Orly's+I-Face+Project

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__ //Yehuda Noyman:// __ =__ Rationale: __= I've decided to do my project on Yehuda Noyman. He is a friend of my family and he was imprisoned by the Jordanian army during 1948, Iyyar, 25th. Now he is seventy-nine years old. I hear my parents talking about him all the time and my curiosity was awoken.

In this project, I want to show you his life – during all the years, as well as now. I want us to know what it felt like to be in the prison. I think Noyman can represent one of the faces of Israel because of his actions for the country and because of his loyalty to it. Despite all the hardship Neuman had been through he is still living in Israel, in Kibbutz 'Ein Tzurim'. At present, his work is organizing a lecture on Judaism to a broad audience.

For myself, I would like to know how his life was like during his childhood and about his family, and what encouraged him to go to the defense of Israel. I want to hear more about his experience in the wars.

I Hope you will like my project and that it will be interesting to you.

=__ The profile: __= Yehuda Leib Noyman was born on April, 4th 1928 / Nissan, 15th. His grandfather, called Aharon Ya'akov, had the responsibility to check the //kashrut// on milk and the cowshed, during 1920's-30's of the 19th centery, in "Bnei-Atarot", called back then "Wilhelmah". His father, Abraham Yitzchak, made Aliya in 1920, as well as his mother, Ester Fiega in 1926. After his mother's death because of the tuberculosis disease, age 35, his father married Bluma, and he has a half sister, named Chana. Noyman wasn't at the wedding because of his studyies but he still had good relationships with his step mother. As a child, he lived in Kfar-Saba, learned in a "cheider" and worked along with his father in the orchard and the cowshed. Noyman also learned in 'Yeshivat Lamozah', Petach-Tikva, and 'O'hel Ya'akov', Tel Aviv. After that he learned in 'Yeshivat Ezra', Kfar Saba. After he finished his studying, he joined the 'Hagana' and went in the 'Palmach' – one of the most favorites units. He learned to use weapons such as guns and sticks since before he joined to 'the Hagana', with the help of the Hagana men who in Kfar Saba, helping them protect the village. The date of his Aliya to 'Ein-tzurim'-to-be was 22.10.1946. The source of the name came from the tiny spring, that was near by with no more then a few litters of water a day but together with a lots of rocks. One occurrence he remembers from that time is that once he was chosen to help a few other people organize the supplies they had just gotten. While they worked, he saw that part of the supply was illegal weapons and they hide them in a 'slik' (a secret place underground to hide weapons.). Until then he didn't know about it's existence. All of his time in the 'Hagana' he never thought of quitting and leaving because he believed the purpose was important. After his release from the captivated he joined again a group, that went south from Gush Etzion (most of them were from his first group) in rebuild 'Ein Tzurim', that was destroyed during the war and to replaceit with 'Rosh Tzurim' – and that was where he met his wife (she was a part of the second group that joined them, from 'Biriya'). Until this day he and his wife Zehava lives there. They have three children: Nadav, Chanan and Tamar. Today, Noyman works at 'Yaakov Hertzog Center', organized lectures on different subjects. For Example: Jewish lecture, the connection between religious people and non-religious people, learning the Jewish history by different flows of the Judaism, meeting for teachers all over the world, the meaning of the Jewish identity, and dialogs. for more information of Yaakov Herzog Center's activities click [|here.]

=__Backgound search:__=

By the U.N.'s partition plan (29.11.1947), Gush Etzion was supposed to be under Arab rule, because the area was surrounded by Arabs. As soon as the Arabs heard the plan they put Gush Etzion under siege and all the supply convoys were attacked. The Gush was under a siege for five months, in January all the women and the children were sent to Jerusalem for their safety. Once there was a convoy, called 'the thirty five' (ha-Lamed-He) that tried to enter the Gush from the back for reinforcement, but they were discovered and killed. It was hard to get supplies and the ammunition. After five long and hard months, May, 14th, the day of Israel declaration as a State, the Gush fell and the people were taken as Jordanian captives. For three weeks Gush Etzion's captives were held in the Chebron police station. On june, the 3rd, they were taken to the Jordan-Irak-Syria desert. On June, the 6th, all the women and the injured men were sent back to Israel. February, the 21st, 1949, after long waiting it was decided to return the captives to Israel. At this time their number was 680 people so they were set free in groups, each group with two days pause.
 * Gush Etzion under a siege and its people -**

After those times Gush Etzion was under Jordan's control for twenty long years, after the 'Six Days War' (1967) Israel joined Gush Etzion into its borders. Part of Gush Etzion's people joined different groups and helped to built more places in Israel. Other people came, and build again Gush Etzion and other places in the Gush. Some of the places were named the same (Kfar Etzion) but some of the places' name were already given to other places (like 'Ein Tzurim') so naw the name of 'Rosh Tzurim' was used to rename the original 'Ein tzurim'.

=__ Literature connection: __= Platinum (the original version is in Japanese): //copyright to Yoho Iwasato and 'Clamp' (1998/99)// media type="file" key="Sakura- platinum.mp3"

I'm a dreamer... My power hides within...

