“My Role Model”
Who are my role models? My parents, my teacher, a rock star, the
president, my older siblings?
As part of their activities at SderotYouth.Com, and as part of the process of
discovering themselves, teens defined, interviewed and photographed
significant role models from their lives.
The resulting portraits were exhibited for Sderot’s public, with tips for a good
life provided by the interviewees.
SderotYouth.Com’s youth group meets weekly throughout the year, learning
about life, values and culture. The group’s activities include studying
photography, videography, editing and related graphics software. This is the
group’s 4th exhibit in 2 years. The group also volunteers in the community,
photographing and filming local events, offers digital services to the general
public and maintains a website for Sderot’s Computer and Communications
Center, where they meet.
Yonat Malka
My Role Model: Yonat Malka
Photographers: Lina and Bat El
Yonat Malka is 47 years old and is raising three children alone. She works in several
schools in the south. She studied special ed with an emphasis on art and has worked
with youth at risk who were abused.
Yonat started her career when she was a soldier. She always felt that it was important to
make a significant difference in the lives of others. She credits her desire to help others
to growing up in the shadow of her father’s mental illness, which caused her family a lot of suffering and
made her childhood “difficult.” Yonat explained that her family didn’t value life much and her father swung
between periods of calm and attacks of rage. As the oldest child, she tried to protect her siblings.
Yonat’s sister was killed in a bus bombing; a year later, her brother died in a car accident. After their deaths,
her mother adopted four children with Down’s Syndrome, for which she was honored with a Presidential
Award. Several years later Yonat’s mother died of cancer.
Yonat’s tip: Smile with your eyes, learn to overcome adversity and to live with death. Enjoy the sunshine,
colors, flowers and life, don’t take any of it for granted.
“At first it was hard for us to decide who our role models are. Eventually we decided upon Yonat, the art
therapist at our high school. She’s very smart, supportive and we appreciate what she does for us. When
we interviewed her we discovered her anew – she shared the hard parts of her life, too. We will take her
lessons onward and we have more respect for her than ever before.”
Photographers Shamno BatEl and Lina are 15 years old. This is their first year in SderotYouth.Com’s youth
group.
Haim Biton
My Role Model: Haim Biton
Photographer: Tahel Elharar
Haim was born and raised in Beit Shemesh. He had a good childhood. When he was 13 he
transferred to a boarding school in Jerusalem so that he could get a better education. Shortly
after he transferred, his parents divorced and he felt his life fall apart. His life became very
complicated as he struggled with the changes in his family, the culture at the boarding school and
adolescence. Haim says that lots of teens find it hard to cope with situations like these and still succeed in
school while resisting the temptations that call to kids that age. His mother helped him through it all,
making sure he knew he was loved and giving him the attention he needed.
Haim came to Sderot for the first time six years ago to study photography at Sapir College. He fell in love
with Sderot, with the people there who welcomed him warmly, as well as the beautiful views. He
established the photography course at the Center to share the love of his craft, and to give teens an outlet
to express how they felt during the long decade of Kassam attacks.
Haim’s own role model is his dear mother, who taught him not to give up on life, even when things are
hard, and how beautiful unconditional love is.
Haim’s tip: Believe in yourself and do what you know to be right, but without hurting others.
“Haim is our photography instructor at the Computer and Communications Center. He’s been my teacher for
2 years. ”
Photographer Tahel Elharar is a junior in high school. This is her third year in SderotYouth.Com’s youth
group.
Neliya
Yamnizki
My Role Model: Neliya Yamnizki
Photographer: Viki Yamnizki
My grandmother is 77 years old and was born in the Ukraine. When WWII broke out, she
and her family fled from the invading Germans. She often went without food so that her
little brothers could eat.
After she grew up, she met my grandfather Victor and they had 2 children, my aunt Vera
and my father. My father was very small , with severe health problems. My grandmother contacted every
hospital and doctor in her city until my father got the treatment he needed. If it hadn’t been for her, he
wouldn’t be able to walk today. She also pushed him to study and develop his musical talents.
The situation was not good in the Ukraine and when my father was a young man, he decided to move to
Israel. My grandmother was afraid and preferred to stay in the Ukraine, but my father insisted she come
with them. They left my mother behind with a promise that they would send her a ticket as soon as they
could. After making aliya, my grandmother bought a house and opened a beauty salon to support the
family while my father studied Hebrew.
In spite of her age, my grandmother still takes care of the house and the family. Unfortunately she is ill and
has trouble standing or walking. She is an example to us all and makes sure that no one lacks for anything.
She gives, doesn’t demand anything from others, and is happy with what she has.
Neliya’s tip: Share with others, so that you be will deserving of their reward.
