Young Israelis are generally known and respected for serving their country in the Israel Defense Forces — three years for men and two for women. Some, from religious communities, perform alternate non-military National Service.
One aspect of their service may also include a stint in Diaspora communities, allowing them to bring Israel to Jews around the world and, in the process, enrich their own understanding of the world, both Jewish and international.
Again this year, our Jewish community in Milwaukee serves as temporary home for five young Israeli emissaries participating in Jewish Agency for Israel programs.
Dar Eitan and Yaniv Carmi are here with the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Young Emissary Program. After completing their year here, they will enlist in the IDF. They are both from the Sovev Kinneret, Milwaukee’s Partnership 2000 region in Israel.
Dikla Livneh and Yehudit Tal are performing one of their years of National Service in Milwaukee.
And Madison is hosting Nilli Glick, a young shlichah (emissary) from the Israeli government, who replaces Shlomi Nahumson, who departed in July.
Hometown: Kibbutz Ashdot Ya’akov Ihud, located between Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and the Jordan River.
Family in Israel: Eitan has ayounger sister and a younger brother. They are the fourth generation of their family born in Israel and living on their kibbutz.
Where you can see her: At Gan Ami Beginnings, Preschool and Kindergarten and, on Sundays, at Congregations Beth Israel and Shalom.
Why she chose to become an emissary: She feels a strong sense of responsibility to her community and Israeli society at large. “I wanted to spend a pre-army year contributing to my country in another way.”
She enjoys: Singing, painting dancing and reading good literature and philosophy.
Other things you should know: Her first name means “mother of pearl.” When her Israeli high school class participated in a teleconference with Nicolet High School students, she realized that she could help Israel by coming to the U.S.
Hometown: Kibbutz Ein-Gev on the east shore of Lake Kinneret.
Family in Israel: He has an older brother and sister. His mother’s family made aliyah from Chile when she was a young child and his father is a fifth generation Israeli.
Where you can see him: At the Milwaukee Jewish Day School, and on Sundays at Congregations Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun and Sinai.
Why he chose to become an emissary: This is Carmi’s third visit to Milwaukee. Coming as part of Partnership 2000’s teen mifgash program in 2006 and to the Steve and Shari Sadek Family Camp Interlaken JCC in 2007, he discovered the power of meaningful human connections in representing Israel. “I really believe in the living bridge.”
He enjoys: Animals, and sports, especially horseback riding and soccer.
Other things you should know: In Israel he took a course and got certified to work with children training dogs in a summer dog-training camp. “[Dar and I] want to give as much as we can. We really want to work. We really love Israeli culture and Hebrew.”
Family in Israel: She has one older and three younger sisters. Her father was born in Boston and made aliyah at age 23. Her mother’s side of the family came from Yemen.
Why she chose to become an emissary: “I wanted to do something special and have an experience I would remember all of my life,” she said.
She enjoys: Traveling with friends and reading all kinds of books.
Other things you should know: This is not her first visit to the U.S. and she has American family members on her father’s side.She thinks Milwaukee is more beautiful than she expected.
Family in Israel: She is the fifth of seven children, five of whom are girls. She has a younger brother and sister. Her parents were born in Israel and her grandparents in Poland and Romania. Her paternal grandmother is a seventh-generation Israeli.
Why she chose to become an emissary: Emissary work is a tradition in her family. “My parents were shlichim in Brazil and 10 years ago the whole family served a shlichut in Ukraine.”
Other things you should know: This trip is Tal’s first to the U.S. and she is the first in her family to come to this country. Everyone has given her lots of chocolate chip cookies.
Where you can see Livneh and Tal: At the Academy (Hillel) and on Sundays at Anshe Sfard Kehillat Torah, where they work with young children and also with the Bnai Akivah religious Zionist youth group.
Family in Israel: Glick has an older sister. Both of her parents were born and raised in Tel Aviv. Her grandparents went to Israel from Poland Germany and Hungary, before World War II.
Where you can see her: She will be spendinghalf of her time at Hillel Foundation University of Wisconsin and half at the Madison Jewish Community Council.
Why she chose to become an emissary: Glick said, she wants to strengthen the bond between the Jewish community here and in Israel, especially for the youth. “I also want to inform students of programs in Israel.”
She enjoys: Listening to Israeli music, including that of Yehudit Ravitz and Beit Habubot; all kinds of food; hiking; movies and hanging out with friends.
Other things you should know: In 2006,Glick earned an undergraduate degree in Studies of the Land of Israel and Jewish history from Bar Ilan University. She earned a master’s degree in Jewish history, also from Bar Ilan and a teaching diploma for high school in the land and history of Israel (history and archeology).
During her student years, she worked as a tour guide at the Davidson Center, part of the City of David excavations, and archeological sites in the Old City, as well as for Israel experience, Jerusalem’s archeological park.
During her service in the Israel Defense Forces, Glick achieved the rank of sergeant in the intelligence corps.
When she returns to Israel: She plans to work in the field of informal Jewish education.
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