My Diary – Guy Yakimov

Wednesday– 16th December, 2020

I woke up this morning feeling both happy and excited. That was to be expected, I guess, since it was Hanukkah and we were on holiday. However, that was not the only reason I felt that way. I was looking forward to a basketball game that was scheduled for tonight. The opponent team is better than ours, so on the one hand, my expectations were not very high, but on the other hand, I was looking forward to a challenging match and maybe, somewhere in my heart, I was also hoping for a surprising result in our favor. I was also excited because some of my friends play on the other team.

I have just returned from the game, and although this match was only a practice basketball game, I am extremely disappointed. We lost big time! Even though our odds were not very good to start with, I didn’t expect such a big loss. At the end of the game, our coach talked to us and we analyzed the game in order to learn from our mistakes. Hopefully, we will do much better next game!

Monday – 21th December, 2020

A description of my actions yesterday would suggest I had an ordinary Sunday. 

I woke up at 7:30, had breakfast and went to school. At noon, after school was over, I returned home, had lunch, did my homework assignments and prepared for another basketball game that was scheduled for that evening.

However, this was no ordinary day, and in fact, our lives haven’t been ordinary for almost a year now, ever since the pandemic Covid-19 has burst into our lives and has changed almost everything we know in our world. Therefore, a lot of normal and ordinary actions we used to do automatically, on an everyday basis and without thinking twice about it, became all of the sudden, unusual and are not taken for granted anymore. For example, going to school and meeting my teachers and friends face to face, having classes at school rather than through Zoom, or meeting my extended family. I miss all those things and more. I really hope we will get back to normal life and to our routine soon now that Covid-19 vaccine has been developed and brought to Israel.

Friday – 14th January 2021

An important object or activity

My name is Guy and the activity that is especially important to me is basketball.
I have been playing basketball for many years, and last year I was finally accepted into the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth team, which was something I was aspiring to achieve. 

In fact, basketbalI has always played an important role in my life. Even as a small child, I used to play basketball as often as I could. Nowadays, as part of Maccabi training program, I have a strict routine which includes hours of training four times a week, sometimes even more. 

Moreover, although I study everyday for many hours because in addition to my studies in school, I participate in some off school programs like “Bar Ilan” and “Ness”, I never miss a practice or a game. I really love playing basketball and I love being part of the team. Furthermore, I have met many of my friends thanks to basketball, such as my teammates or friends I play with in the neighborhood.

Undoubtedly, without basketball my life would have been very boring and less joyful. As I pointed out before, I spend a lot of time studying, and basketball gives me  physical and mental relief, and therefore basketball is extremely essential for me. 

Sunday – 24th January 2021

A Movie Review

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” is an American drama film from 2011, directed by Stephen Daldry, and based on the novel of the same name, written by Jonathan Safran Foer in 2005. This film is one of the most moving films I have seen for a very long time.

The plot takes place in New York City in 2001 – 2002. The film tells the story of an eleven-year-old boy named Oskar Schell, whose father is killed in the horrible terror attack on 9/11. Oskar, who was very close to his father, has a great difficulty coping and accepting his loss. A year after the tragedy, he accidentally finds in his father’s room a key in an envelope, which has the word “Black” on it. Believing this is a clue from his father, Oskar sets off on a quest all over the city in an effort to find the lock that the key fits. During this search, Oskar meets an old man who turns out to be his grandfather. Moreover, he learns on his quest to face his fears, such as his fear of public transportation and bridges. At the end of his quest, Oskar finally finds the person that the key belongs to, and he finally tells what has happened on the day his father died and how he was too afraid to answer the phone that day. He then finds out that his mother has been watching over him throughout his quest and has been preparing the people he met for his visits. Oskar finally realizes how much his mother loves him, and he accepts his father’s death. He then gives his mother his scrapbook describing all his adventures, which is called “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”. Soon after, Oskar finds a last message from his father, where he congratulates him for finishing their final expedition. This gives Oskar the closure he was so desperate to have.

