Ayelet's+I_Face

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I decided to dedicate this profile project to Kfi Covel, a friend of mine and an adopted member of my family. Kfi came into my life 5 years ago while she was learning at a girl’s seminary. As a child of converts, Kfi didn’t have any family in Israel, so my family became her “Israel family” and our home became her home. It was as if I gained another sister. But this sister was different. She was so sure of herself about her desire to move away from her family and live in Israel. I am not sure I could make such a drastic change in my life. Kfi made aliya on her own 2 years ago, joined the army, and has made a lot of friends in the process. When this project was assigned, I immediately thought about Kfi as my subject because I admire her independence and love of life. By making aliya on her own, and then joining the Israeli army, she has shown me what it is to have great inner strength. She is one of my role models.

Profile:
Dave Weinbaum once wrote: "//The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings."// **__ Kfi covel __** : I chose to write about a 23 year old female who recently moved to Israel. kfi covel made aliya by herself, without any other family members or even having family already in Israel, something I admire and don't think I could ever have done myself. Now, to get to know Kfi a little better, let me tell you a little bit about her family. Kfi was born into a family that parents converted to Judaism. Kfi's mom was the inspiration for both herself and her husband to covert to Judaism. She was searching for religious answers and went to many different religions asking questions. Judaism seemed to have the most answers that satisfied her the most. Kfi's given name is ""Kfirah," which means going against God's ways and challenging God. As a child, Kfi didn't know what her name meant, but every so often teachers or rabbis would ask her what her name meant, she responded that she didn't know, and they would then just smile or laugh. It became a running joke. When she was in high school she learned the meaning of her name and began to use her nickname, Kfi, which anyway was easier for Americans to pronounce. When Kfi came to Israel, she used her proper name, Kfirah, more often for that very same reason, that is, Kfirah is easier for Israelis to pronounce. When asked whether she liked her name or would she like to change it, she would reply that she likes her name and thinks that it's cool, strange, different, and a great conversation starter. Her parents named her by this name simply because they liked how it sounded and were unaware of its true meaning. Nowadays, Kfi uses both names. She uses "Kfi" for more family and close friends and "Kfirah" for others. Kfi is the second of four children. She has an older sister and two younger brothers. Kfi and her siblings are different than their cousins, in that her family are orthodox Jews and her cousins are practicing Christians. You'd think that there would be some tension between them but no, not for the Covels. Their cousins have been very supportive of them throughout everything. In fact, Kfi even calls her non-Jewish grandmother "Bubby!", a name of endearment that her grandmother loves to be called! Although her cousins thought that it was a strange thing for Kfi to move to Israel, they were also very supportive of her. Kfi was born and raised in a Jewish community. She always had a love for Israel and always wished and talked about making aliya some day. Kfi's recent aliya was not her first attempt to live in Israel. When she was five years old, she and her family made aliya. That's where my family met them –in "mevaseret Zion"- an absorption center. A year later, the Covels returned back to the U.S for economic reasons. After high school, Kfi decided to come to Israel for a year and learn in a yeshiva type program called "midrasha Ayelet Hashachar." Kfi left the program early because it was hard for her to travel every day to the midrasha and she realized that she wanted a midrasha where the learning hours are longer and more serious. Kfi then transferred to a different midrasha named "Nishmat". By the end of the year, the midrasha had nurtured Kfi's love for Israel and a desire to make Israel her permanent home. When asked to explain, Kfi would simply say that she desired to “live in a land where Jews openly celebrate the Jewish holidays and hitch-hike freely.” During Succot that year, she came to visit my family, the Auerbach's, who she had heard quite a lot about from her mother. Since that visit, she has not stopped coming to our home. When her sister got engaged, Kfi flew back home, and headed for university. Kfi planned to stay in university for only one year because her dream has always been to make aliya, however, her mother encouraged her to complete university and get a degree before making aliya. Throughout her collage years, Kfi has come to Israel every summer to visit. Not more than a week after graduating, she made aliya with the help of her family, friends, and "Nefesh B'nefesh" [December 29 th, 2008]. Although Kfi has only been here one year, she has accomplished so much throughout this short period of time. To begin her path to becoming a true and belonging Israeli citizen, Kfi began taking "ulpan" classes in Jerusalem. At the same time, Kfi was juggling being a baby sitter and a waitress in order to pay her bills. Once more proficient in Hebrew, she started her first service to the nation by volunteering in a group called "Standing Together", that shows support to soldiers. They would visit soldiers at out-posts and bases, bringing them food and letting them know how much the soldiers mean to the people and the country. In the summer of 2009, she got an internship with a group called "presentence" a program to help young Jewish people with social innovation start their project. Kfi was 22 at the time when she wanted to join the army. But she was told that she was already too old to be drafted. Kfi had to work extra hard to get the army to allow her to join, but she succeeded and was accepted into the air force. With Kfi's great talents, she was accepted into a special program, which would teach her to repair helicopters. Unfortunately, she had to drop out of this program because she decided she couldn't give 3 full years to the army. At this time, Kfi is working as an English teacher within the army. So I guess this is where I tell you what I learned: my conclusion is that I admire Kfi and I think Kfi could be an amazing role model to all people. She has incredible strengths and wonderful qualities. It is hard for me to imagine her having gone through all that she had, and it has impressed me. There are a lot of people that they know what they want but they are either too lazy to get it or just don’t have the time, the energy, or the patients to go after their dreams. Kfi however, followed her dreams and completed such a big goal in her life. I admire Kfi so much for all of the hard choices she has made and of the independent person she has become. I recently read the following quote: “ So many fail because they don't get started- they don't go. they don't overcome inertia. They don't begin." -W. Clement Stone



Background Research: [[image:nbn%20logo.jpg width="210" height="154" align="right"]]
Nefesh Be’Nefesh Nefesh B’Nefesh is an organization that assists Jews from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in making aliya. As the Nefesh b’nefesh web site states “ The core mission of NBN is to revitalize Aliyah and to substantially increase the number of future Olim by removing the financial, professional and logistical obstacles that prevent many individuals from actualizing their dreams.”

