The smile, the glasses, and the story behind them: Eli Alkabetz chosen for modeling
Three weeks before October 7, Eli was born, whom her aunt, the late Sivan Alkabetz, did not get to meet. Now, after the family tragedy, the little girl has been chosen for modeling — and the family sees this as a choice for life and hope.
"Modeling symbolizes a choice the family has made — to choose life, hope, and looking forward, alongside an important message of acceptance and empowerment for children," is how Nadav Alkabetz described the family's decision to allow their little daughter, Eli, to be photographed as a model.
Nadav is the brother of the late Sivan Alkabetz, who, along with her partner, the late Naor Hassidim, was among those murdered in the Dor Tza'ir neighborhood of Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023. Both were 23 years old and had known each other since they were 15. Sivan is the youngest daughter of Anat and Shimon Alkabetz. She is the sister of Nadav, Guy, and Noa. Nadav and his eldest daughter, Shili, were visiting his parents and sister at the kibbutz that weekend. They returned home on Friday at his wife's request, and thus their lives were saved.
Three weeks before the massacre, Eli, the second daughter of Nadav and his wife Eden, was born. "I arrived on Thursday with Shili, the eldest daughter, to sleep at grandma and grandpa's. We had a nice time with the whole family," Nadav Alkabetz told Maariv. "On Friday afternoon, Shili said she wanted to stay with the grandparents. I called to tell Eden about it, but she didn't agree. She asked us to come home. I was angry about it, but we returned anyway. The next day, at 6:30, Eden woke me up, and I started to understand what was happening."
Her sister, Sivan, did not meet Eli before she was murdered. "She didn't get to see her. We planned to have an event after she was born, but then the seventh came, and everything stopped," Nadav said. Their third son was born after the difficult events. Today he is one year old. A few weeks ago, Eden saw a post on Facebook stating that Tzahi Vazana's modeling agency was looking for children to be photographed for various campaigns. She sent photos of the three children to the agency's address.
After a few days, a representative from there called and asked the parents to bring Eli for a shoot. "Out of the three, they wanted her specifically, even though she wears glasses," Nadav said. According to him, she is very similar to his sister Sivan in appearance and also in character. "Eli doesn't know what modeling is. We took her and told her we would photograph her. She had fun on the day of the shoot. The agency was enthusiastic about her, and now she is supposed to appear in campaigns for toddler products."
At Tzahi Vazana's agency, they describe Eli as having a captivating smile, with glasses that have become an inseparable part of her unique look. The agency says they also loved the personality full of joy for life that she has, and added that she represents character and confidence.
"She reminds us every day that the world of modeling should reflect all children, each with their own uniqueness," said Tzahi Vazana, the agency's manager. "Already when we met her, we saw first and foremost a child full of charm. We are definitely proud of her joining our ranks."
In Eli's family, they say that her story is a sad story of a family, of coping and hope, and it is a reminder that even from such intense pain, light, a smile, and a future full of possibilities can grow.
