remember several occasions that emphasized Israel and Judaism above all. When the Belgium news would come on, my sister and I were allowed to talk. On the other hand, when the Israeli news would come on, we knew right away that we must keep quiet and let my mother and father listen. They would explain it all to us later. And on the Sabbath my whole family had a traditional Jewish meal, although without kosher food. After our meal we all sat down and watched TV as a family. In short, my family wasn’t religious but I knew that being Jewish was different. It was something unique and I felt it was a lot deeper than just that meal once a week. I felt it was a lifestyle that I just didn’t know about. Recognizing that, I started going to a youth group, very similar to the b’nei akiva youth group here in Israel. Through the youth group I started to feel part of a community and became very involved. I marked my place with a bright red marker so-to-speak. During my years involved in the youth program I learned more and more about Judaism. That youth program led me to really understand what Israel and Judaism is all about. At the age of 16 I decided to become religious, while still living in my parents’ home. Throughout those years I developed a deeper and more meaningful understanding and longing towards Israel, our homeland. When I was eighteen, after many talks with my parents and promising to return at the end of the year, I decided to come to Israel to study for the year. I learned in an Israeli program called Machon Gold. This experience strengthened me even more religiously and I became even more Zionist. The year flew by and I returned to Belgium to my parents’ home according to plan, but my heart stayed with the land. My whole stay in Belgium with my parents after that year wasn’t the same. My parents and friends could tell I was miserable. I was very active and pro- Israel in the streets of my town. Eventually, my parents understood how unhappy I was and gave me their blessing to make aliya. I made aliya alone and met my husband here in Israel. We decided to build our home in Efrat, Gush Etzion. Then the year 1994 came around. I was never politically involved before that point. I mean I was aware and I read the papers. I went to elections and understood. But I was never moved to take a political stand point. When Yitzchak Rabin was elected as president he appeared to be very good for the Jewish people and our home land. However, after his elections the facts were apparently different. Rabin wanted to make a peace trading with the Palestinians and their leader, Yassir Arafat. After the nation was informed of these plans my mother-in law, Ruth Matar, called me up and discussed the situation with me. With time we were more and more disgusted with what was happening in our country. We decided we had to do something. We wanted to reach out to the people of this land and tell them that they too have a say in things. Our way to do that was through a weekly political satire comic strip. Our first comic displayed that even though the Palestinians promise to keep peace, peace was not an option; it was not even a word in their vocabulary. Slowly our message reached more and more people. Eventually the idea of forming a group to make our voices stronger was brought up before my mother-in-law and me. We agreed. We called our group “Women for Israel’s Tomorrow”. We believed that people needed a group to organize and motivate them to speak as a nation. The peace agreement Rabin was hoping to pass on was to give away certain parts of Israel to the Palestinians. In exchange, they would agree to the conditions of peace. When Ruth and I heard about this arrangement, we were absolutely revolted. I feel it is no one’s right, but G-d’s, to decide who should have this Holy Land. And He has chosen us. I believe that Israel is a very important part of being Jewish. It works some what like a triangle. You must have all the links in order to really be a part of the whole, in order to be a complete Jew. You must love and have the land- keep the torah - and feel a part of the Jewish nation. We decided, as a group, to stand up for that element that makes us all one, and fight for our land. “The Women for Israel’s Tomorrow” decided to make a human chain. We walked along the border of the “new Israel”. We decided to wear green to emphasize that we are protesting the concept of the “green line”. It was quite cold so we just wore green hats instead of shirts as well, but the message was sent across nation wide, with help from the media’s catchy name “women in green”.

Israel’s uniqueness is something deeper then the land. It’s the energy that we feel stepping on its soil. That feeling, is what makes Israel unique. It is a bond between a piece of land and her people. That is exactly what I have dedicated my life fighting for, a chance for my children and grandchildren to live on this soil and a chance for them to be complete and proud Jews.

BACKGROUND RESEARCH (ARTICLE) Last week the President of the United States, George Bush, met with the chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, Abu Mazen. In that meeting both leaders hoped to formulate a peace treaty between the Jewish and so called “Palestinian” nations. Abu Mazen assured President Bush that all he hopes for the Palestinian community “is a chance at a civilized and peaceful lifestyle.” He suggests that creating a “Palestinian” State alongside the State of Israel would achieve this goal. In this way, he argues, with their own president and political rights, they would have more power and influence and thereby may restore some control that his nation has been lacking. Abu Mazen asks the Israel state to retreat from all the land conquered by Israel in 1967 (any land past the green line) and declare the Palestinian nation a state in that land given to them by Israel. In return the Palestinians promise to live in harmony with the Israeli state which would now be much smaller and weaker. Issues such as what to do with the more than 250,000 Israelis now living in these areas that are promised to be given away or the Palestinian’s demand that millions their refugees return to Israel proper was not addressed or resolved. In the past, Israel has made gestures towards peace. Two and a half years ago Israel removed its own citizens from their homes causing thousands of Jewish people’s lives to change forever, leaving many once wealthy people homeless and jobless. This was a phenomenon the world has never seen. Giving up your own land to give the enemy a gift?! The areas of Gaza were evacuated and turned over to the Palestinians as a gesture for peace. These areas are now the launching grounds for daily Kassam rockets which attack the Negev desert and the city of Sderot causing injuries and damage. Elections in the Gaza area produced a government controlled by Hamas, a party which Abu Mazen has no influence. Throughout the process of these decisions, we Israelis, the people of this land, have tried to make our voices heard, although we are barely even heard as a whisper. Last week, during President Bush’s visit in our Holy Land the Right wing tried to express their dismay of these decisions through two protests which took place in Jerusalem- our capital. In the rallies the protesters gathered with signs demanding the release of the imprisoned Israeli spy- Jonathan Pollard, a policy to continue building in the west bank, and a forceful and fast military response to end the terrorism in the Gaza strip. In the southern part of Jerusalem, Har Choma, is located right outside the green line, in a future Palestinian state. Reluctantly, President Ehud Olmert has ordered, on behalf of President Bush’s orders to stop building in that part of Jerusalem. The United Jerusalem movement- that was recently formed as a result of these orders was expecting thousands of people to join a rally and build a human chain around the city of Jerusalem. Unfortunately this stunning visual tribute could not take place for lack of participants and bad weather. Protests must be heard and continue in a democratic society where the citizens have the right to express their views to their leaders. Unfortunately, it seems that the only peace Abu Mazen and President Bush see is peace in a world without the Jewish people present in it.
 * Is this peace?! **