My world is Made of dreams and love and uncertainly. But something that I can't imagine, Must be hidden inside.

Just like trees That heading to the sky I'm staring you with a straight gaze.

//__Refrain:__// // I want to find it // // I want to make it come true // // I believe in you // // And with just that // // There is nothing I can't overcome. // // Just like singing, // // Like a miracles, // // My feeling keep changing everything // // I'm sure, doubtless // // So much you'd be surprised. // I'm a dreamer...  Hidden power...

A world yet unseen... No matter what awaits me there, Even if it's not the ideal, I won't be afraid. The birds travel on the wind On a journey from today to tomorrow. //__Refrain:__// // I want to find it // // I want to make it come true // // I believe in you // // And with just that // // There is nothing I can't overcome. // // Just like singing, // // Like a miracles, // // My feeling keep changing everything // // I'm sure, doubtless // // So much you'd be surprised. //

(Note: this song's translate from Japanese; the first part is how I know it, but the second one it's what I have found on the internet from a few sites.)

The poem is about someone who talking about his world. In his world he has good as well as bad things. But he continues to survive and endure the hardships he has because he believes in himself (has a "hidden power"), knowing he can do better, and he is not giving up his hopes. That person trusts his heart, letting the heart decide what he should do, so at the end he discovers that his decision was good, even if the final consequence are not exactly what he thought that would happen. This is an undiscovered world to that person; he had never seen it before and he doesn't know what is waiting for him there. Even though, he will go to "explore" it, because he wants to get to know himself better. That person is one that faces the truth without hesitation. He faces other people, with what he has to give to them, and by saying he believes in them. The poet shows us the meaning of his song by borrowing descriptions as to what the world is made of, the comparison between people and nature – trees, birds. I think that any thing of this world has an inner core so they also have life by themselves although it is not like ours. We feel closer to the song because it was written in first person, and from that we get the feeling we are the one who sings the song. I think the message here is that we need to face our hardships as best we can and not run away from them. To tell others what we really think, and to not hesitate to ask for help when we need it. I feel this song is what is missing in my life – to be honest with myself and others, to say what I think during discussions in my class, not withdrawal from my friends when I'm concerned. When I hearas the song I feel connected to it because the dreams and the wishes in the song are like mine, and also because of the connection there is to the nature, it makes me feel something like freedom. I think that although the original song was written in Japanese, the song can describe the people of Israel because of all the hardships they had been through all time and during wars, the defense of Israel, the holocaust, and also the history of the Jewish nation – Egypt, the exile, Christianity and Islamism, the British and the Turkish mandate. The Israeli people succeeded to pass all this and more, not to fail in the middle of the way, not to lose their faith in the G-d and themselves, because they believed in their rights.

= __Creative Connection:__ =

I have decided to do my creative connection on places in Israel. Each place has it own special story and I wanted other people to hear about those places.

Tzfat – an ultra-orthodox city and it painted all in blue. In Tzfat we have the narrowest alley in the world, called 'The Meshiach alley'. Tzipori – an ancient place to the Jews. In the old days the 'Sanhedrin' lived over there. There are remains from those times like the mosaic in the picture. Chaifa - In the ottoman rule's time Chaifa was a center city because of its location- near the sea with all the ships, and on the traveling road from Europe and Asia. The picture shows us the Bahai's temple. It has beautiful gardens, a good place to visit on a tour. Kibbutz 'Nahalal'- kibbutz is a special phenomenon to Israel because in the kibbutz everybody giving his/her shares at the chores or the money when it needed. Kibbutz Nahalal is even more special because of its shape (a circle), and it was the first kibbutz to be build under the moshavot's organization. kinneret lake – one of Israel main source water, and a place for tourist. Near the lake there is also the kibbutz Kinneret, this is where //Rachel the poet// and //Naomi Shemer// lived and where buried. Tel-Aviv – a central to the Israelis people for its activities and history. The American embassy resides over there for today. One of Tel-Aviv's symbols is Azraeli's buildings and it is the second tallest building in Israel (187 meters.) Jerusalem – Israel's capital. It has history since the bible times, with the patriarchs Avraham, Itzchak and Ya'akov and to this day. This is the government place and also haves a lot of tour's places for education or fan. Gush Atzion – This place was one of Jerusalem main defense spots during the wars. It says the patriarchs traveled through this way so today we call id the 'patriarch's road' or the 'mountain road' because of it location and shape. The tree is an oak tree, the gush symbol, because when the settlers of the underground organizations needed to leave (danger and imprisonment) the tree was there and it was like that when they came back after years. The tree nickname is 'The Lonely Oak' for the reason it didn’t have any others trees or planets near it. Judah Desert – the desert has it own story in the Jews history and bible. Today it's nature reserve to animals like tigers and eagles. It is also a tour place with beautiful view that can reach the Dead Sea or the opposite side, to Gush-Atzion. The planet in the picture is prickly pear cactus a typical planet to the desert and in Hebrew it's name is also a nickname to those who where born in Israel, 'Tzabar'. The Banging Bridge – it is a tour place over the 'Basor' river. It is one of the longest bridges in the world (80 meters). It is near kibbutz Revivim – one of three places that where the cause to having the Negev in the partition plan during 1948. Mitzpeh Ramon – a place in the Negev for tourists with a nature reserve nature as well as a high place to watch the stars. Elate – Israel's most southern city. People all over Israel are going there for their vacations. The city has a lot of hotels and activities; one of it is swimming with dolphins – the only possible place in Israel.

