Dear Friends,
Ten years ago, we gathered in Tel Aviv for our very first Young Writers Competition Awards Ceremony. With 40 finalists from six schools, it was a modest and uplifting event that put our shared love of reading, writing, and storytelling center stage.
At our tenth annual ceremony last month, some 430 finalists from 24 elementary schools joined us in the packed auditorium in Shefayim, accompanied by their teachers and principals.
In a day filled with memorable moments, there was one that stood out — when 17-year-old Kidist Sisai, ICEI alumnus and two-time competition winner, took to the stage. With poise, confidence, and clarity, Kidist applauded the young writers for their dedication to writing and celebrated the power of words to open up new worlds and opportunities. We encourage you to watch the video of her powerful speech (which includes English subtitles and lasts less than two minutes). You don’t want to miss this!
We are thankful that so many of ICEI’s donors were able to join us in person or by Zoom at this milestone event and are enormously grateful for all our friends and supporters who make our work possible.
With warm regards and wishes for a wonderful summer,
Don Futterman,
Executive Director, ICEI
Celebrating a Decade of ICEI’s Young Writers Competition
In the months leading up to ICEI’s Young Writers Competition Awards Ceremony, students from ICEI’s network of Hebrew-speaking schools delve deep into storytelling. Guided by their teachers and ICEI’s Literacy Coaches, they hone their writing skills, uncover their unique voices, and craft their own short stories.
This year, we received more than 5,000 story submissions from students in grades 3-6 in their schoolwide competitions. We were deeply impressed by the quality of the writing and by the students’ creativity, authenticity and originality. After careful consideration, we whittled down the entries to 430 stories and invited their talented authors to join us at the ceremony.
The atmosphere was incredible. The auditorium was brimming with finalists, teachers, principals, ICEI donors, board and staff members, and other guests. Thousands of additional students took part from their classrooms on Zoom, cheering on their classmates and literally jumping out of their seats when they saw their friends win. Before the awards ceremony, the students enjoyed an engaging production by the Kibbutz Theater, while our adult guests were treated to a special panel discussion featuring four previous winners, moderated by our devoted partner Aaron Goldberg, Senior Vice President of the Israel Office of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.
Our young graduates spoke about the writing process, read excerpts from their stories, and shared what winning the competition had meant to them. “Sometimes I feel like people see me differently,” explained Maayan Warkeh,a 15-year-old alum from the Yavne School in Hadera, who won the award five years ago for a story she wrote about a new immigrant who is rejected and bullied at school. “That’s why I decided to write a story from my own perspective that is not only interesting but also carries an important message. I’ll never forget the moment when I found out I had won. Standing on stage with the other finalists, it took me a few seconds to realize that they were calling my name. Winning a national writing competition gave me so much confidence, and I still use what I learned about writing in my exams and school assignments.”
As Aaron Goldberg summed it up: “The most meaningful outcome of a program lies in its graduates.” We take immense pride in ours.
enior Vice President of the Israel Office of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.
Following the panel discussion and the play, the award ceremony began. In keeping with tradition, ICEI’s long-time friend, star of children’s television and the Israeli stage, Tal Mosseri, emceed the event with his signature verve and vigor, as prizes were presented to 34 winners from grades 3-6.
Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Children’s Literature in Hebrew
Each year, ICEI bestows a Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Children’s Literature in Hebrew upon an author whose writing holds exceptional value for our students and for children throughout Israel. Last year, we had the honor of recognizing and meeting the remarkable Meir Shalev. We were deeply saddened to learn of his passing earlier this year. ICEI Director Don Futterman published a moving tribute to Meir Shalev in The Times of Israel which captures his profound contribution to Israel’s cultural and literary landscape.
This year, we presented the award to Nava Macmel-Atir, a renowned Israeli author, playwright, and poet. Among her highly acclaimed books for children are Adi’s Jewel, Right of Passage, The Final Delay, and King of the Mountain. Having spent more than a decade as a high school literature teacher in Ramat Gan, Nava possesses a deep and nuanced understanding of today’s youth. Her writing explores both historical and contemporary themes with humor, lyricism, and page-turning storytelling.
As Don Futterman expressed on behalf of ICEI, “We wish to recognize Nava Macmel-Atir’s impressive body of work, which demonstrates her depth of thought and sensitivity. Her books hold a special place in our students’ hearts and are a mainstay in all the in-class libraries we’ve established.”
In her acceptance speech, Nava recounted personal anecdotes from her life as a writer, including the breakthrough moment when a poem she wrote in 2nd grade was published in a children’s newspaper in Israel.
“This is truly one of the most heart-warming mornings I’ve ever experienced. Today, I met our next generation of writers. I can already picture myself standing beside them at National Book Week as we sign each other’s books. These are tomorrow’s writers, and they are receiving the best tools to help them succeed. The fruits of their writing will one day fill our country and it is ICEI that sowed the seeds.”