LITERARY CONNECTION Somewhere between Love & Hate, Pain & ecstasy, War & peace.
 * Oblivion/ Xoandre **
 * There is a place

There is a place Where life is a challenge, Where dreams can come true, Where the poor are made whole...

There is a place Where there only truly Matters one race The Human Race...

There is a place Where there is no color Nor greed nor hate But purity and wisdom...

There is a place Where kisses are always sweet Where hugs are soft And all are free... **

"There is a place" we all wish to reach; it is our destiny, the purpose for which we live in this world. We feel so connected to this place because it is a part of our being. It is the source of our longing. There is a human instinct that tells us there is always more possible, that we are always capable of better and greater things, even if truthfully we gave it our best shot. There is just excellence, somewhere off in the distance, and nothing other than that. This poem expresses beautifully that feeling, that longing to a better more peaceful world. It is inspirational to see it all listed in front of you. Motivating. Comforting to see that goal materialized in writing. So reachable, just like directions to reach your destination. Even though truthfully it is not as simple as these "directions" may suggest. There is contrast and conflict we must face in order to reach our balance. We must face a little of each feature in this world in order to mark our own path. We must find "Somewhere between Love & Hate, Pain & ecstasy, War & peace."

In order to reach this ideal, this value must be one that is present in every one of our lives, as Israelis and as part of the human race. We must all reach out and help one another. That is the beauty of the Jewish nation. We are all brothers. All connected. And all the while, we all have a longing to our home, the house we grew up in; the house that was promised to us since it's creation; the house we were all meant to fight for and protect, making life on our land a place "where kisses are always sweet, where hugs are always soft and all are free." CREATIVE CONNECTION Why would one paint when he could just take a picture?? Every artist has been asked this question at a certain point. In a picture you can capture, more or less, what you see. In a painting, I feel, you have the opportunity to express not what you see, but how what you see affects you personally. For my creative assignment I have chosen to paint a painting of an eye, the window into ones soul. Throughout this report I see more and more clearly that the Jewish soul has a special connection to its land. A connection that isn't as strongly present in other cultures. In the eyes reflection I posted pictures of places in Israel to symbolize the affect this connection has on our being. It blends in and becomes a part of us. REFLECTION How do I define the face of Israel?? This question has been popping in and out of my head since we started this project. My country, my home, has more then just one face. It has millions. Every person that walks by me in the street leaves his footprint in this country. Every tree or flower or road that is built leaves a mark. It’s the feeling you feel walking out side after the first rain fall of the year, or the breath taking views you see everywhere you turn, making you start taking it all for granted. How can one face, one person, include so many features?? Throughout this project I hoped to define this complex bond I feel for my home land. I wanted to better understand this bond that makes everything special and everything unique. A bond that says; "You can't find this anywhere else, just try." It’s a feeling, a lot like belief. I think those who seek it, will feel it. I hoped to strengthen this belief in order to be more actively involved in my relationship with this country. To do this I looked for a person who shared a similar bond as I, only stronger, so that I could learn from this person and insert these features I learned into my own life. Luckily I chose the right voice to fallow. I chose Nadia Matar to help me capture the amazing compation, which I hoped to portray, to writing. By learning about Nadia's bond I was able to understand on a deeper level the importance of this connection. It’s a lifestyle that I would like to partake. BIBLIOGRAGHY Interview: Matar, Nadia. interview. 13.01.08. Efrat, Israel. Vaked, Ali. "Peace Treaty." Ynet. Yediot Achronot. 10.01.08, 09:49. Ynet. 24.02.08. <[|http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3492564,00.html>.]
 * Profile-**
 * background research:**

frenkle, sheera Claire. “Dismay on the Right at Low Turnout for Anti Bush Rallies”. “The Jerusalem Post”. 11 Jan. 2008. Video and research article : Yechezkel, Tzvi. "Bush Believes in a Peace Treaty." //Nana News//. 11.01.08. Nana10. 28.01.08. . http://www.geocities.com/xoandre.geo Xoandre. "Xoandre's World." Xoandre. //Xoandre's World//. Moatsart Enterprises. Oblivion. 01.04.08. .
 * Literary connection-**