“Neliya Yamnizki is my grandmother. I didn’t have to interview her for the project because I know her so
well. I chose her as my role model in honor of her life experiences: wars, hard work, raising children and
immigrating to Israel. She is my hero and a model for success even when times are difficult.”
Photographer Viki Yamnizki is a junior high school student. This is her second year in SderotYouth.Com’s
youth group.
Liraz
Baranes
My Role Model: Liraz Baranez
Photographer: Tami Mirzayev
Liraz is my mentor. She is 27 years old, married, and has an 8 month old baby. She was
born In Kiryat Malachi and has a twin sister and two younger brothers. After she
graduated from High school, Liraz served in the IDF, in the Intelligence Corps.
After completing her service, she worked for a while in a bank and then found a job in a
high school, helping students, in Kiryat Malachi.
In 2005, Liraz married a man from Sderot and from that time she has lived in our city. She entered college
and earned her BA in Human Resources and Political Science.
Liraz is very smart and loves to help. She is always there when I need her. I’d like to be like her when I’m
older. I want to serve in the IDF in a position that will help me later in life. I’d also like to go to college and
to have a career and a family.
In Liraz, I see a model for how to behave and how I’ll manage my life as a mother and as a working woman.
She has a driver’s license, something that I want, too.
Liraz’s tip: Your smile is a window into your soul.
“Liraz is my mentor in ‘Building a Future,’ a Jewish Agency program that I participate in. She helps me with
my school work and in the afternoons, and is a significant adult in my life.”
Photographer Tami Mirzayev is 14 years old. This is her first year in the photography group.
Natali
Harush
My Role Model: Natali Harush
Photographer: Hilla Harush
My mother has a lot of common sense and has been through a lot in life. She is always
there when I need her – she encourages me to correct my mistakes. She keeps me honest
and motivates me to do my best; even when I’m angry, I believe that everything she does
for me is for the best.
My mother’s a perfectionist and demands perfection from herself and from everyone and everything else.
I’d like to be like that, because when we strive to be perfect, we do better.
My mom is 43 years old, a loving wife and a proud mother of three children. She works in a bank. My
mother never had role models when she was growing up and doesn’t think that role models matter that
much: “Every person must follow their dreams, their desires and their abilities.” She was pleased that I
view her as my role model but encouraged me to be true to myself, and to retain my individuality.
My mother wanted to be a teacher but life drew her in different directions. She’d like to go back to school,
to advance in her current job and to see her children succeed in life.
Natali’s tip: Challenge yourself, believe in your ability to do the impossible, trust yourself.
“When this project was announced, I was really excited by the concept. I put a lot of thought into it
because, at first, I thought that I didn’t have any role models. Eventually I understood that there are a lot of
significant people in my life and I learn a lot from them. I chose my mother as my role model. I was afraid at
first, but knew that if I didn’t try, I would fail anyway. I’m very happy with how it turned out.”
Photographer Hilla Harush is 16 years old. This is her first year in the photography group.
Maor Ben Hamo
My Role Model: Maor Ben Hamo
Photographer: Raheli Ben Hamo
Maor Ben Hamo is 25 years old, a mechanical engineer, and engaged to be married.
“Even when I was in high school, I aimed for the top. I wanted to succeed in things that
others found challenging. I wanted to do better than what everyone expected. I kept my
eyes on my far-reaching goals and studied hard.” Maor’s hard work paid off with excellent
grades and the chance to realize his dreams.
Maor says that the most important factors for his success are sticking to his plans, being stubborn, focusing
on the most important things and creative thinking. He believes that we need strong values, to focus on
our goals and to constantly try to improve. Both the photographer and her role model are stubborn and
don’t give up easily. They both like to complain when things are tough but still go on to succeed.
Maor’s goals are to complete his MBA and Master’s of Engineering and to continue rising in management in
his current place of employment. “You need to remember: you determine your path in life. You need to
be alert to opportunities and to grab them with both hands.”
Moar’s tip: Aspire for perfection, insist on success, and enjoy it all!
“I chose my big brother as my role model. I chose him because I admire how he always worked hard to
succeed, even when his friends and teachers thought he would fail.”
Photographer Raheli Ben Hamo is 16 years old. This is her first year in the photography group.
Marina Esakov
My Role Model: Marina Esakov
Photographer: Danniel Esakov
Marina Esakov is 40 years old. She has three children and has worked in a factory in
Sderot for more than 10 years. She was born in Uzbekistan and grew up with only one
parent. She was a certified nurse and worked in the health field.
My parents married in Uzbekistan and my brother was born there. When my brother was
three years old, the family made aliya. I was born in Israel. My mom worked in factories
to support us.
Because she grew up in a single-parent home, my mother was always very responsible. She cleaned the
house and took care of her brother from a very young age. “I was just like a little mother,” she says.