The plot of the movie is both mysterious and touching, although parts of it are somewhat unrealistic, for example, the way a little boy wanders all over New York. However, in my opinion, the performance of the actors is brilliant, especially the one given by Thomas Horn as the little boy. His performance is convincing and most touching. I found it impossible not to feel empathy towards the little boy and his tragedy. Since the movie was so moving, I highly recommend it! Don’t miss it!

Monday – 1st February, 2021

My life during Covid-19

The corona Virus has undoubtedly affected the whole world and forced it to adapt itself to new ways of living. As everyone else, I also had a lot of changes in my life during the last year. In school, for example, I had to get used to studying through Zoom instead of in class and this is not easy for me since it is tiring to study this way for hours. Furthermore, I have ADHD which makes it even harder for me to concentrate especially in this way of studying.

Another big change in my life is that my basketball trainings were either cancelled or being done through Zoom. Hence, I have decided that during this time, especially during quarantine, I would put in more effort on my physical strength practices than usual.

The Coronavirus has also affected my social life. Since public places like movie theaters, restaurants and schools have been closed, I haven’t seen many of my friends in a very long time. Therefore, friends that live nearby and I meet only when it is permitted, outside at public playgrounds or at each other’s houses.

I actually miss going to school so I could see more of my friends and also, as I wrote before, it is easier for me to study in school. Moreover, it would be nice to go out instead of spending hours at home.

I think that the full implications of this crisis are yet to be seen in the following years. However, I would suggest to both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to weigh carefully their actions before making their next decisions and to keep in mind the mental, social and educational harm that is being inflicted on our generation due to closing up the schools. I believe that there are ways to keep the schools open while still protecting the public’s health. It is required to make an effort in planning and finding those ways, especially since it doesn’t seem like the Coronavirus is going anywhere soon.

Monday – 8th February, 2021

My name: Guy Yakimov

My age: 14

My birthdate: 26.3

My cell number: +972-532224931

My email: [email protected]

Brothers and sisters: I have one brother whose name is Yonatan and he is 13 years old

Pets: I have a dog named Niki

My 3 favorite bands or musicians: Lewis Capaldi, Charlie Puth and Bruno Mars

The sports I like to play: Basketball

My favorite video games: Call of Duty

3 favorite shows or movies: Cobra Kai, Riverdale and Fast and Furious

3 Things I like to do in my spare time: Play basketball, hang out with my friends and eat.

My favorite singer/actor/actress: Will smith

Interesting projects I am involved with this year: I’m taking part in a technological management project which is a joined project of my school and Ness a known technological company. Our final assignment of this project is to come up with an innovative idea for a startup.

My favorite subject in school: Math

Friday – 19th February, 2021

Yesterday was an exciting day! Yesterday my younger brother, Yonatan, who has just turned thirteen, performed the ritual of laying phylacteries in a Synagogue in Tel-Aviv, not far from where we live.

I remember my own experience of laying phylacteries, which was two years ago. Although both events were very much alike, at the same time they were also very different.

First of all, both events took place at the same Synagogue in Tel-Aviv. Moreover, both my brother and I learned with the same Rabbi, Elihu Hazut. Also, both ceremonies took place on a Thursday at 08:00 in the morning and in both events the only people who were invited were our immediate family members, including my grandfather on my mother’s side, and my uncle and aunt on my father’s side. Both ceremonies were very special and exciting.

As I noted before, although the two events shared many similarities, they were also somewhat different. For example, due to the Coronavirus, we were under quarantine and there were many restrictions during this whole time. My brother has been studying with the Same Rabbi as I did, but his studies were mostly through Zoom and not in frontal sessions. In addition, there was a lot of uncertainty as to where the event would take place – inside the Synagogue, or outside in the yard in front of it. Only on the actual day of the event we were told that the ceremony would take place inside the Synagogue, since the quarantine had ended on that same day. Since the decision to pray inside the Synagogue was made on that morning and due to the cold weather, there were only a small number of people who came to pray in the Synagogue that morning. During my ceremony, two years ago, there were many people in the Synagogue.

Despite the differences, I believe that both my brother and I were excited because of the ceremony, just the same.

