--- title: Who is Kivi? description: Come on a journey with us to learn more about our wonderful character Kivi who will take you through the Alef Bet letter by letter! image: https://info.jewishinteractive.org/hubfs/kivi%20banner.png --- [![JI_Logo_new](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/hs-fs/hubfs/JI_Logo_new.png?width=391&height=155&name=JI_Logo_new.png "JI_Logo_new")](http://jewishinteractive.org/) - [Products & Services](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/) - [Products & Services](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/) - [Ji Prime](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/ji-prime/) - [Ji Studio](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-studio-5/) - [The Ji Collection (Ji Apps)](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/the-ji-collection/) - [Training & Support](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/ji-training-support/) - [Teachers](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-teachers/) - [Educator Resources](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/resources-for-educators-parents/) - [Home Learning Hub](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/kids-learning-at-home/) - [Professional Development with Ji](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/pd-ji/) - [משאבים בעברית](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/kids-learning-at-home/kids-learning-at-home-hebrew/) - [School Leaders](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-school-administrators/) - [School Administrators](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-school-administrators/) - [Professional Development with Ji](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/pd-ji/) - [Parents](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-parents/) - [Parent Resources](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/resources-for-educators-parents/) - [Home Learning Hub](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/kids-learning-at-home/) - [Insights](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-case-studies/) - [Case Studies](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-case-studies/) - [Educator and Parent Resources](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/resources-for-educators-parents/) - [Ji Blog](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog) - [News](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/news/) - [Upcoming events](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/upcoming-events/) - [About](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-about-us/) - [Products & Services](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/) - [Products & Services](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/) - [Ji Prime](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/ji-prime/) - [Ji Studio](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-studio-5/) - [The Ji Collection (Ji Apps)](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/the-ji-collection/) - [Training & Support](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/ji-training-support/) - [Teachers](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-teachers/) - [Educator Resources](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/resources-for-educators-parents/) - [Home Learning Hub](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/kids-learning-at-home/) - [Professional Development with Ji](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/pd-ji/) - [משאבים בעברית](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/kids-learning-at-home/kids-learning-at-home-hebrew/) - [School Leaders](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-school-administrators/) - [School Administrators](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-school-administrators/) - [Professional Development with Ji](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/pd-ji/) - [Parents](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-parents/) - [Parent Resources](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/resources-for-educators-parents/) - [Home Learning Hub](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/kids-learning-at-home/) - [Insights](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-case-studies/) - [Case Studies](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-case-studies/) - [Educator and Parent Resources](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/resources-for-educators-parents/) - [Ji Blog](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog) - [News](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/news/) - [Upcoming events](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/upcoming-events/) - [About](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-about-us/) Search Search Google - [Contact Us](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-contact-us/) ![ji_blog.jpg](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ji_blog.jpg?width=5616&name=ji_blog.jpg "ji_blog.jpg") [Previous](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog/israel-celebrates-70th-anniversary-and-you-can-design-a-game-as-a-gift) [Next](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog/featured-teacher-rebecca-penina-simon) ![kivi banner.png](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/hs-fs/hubfs/kivi%20banner.png?width=1773&name=kivi%20banner.png "kivi banner.png") ## Who is Kivi? By [Rabbi Johnny Solomon](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog/author/rabbi-johnny-solomon) | [Alef Bet](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog/topic/alef-bet) | [0 Comments](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog/who-is-kivi#comments-listing) | 23 April, 2018 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The Ji Team believes that every aspect of [**Ji Alef-Bet**](https://www.jewishinteractive.org/ji-products-services/the-ji-collection/ji-alef-bet/) should be a learning moment, and it is for this reason that the character who guides learners through learning the Alef-Bet is called 'Kivi'.  In Israel, 'Kivi' is used as the shortened version of the name 'Akiva' and we chose this having been inspired by the many stories in the Talmud about Rabbi Akiva.  Though recognized as one of the greatest scholars in Jewish history, Rabbi Akiva's early life was anything but scholarly. Akiva had a negative attitude towards Judaism. He disliked Jewish tradition, and had no patience for the teachings of the local Rabbis. He continued this way until he reached the age of 40 when he made a profound observation with life-changing consequences.  One day, Akiva went to get some water from a well in the town of Lydda. Though made of stone, the well looked like it had been sculpted as it had round rather than square edges, and the stone had been hollowed at the bottom.  Though not learned, Akiva was very curious, and so - having made a brief introduction - he inquired from a stranger who was standing by the well 'who hollowed out this stone?'.  The stranger replied: 'Akiva, haven't you read that "water wears away stone (Job 14:19)" - it is shaped this way because water has been falling on this stone, day after day'.  Though discussing water and stone, this reply made Akiva think deeply about his own life choices. 'Is my mind harder than this stone? If the stone can change its shape from dripping water, perhaps I can change myself through learning more about Judaism?' And so, despite being aged 40, Akiva went to a local school where his son was enrolled to begin learning about Judaism.  Akiva sat in the classroom alongside the young children and he began his journey of Jewish learning with the Alef-Bet. We are told that he then progressed to study some of the Torah, and then all of the Torah, and soon he had become the greatest Torah scholar of his generation.  It is for this reason that we gave the name 'Kivi' to the character in the Ji Alef-Bet - and why he is shaped as a drop of water, because we learn from Akiva how the successful study of the Alef-Bet can enable a person to become a truly great Torah scholar.  However, there is one final reason why we chose to use 'Kivi' as opposed to the name Akiva, because there is an etymological link between the name 'Kivi' and the word 'Tikva', which means 'hope'.  When teachers begin teaching their students the Alef-Bet, they have hope and aspiration that their students will go on to grow and learn even more about their Judaism. The Ji team shares this aspiration, and we hope that Ji Alef-Bet will not only teach students - of all ages and backgrounds - about the Alef-Bet, but also be a springboard for further learning and growing.    * - Rabbi Johnny Solomon * *![kivis_bottom](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/hs-fs/hubfs/kivis_bottom.png?width=2924&height=411&name=kivis_bottom.png)* [Alef Bet](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog/topic/alef-bet) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Rabbi Johnny Solomon](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/hubfs/Johnny.jpg) ### Written by [Rabbi Johnny Solomon](https://info.jewishinteractive.org/blog/author/rabbi-johnny-solomon) Rabbi Johnny Solomon is a passionate, reflective and energetic Jewish educator. He has a BSc (Hons) in Maths and Religious Studies, a teaching qualification from the University of Herfordshire and semicha from the Montefiore Kollel in London. While living in London, Johnny held numerous senior positions in Jewish education including Head of Jewish Studies at Immanuel College, Assistant Head at Naima Jewish Preparatory School, Team Leader at the Jewish Curriculum Partnership and Head of Jewish Studies at Hasmonean Girls’ School. In 2012 Johnny moved to Israel where he spends his time writing great Jewish educational content for Jewish Interactive, and teaching at post-high school seminaries. 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