My mother’s leading traits are her ambition and her work ethics; thanks to them she has found success. I’d
like to learn those from her so that I can find the strength to do well. My mother doesn’t believe that
people need role models; instead, she says, everyone should be independent with a unique personality. But
she is still proud that I picked her as my role model.
Marina’s tip: The results justify the effort.
“I chose my mother as my role model because of her life experiences. She has always given me everything I
need even though our economic situation isn’t easy and she works long hours. My mom has always been
ambitious and has achieved everything she has set out to do. That’s a characteristic that I’d like to have. ”
Photographer Danniel Esakov is 16 years old. This is his third year in the photography group.
Oshrit
Abargil
My Role Model: Oshrit Abargil
Photographer: Adi Cohen
Oshrit Abargil is 29 years old. She was born in Sderot, is married and has a child. She
grew up with a lot of siblings and her parents did manual labor all their lives to support
them. As the baby of the family, Oshrit was coddled and given a lot of attention. Seeing
how hard her parents worked and their struggle to make a living motivated Oshrit to invest
in her studies. Her parents instilled in her the values of education, success, ambition.
Her father particularly encouraged her – “get good grades on your matriculation exams, and you can take
driving lessons.” There was always a reward for working hard and succeeding. When Oshrit earned her
university degree, she was, she says, fulfilling her father’s dream which had become her dream.
Oshrit started her professional life as a typist in a local factory. Her manager recognized her potential and
began advancing her to better positions. She studied accounting and today is the senior accountant for the
factory. Her dream is to continue her studies and become a CPA. She appreciates how her father
continually pushed her to achieve, although she doesn’t look for his rewards anymore. Today, she is
motivated by her desire to support her family and to have steady employment. “My ambition now is to
care for my family and raise my children to be loving, good people who are motivated to succeed.”
Oshrit’s tip: Thought creates reality – your life will go where you imagine it to be.
“I chose Oshrit because she is my favorite aunt. I admire how far she has managed to go in such a short
time. ”
Photographer Adi Cohen attends 11th grade. This is her forth year in the photography group.
Shlomo Elias
My Role Model: Shlomo Elias
Photographer: Daniel Elias
Shlomo Elias is 51 years old and is raising his children alone, in Sderot. He was born in India
to a family with 7 children and immigrated to Israel in 1972 with his older sister. They were
placed in a religious boarding school. It was very hard for them because they had no family
in Israel, did not speak Hebrew and were living with strangers. They were very poor, so
Shlomo sold cookies to fellow students and worked during school vacations.
Shlomo says that they never had enough food or clothes, and no spending money for luxuries. It would
have been easy to make money through criminal activities, but Shlomo stubbornly remained honest.
Shlomo married in 1983 and soon had two sons. He divorced and then met Daniel’s mother. Several years
ago he had a severe heart attack and was declared clinically dead - Shlomo can tell stories of his “out of
body” experience including meeting deceased loved ones before being revived – an experience that
brought him closer to G-d.
When asked what his strongest characteristics are, Shlomo says, “persistence and will power – these are
how I realized all my dreams and hopes.” His blessing for us is that we’ll believe in ourselves and find
success in everything we wish for.
Shlomo’s tip: If not for myself, who will be for me? [God helps those who help themselves]
“I chose my father as my role model because I admire how he has coped well with many difficulties in his
life. He could easily have chosen a life of crime but decided to pursue an honest life.”
Photographer Daniel Elias is a 10th grader. This is the first year he has participated in SderotYouth.Com
activities.
Maayan Cohen
My Role Model: Maayan Cohen
Photographer: Assif Peretz
Maayan Cohen is 25 years old. She has a BEd and is finishing her Masters. She works with
teens for the Sderot Municipality and is coordinator of the city’s youth council.
Maayan’s first job was at “Makom B’Lev” as a guide for a youth group; soon she was leading
4 groups, and eventually she became the program coordinator. Maayan says her strongest
characteristic is that she works hard: “I work very hard – once I’m given a job, I put all my effort into doing
it as well as possible.”
Maayan didn’t have much self-confidence as a child. She was a poor student. She was alone a lot and
didn’t have many friends during critical periods of her development. Teachers always described her as
scholastically and socially weak, so she saw herself the same way. Things didn’t change until 12th grade,
when her homeroom teacher saw her as something other than a report card on legs; she realized that
Maayan lacked confidence and had been neglected by the school system. She helped Maayan realize the
great potential that she saw in her – to learn, to make friends, to lead and influence others. One of
Maayan’s greatest triumphs was meeting a math teacher who had told her that she would never succeed,
and informing him that she had received an almost perfect grade on her matriculation exams. Today she
recognizes herself as strong, capable and confident, thanks to the intervention of her homeroom teacher.
She says, “a good teacher is a teacher for life.”