Nefesh B'Nefesh was founeded eight years ago by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Florida businessman and philanthropist Tony Gelbart, with the financial suport and assistance of Rabbi Yechial Eckstein's organization "International Fellowship of Christians and Jews" (IFCJ). Soon after that initial year, they discontinued their affilation with the Christian organizations. The goal of Nefesh Be’Nefesh is to support Angelo Jewish olim in the progress of aliya. This includes finding jobs and places to live. A lot of Jews cannot fulfill they’re dreams to come to Israel because they might not have the money, or may not be able to find a job, or for other challenges that make it hard for them to move to Israel. The Jewish Agency was once the sole organization that dealt with assisting Jews from all over the world to moving to Israel. In recent years, the Jewish Agency has turned over the responsibility of their aliya desk for North Americans to Nefesh Be’Nefesh. Nefesh B’nefesh gets its funding from private individuals. Most of the funds comes from Tony Gelbart who is a founder of Nefesh Be’Nefesh. Nefesh B’nefesh is a wonderful organization, one which I respect and admire. I think everyone should support them one way or another.

Litterary Connection:
אהבת ישראל בנשמה / דוד אברמזון == אלפיים שנה אני נודד מחפש את הארץ אותה אני אוהב כל יום מחדש הלב נשבר כל יום מחדש אולי מחר מתי הגאולה?

אני מאמין באמונה שלמה בביאת המשיח בארץ ישראל של אהבה בכל יום שיגיע הנה הנה זה בא אהבת ישראל בנשמה

כל בוקר ציון אליך אני מתפלל לא ינום לא יישן שומר ישראל כל יום מחדש אני אוהב כל יום מחדש עם כל הלב שלום על ישראל

אני מאמין באמונה שלמה בביאת המשיח בארץ ישראל של אהבה בכל יום שיגיע הנה הנה זה בא אהבת ישראל בנשמה  || || For two thousand years I have been wandering, Searching for the land I love Every day anew, a broken heart Every day anew, maybe tomorrow When will the redemption come?

I have full faith In the coming of the messiah In the land of Israel of love Any day that it will arrive Here, here it is coming The love of Israel is in my soul.

Every morning to you Zion, I pray Guardian of Israel won’t rest, won’t sleep Every day anew, I love Every day anew, with my whole heart Peace upon Israel.

I have full faith In the coming of the messiah In the land of Israel of love Any day that it will arrive Here, here it is coming The love of Israel is in my soul.

Literary connection: אהבת ישראל בנשמה / דוד אברמזון I chose this song not only because I like it, but because it affects me in a way that few other things do. This song expresses the desire of the Jews to come back to Israel. Every time I hear it, I think of peace and love and Israel. I think of all that we as a people have accomplished throughout the 62 years of this State. Every year on Yom Haatzmaut I hear this song and it makes me stop for a few minutes and think about my place in Eretz Yisrael and with Am Yisrael. I feel like it’s a wake up call telling me to pay attention and watch the land of Israel as it grows and blossoms and that I should help in making it a beautiful and more wonderful place to live. To me, this song is life. It’s what gives my heart greater purpose to beat. It is a guiding force for me in life.

Kfi Covel is an example to me of what this song is trying to teach. I see that she has a love of Israel and a desire to help the Jewish nation. Kfi has heard her wake-up call and acted upon it. I wait to see how I will respond to my wake up call, what I will do to help this wonderful land and our wonderful people. I have a secret wish. I wish this song would affect others as it has affected me. If so, then I do believe we’ll all find a way to live in peace with each other, Jew with fellow Jew, Jew with non-Jew.

Creative connection:


I chose to make a collage of pictures that symbolize Israel for me. In putting this together, I realize that I kept adding the flag of Israel. One flag after another. The flag, representing the State of Israel, is also the symbol of us, the Jewish people of Israel. It represents our independence from other countries, our being citizens in our own country, our freedom. And, to me, it reminds me of God’s presence in all that we have today.

In working on this project, I find that I have learned so much about Kfi that I probably would not have discovered for many years to come. I’ve heard people say that the more you get to know someone, the less impressed you may feel about them. I think this is the opposite for me about Kfi. In learning more about her, I have greater appreciation for her. I am impressed by how much she wants to be part of Israel and how frustrated she gets when obstacles get in the way that slow her down. I’m impressed that even though she has encountered many obstacles, she never gave up. Not only did Kfi not give up, but she continues on with a smile and a great attitude. I have learned from this that anything is possible no matter how hard you think it is and how impossible it seems to be. If I really want something, I should set my goals towards it and do the best to achieve it. As Theodore Herzl once wrote: “ אם תרצו אין זו אגדה ,” If you will it, it is not a dream. If we believe in something, and we work towards it, we can make it happen. Kfi had a dream and she worked towards it and she achieved it. She was successful. I have dreams and desires. I know that if I work towards them, then I too can be successful. That is one of the greatest gifts Kfi has given to me. To believe in myself and to not give up.