Saturday – 20th February, 2021

Today was a special day! Today my brother Yonatan celebrated his Bar-Mitzvah!

My parents have spent the past few weeks thinking and planning the event and it wasn’t simple at all. The difficulties were obviously due to the Corona and the unclear situation it has created.  We have been under quarantine for several weeks and even when the quarantine has ended, we couldn’t know for sure what limitations would still be placed, hence what kind of event we could have to celebrate the special day. Because of the uncertainty and the concern for our family’s health, my parents have decided to have a small and intimate dinner party on the same day Yonatan read from the Torah in the Synagogue.

Since the quarantine has just ended, the service took place inside the Synagogue and not outside, as it was first planned. However, since there were still limitations as to the number of people who were allowed to pray inside the synagogue, we have invited only our close friends and immediate family members. The ceremony was extremely exciting and Yonatan read very well, in spite of his excitement.

After the ceremony in the Synagogue, we went home with our family – my grandparents, uncles and aunts and my cousins. As we walked in, a big surprise has been waiting for us all – the hall and the entire living room were decorated with colorful balloons. Some of the balloons were designed especially stating my brother’s name and age. Yonatan, who left early in the morning before the decorations were placed, was surprised and moved. We then enjoyed a tasty dinner, which was booked in advance from our favorite Italian restaurant. Afterwards, we all watched a special clip, we have all prepared for Yonatan. The clip was based on a dance from a computer game, which my brother loves called “Fortnight”, and we added our voices to the clip while telling funny stories about Yonatan.

In conclusion, we all had a very good time and it was a very special and moving day for all of us!

Monday – 1st March, 2021

A Formal Letter of Complaint:

4 Efter Street

Tel-Aviv

February 13, 2021

MK Yoav Galant 

The Minister of Education 

2 Dvora HaNevi’a Street

Jerusalem 9510402

Dear Mr. Galant,

I wish to complain about the way the Ministry of Education has dealt with the educational system since the Corona epidemic has begun. 

It has been over a year now since the crisis has begun and we are now in early stages of stepping out of a third quarantine. Even now there are still no solutions in sight for the difficulties the students are enduring in our educational system. Throughout this whole time, we have barely been physically in school, and we have been mainly studying through Zoom. This situation has been extremely difficult both mentally and educationally. Hence, many students have been experiencing loneliness and stress, losing their daily routine of going to school and thus not being able to meet their friends and teachers. Furthermore, a lot of students have major difficulties acquiring knowledge through Zoom, since it demands a lot of concentration and it is much more tiresome than studying physically in school.

In conclusion, although changes and difficulties are inevitable due to the Corona epidemic, I strongly believe that a lot more can and should be done. Moreover, I would suggest the Ministry of  Education to weigh carefully their actions before making their next decisions and to keep in mind the mental, social and educational harm that is being inflicted on our generation due to closing up the schools. I believe that there are ways to keep the schools open while still protecting the public’s health. In addition, it is necessary to find creative new ways to help those students who struggle to study through Zoom. Finally, I believe it is required to make an effort in planning and finding innovative solutions, and sooner the better, especially since it doesn’t seem like the Coronavirus is going anywhere soon.

I look forward to a prompt reply,

Yours truly,

Guy Yakimov

Thursday – March 25th, 2021

כל עוד בלבב פנימה

נפש יהודי הומייה

ולפאתי מזרח קדימה

עין לציון צופיה.

עוד לא אבדה תקוותינו

התקווה בת שנות אלפיים

להיות עם חופשי בארצנו

ארץ ציון וירושלים.

I chose Israel’s national anthem “Hatikvah” which was written by Naftali Herz Imber. 

I chose it because it is an important poem for every Jew around the world. The poem carries deep significance of hope and freedom in the state of Israel. This message is meaningful for all jews all over the world and was true in the past, is true today and will always be true.