Maayan’s tip: Be yourself – and recognize the child in yourself.
“Maayan is a youth counselor. I chose her because I admire her very much for the many things she has
accomplished at her young age.”
Photographer Assif Peretz is 16 years old. This is the first year she has participated in SderotYouth.Com
activities.
Roni
Elimelech
My Role Model: Roni Elimelech
Photographer: Gil Dahan
Roni is 27 years old, married and lives in Beer Sheva. She has an engineering degree in
architecture and interior design. She says that the most significant period in her life was the
years she served in the IDF; she learned a lot about herself and about others. About the
military, Roni says, “it’s a framework that knocks you into shape and contributes a lot to your
personality, for good and for bad. When I was a soldier, I learned to listen to other people with different
opinions, I learned to be tolerant and to be a true friend when things got tough.” Roni was responsible for a
group of 24 wonderful women soldiers. “We were together 24 hours a day; we studied together, slept in
the same tent and bonded like sisters.”
After finishing her army service, Roni traveled to Canada where she trekked with other Israelis that she met
along the way. Some of them remain her friends to this day.
Roni says her most important characteristics are her desire to complete her tasks well and her loyalty to her
friends. She doesn’t remember having a role model, but Roni praises her parents for their hard work and
the values they instilled in her and in her siblings. She was flattered to be chosen as Gil’s role model.
Roni has decided to continue her architectural studies. She is also looking forward to having children and
nurturing her family.
Roni’s tip: Act with love and trust; be authentic.
“I chose my cousin Roni as my role model because she is perfect! She is tolerant, open to ideas and has a
great sense of humor. She has a great understanding of life, considering how young she is.”
Photographer Gil Dahan is 16 years old. This is the second year she has participated in SderotYouth.Com
activities.
Shula Dahan
My Role Model: Shula Dahan
Photographer: Hen Edri
Shula is 58 years old and has six children. She immigrated from Morocco; she decided to share
stories from that period of her life for this interview.
When Shula was 2 years old, her family decided to make aliya. Her family settled in a farming
village near Jerusalem. The first two years were very hard – bandits would steal their sheep all the time,
and everyone had to work hard, clearing rocks so that the fields could be plowed. Eventually the village
agriculture blossomed and the residents were able to build homes and live well.
As an adult, Shula moved to Sderot and found work in the local labor council. One of her sons fell ill with
meningitis. He recovered but required constant care, so Shula left her job and found a part time position
closer to home, in a kindergarten, where she worked for 15 years.
Shula’s dream is to see all her family around her, all helping each other and all loving each other
unconditionally.
Shula’s tip: Teach your children to love, to help and to always be there for each other, in good times and
bad.
“I chose my maternal grandmother as my role model. I love her very much and appreciate how she has
cared for me and worried about me, and admire all she has done in her life. When I started this project I
wasn’t sure who to chose. It was a lot of fun meeting with my grandmother and interviewing her. She tells
interesting stories and I learned things I had never known about her. I got to know her in a new way.”
Photographer Hen Edri is in 10th grade. This is the second year she has participated in SderotYouth.Com
activities.
Simha Buchbut
My Role Model: Simha Buchbut
Photographer: Maayan Binyamin
Simha Buchbut is married and has 3 sons. “When I was in elementary school, I was a good
student and a good kid. When I started junior high school, my troubles started, too. Actually,
it’s truer to say that I started making trouble – I learned the meaning of “rebellion” and often
ran away from home with two good friends, Tal and Sheri. We liked to hang out in Tel Aviv. I started
smoking and drinking in bars when I was 14. When I was 15 I met Asher (my husband). My parents
objected to my going out with him because he wasn’t working and they worried about my future.”
Simha and Tal stayed friends until the last months of their military service, when Simha discovered that Tal
was using drugs. “I was so disappointed in Tal – all those years my mother had been claiming that Tal used
drugs, and I had been insisting that it wasn’t true and never would be.” After her army service, Simha’s
family became more accepting of Asher and the two married and moved to Ashkelon.
About this period, Simha was in a terrible car accident. She found herself in an ICU for a week. When they
moved her to the orthopedics unit, she learned that her mother had been killed in the accident. Simha
spent 7 months in a rehabilitation hospital, wracked by guilt over her mother’s death. In addition, one of
her good friends in the hospital died of a heart attack right in front of her, a memory that still brings her to
tears.
Simha’s tip: Faith endures.
“It was hard for me to pick a role model for this project, because I have so many in my life. Each has
something special to offer that I admire. In the end I chose my Aunt Simha because her life has been very
complex but she has lived it well. Her life is divided into ‘before the accident’ and ‘ after the accident’.”
Photographer Maayan Binyamin is in 10th grade. This is the second year she has participated in
SderotYouth.Com activities.
The End