Your face is a picture! Budding artists design masks for Israel

Budding artists have designed masks for children in Israel, as part of a new initiative from JNF UK.

Almost a thousand pupils from 14 schools across the country submitted their colourful creations for the charity’s Design A Mask For Israel Competition.

JNF UK is the country’s oldest Israel charity and aims to improve education and welfare, boost employment opportunities, healthcare and cultural activities for Israelis of all backgrounds and ages. 

Many of the schools taking part are JNF UK partner schools, receiving funding from the charity to promote their connection to Israel. 

The participating schools are Independent Jewish Day School; Hasmonean Primary School; Mathilda-Marks Kennedy; Brodetsky; Rimon; Yavneh Primary School; Calderwood; Simon Marks; North Cheshire Jewish Primary School; Etz Chaim; King David Liverpool; Beis Chinuch Edgware;
Nancy Reuben; and Sacks Morasha.

The winning design from each of the three age groups – three to five years, six to eight years and nine to 11 – will be chosen later this month by a panel of judges that includes cartoonist Zoom Rockman, who was employed by The Beano while at school, and Nic Abery, director and founder of LooktoLearn and creator of Israel70: Building Artistic Connections. All the winners will have their designs produced and distributed to schools in Israel’s peripheral regions. 

JNF UK said: “The hope is these colourful gifts will bring some joy in
areas that have been badly affected by the pandemic.”

Its CEO, Charles Lossos, said: “It’s been amazing to see the enthusiasm of so many children, parents and schools. 

“The vision of JNF UK’s education grants was to help bring the pupils in our schools closer to Israel, and this competition has shown how this is possible even during these challenging times.”

 For more details about JNF UK’s work, visit www.jnf.co.uk 

This was the design by Nancy Reuben pupil Levana, aged nine:

The entry by Elsie-Mae, 10, from Mathilda-Marks Kennedy

Hannah, nine, from Hasmonean was behind this covering

Mathilda Marks pupil James, eight, sectioned his design

Mathilda-Marks Kennedy’s Keitlin, seven, featured a hamsa 

Noah, eight, from North Cheshire recalls government advice

The face covering by Eden, 10, from Etz Chaim 

This covering was designed by Brodetsky’s Monty, three 

Five-year-old Calderwood pupil Olivia was behind this mask

A plucky design by Penina, eight, from Hasmonean