Friday – 26th March, 2021

Today I woke up very excited because it’s my birthday. My parents and my brother woke me up to wish me a happy birthday and give me my gifts. They bought me shirts and slides (shoes). After I opened my gifts my mom made me pancakes for breakfast. Later that day I had a basketball training which was really fun. After my basketball practice a few of my friends came to my house to hang out and play the playstation. A few hours later they left and my family and I ordered dinner from “Giraffe” which is a great Asian restaurant. After dinner I went to my friend’s house to hang out and play some video games and poker.

Sunday – 28th March, 2021

Yesterday was a special day. Yesterday was Passover Eve. Last year we were alone on Passover Eve due to Coronavirus, but this year we celebrated it with our extended family – my grandparents and my uncles and their families. We read the Passover Haggadah and sang Passover songs. My grandfather, who is from Yemen, read part of the Haggadah in a Yemen traditional way. Although we hardly understood a word when he did so, it was interesting to hear and learn how my mother used to celebrate Passover in her childhood. 

It was really fun to see everyone and be together.

I hope this is a sign the Coronavirus’ crisis has come to an end and that we will soon be able to go back to normal life.

Sunday – 29th March, 2021

My peermatch’s name is Weston Upham. Here are some things about him.

Three places Weston has visited and loved are: Rome, Canada and Catalina.

If he won a million dollars, the first thing he would buy is a plane because he wants to be a pilot. If he were to have a superpower, it would be teleportation so he could go from one place to another without his parents driving him. The funniest video he has gotten this month is a commercial for gum. https://youtu.be/oGjk4XZU06k

His parents are his inspiration.

His mom is a real estate agent and his dad is a human resources manager who hires people to work in companies. In the future he wants to be a pilot. 

Weston and his family are soon going to celebrate Presidents day and Easter.

A few more things Weston wanted to share about himself: He has been playing tennis for six years and he likes to read. He has a cat and a lizard.

Weston and I have talked to each other several times now, the conversations have been pretty embarrassing because his english is better than mine but it was interesting. I think that Weston is nice and that we can become good friends one day.

Sunday – 18th April, 2021

Yesterday I had trouble falling asleep. I was too excited because I was thinking and looking forward towards today. A year and a half ago this day would have been considered just another ordinary day in school. Obviously, that is not the case now after the year we have been through due to the Coronavirus. So, today was a different day. Today I have met all of my classmates for the first time this year, and we have studied for a full day. It was fun seeing everyone and we had a lot of catching up to do. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling well so I went home a bit early that day. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed my time in school yesterday and I am looking forward to having more days like this. I guess one of the reasons I feel this way is that going back to school symbolizes going back to our normal life and routine, as it was before the Corona epidemic. I really hope this is true and that the Corona crisis is over.

Friday – 23rd April, 2021

I think I have written more than once how much I love playing basketball. I am on the Maccabi Tel-Aviv Youth team. We have basketball trainings four times a week and a match once a week. Moreover, I play basketball with friends for fun in the evenings throughout the week whenever I can, especially after long days of studying. It helps me to clear my head and fills me with new energies.

Today I have also played basketball but this time was different than what I usually do. Two of my friends and I enrolled in a basketball tournament, which took place in Herzliya. This kind of tournament is being held every few months and it is special because it allows all basketball players from all over the country to participate. In the tournament, three players compete against three others and it doesn’t matter what team they are on – Maccabi, Hapoel or other. Many more of my friends who play basketball on different teams came and we had a great time. Although I didn’t win, I really enjoyed myself and I hope to participate again in one of these tournaments soon!

Saturday – 25th April, 2021

Yesterday was an exciting day since a few of my friends and I went to an escape room, something we hadn’t done for a very long time. Moreover, it was exciting since it was not an ordinary escape room. It is called “The Orphanage” and it is the scariest escape room in the country! It’s so scary that they don’t allow kids under the age of 16 to go there without parents’ consent. The concept of the room is that we are a bunch of people who were raised there and went back to the abandoned haunted orphanage to bring back memories from their childhood. After the frightening (but fun) experience we went to a restaurant named “Cafe Zorik” in Tel Aviv. It was a pleasant and relaxing ending for a fun evening.

P.S – I recommend going to this escape room but not if you have a weak heart.