=__Reflection:__= My expectations from the project were that: A- I'll learn about new people that I have never heard of them before. B- At first I thought it will be a little boring because this issue is not what we usually talk about it in the class. C- I thought it will be fan to speak to other people that not in our area – the 'weberwriters'. My expectations proofed somewhere in the middle – not wrong or right - I imagined one thing to happen, but it was different, not in the way I expected, although at the end there was a resemblance to what I have expected. I wouldn't change anything from what I have done or from the project, because I believe that the way we got the assignments were the best for us, even if we don't know it. I learned from the project a little of Israel's past – what the hardships and the wars did to the people, how they lived. My favorite part of the project was the 'literature connection' because I could and was needed to say what I thinking about the piece I chose, although it doesn't have a real connection to Israel and still make a connection that other people won't think about.

=__appendix:__=

Interview questions:

 * 1) How was your family?
 * 2) How was your school?
 * 3) In what way was your school different from today?
 * 4) Who were your friends during school?
 * 5) What are you doing exactly today?
 * 6) What did you like most during your youth?
 * 7) If you had a chance to go back in the time, would you change something of your life? Do you have any regret? Why?
 * 8) What was it like to live in Israel before the state was built?
 * 9) Why did you decide to help in the defense of Israel eventhough it wasn't a state back then?
 * 10) How did you come to be in the Jordanian prison?
 * 11) What was it like to be imprisoned by the Jordanian army?
 * 12) What were the hardships during the war?
 * 13) What hardships were there during the time after the war?
 * 14) How did you come to live in Kibbutz 'Ein Tzurim'?
 * 15) Do you like to live in the kibbutz?
 * 16) What hardships have you had while building in the kibbutz?
 * 17) Is there something that you are sad about now or that you think was better in the past?
 * 18) Have you ever thought of leaving Israel? Why?
 * 19) Do you have a special event that you remember from Gush-Etzion? Why?
 * 20) Do you have any wishes for the future?

The interview:
Q- How was your school different back then? R- He didn't learn in a regular school like we have today, instead, he learned in a "cheider", a place, where children learned torah, and the of the day worked in feild or orchad.

Q- When you were child, what did you liked to do the most? R- He liked to mischief, donkes back riding and animals, he took care of a falcon, which decided to live on their roof. Once, he succeeded in bringing a donkey to his class. School wasn't one of his favorite hobbies.

Q- Why did you decided to help in the defense of Israel although it wasn't a state back then? Why did join the 'Hagana' and not something else? R- He believed in the defense of his homeland. Most of his friends went in to the 'Hagana' although not everyone, and his education from home made him someone who wouldn't go to extremism or retirement.

Q- What were the hardships during the war and the settlement of Gush-Etzion? R- The hardships were that they hadn't a lot of weapons and munitions, didn't come home for long periods, and they were attacked by arabs and put under siege.

Q- How was it to be a captive of Jordan? R- "Not a great pleasue" as he said, but for the present day captives and the missing people of Israel he wishes for them to have the same attention his friends and he got, as they were the first captives of Israel after two thousand years. A lot of Jewish people, all over the world wished them well.

Q- Is there a special event you remember from Gush-Etziyon? R- During the surrender to Jordan, he was the only one of the captives with a first-aid kit - because he was the only one there who had a first aid's course – so he needed to bandage the Jordan's' injured, from the battle against Israel. He took care of them alone, and he was not sure if he would see his friends again because they where taken away to the opposite side.

Q- If you had a chance to change the past, would you change something? R- Even if he had a chance to change the past he wouldn't do it, he is happy with his decisions and does not regret them. He is happy with what came about in Israel as a state, he was talking about his experience living in Israel before, during and after its formation.

Q- What are you doing in 'Hertzog Center', your work place? R- He is responsible for an educational program, once in two weeks on Tuesday. The title is "Events and Decisions that Changed the Face of the Nation" (from ancient people like Moshe until today). It is for everyone who wants to listen, not only religious people.

Q- Did you ever think of leaving Israel? Why? R- The answer is 'no'. For him Israel is not something you choose as a possibility that when it's hard you can leave and then return when all is calm. It is also his answer about the thought of leaving 'Ein Tzurim'

Bibliography: "Gush Etzion." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. 23 Mar 2008, 01:19 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 Mar 2008 .

"What is unique about the Yaacov Herzog Center? ." __Yaakov Herzog Center__ 29.03.2008 [|http://www.merkazherzog.org.il/.]

Noyman, Yehuda. __BaDerech__. Jerusalem: Dfus Chemed, 2004. (pictures and information)

Noyman, Yehuda. personal interview. 23.10.2007.