Philadelphia Jewish Voice - Friedman

National Liberty Museum Honors Collectors

BonnieSquires — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 01:21:09 GMT

Honorees Bob and Shelby Ford are joined by Gwen Borowsky and Arlene Silver at the National Liberty Museum awards reception and dinner., where the Fords were honored for their devotion to glass sculpture and their support of the museum and its mission. Photo: Bonnie Squires

— by Bonnie Squires

What do you do when your world-class glass scupture collection outgrows your residence? If your name is Irv Borowsky, you buy an historic former bank building in Philadelphia and transform it into the National Liberty Museum. You commission Dale Chihuly to create a four-story glass chandelier which indicates the flame of revolution and the fragility of freedom. And then you hold an annual Glass Art Weekend & Auction Gala, and you honor supporters of the museum who are themselves connoisseurs of glass sculpture. This year's awards reception and dinner honored Shelby and Bob Ford and Inna and Alex Friedman. Artist Therman Statom, who does unique things with glass, was also honored.

More after the jump.

Irv Borowsky, founder of the National Liberty Museum, and his wife Laurie Wagman greeted guests at the awards reception at the museum. Photo: Bonnie Squires

Patrons of the National Liberty Museum, including Herb and Phyllis Victor, and Rhea and Dr. Morton Mandell, came to pay tribute to their friends who were the evening's honorees. Photo: Bonnie Squires

The Museum houses one of the world's most important collections of contemporary glass art to make the point that freedom is beautiful and strong, like glass, but also extremely fragile. Through this unique metaphor, students learn that it is their responsibility to protect our nation's heritage of freedom by making good and productive choices in their everyday lives.

Over 400,000 young people from the Philadelphia region and beyond have visited the Museum since it opened its doors in the year 2000. Building on that success, the Museum created character education outreach initiatives that bring its message directly to area middle schools. One such program, the highly successful "Young Heroes Outreach Program," is funded by the proceeds of the National Liberty Museum's Glass Art Weekend & Auction Gala. The money raised provides staffing, computers, lesson plans and classroom materials. It also goes to forming a "Young Heroes Club" at each school, which empowers the students to identify and solve real-life problems they face in their school and community.

The National Liberty Museum is grateful to the many collectors and artists who recognize their connection to the Museum's mission by generously donating and purchasing work at the auction. The glass art community has been a major supporter of the Museum from the very beginning and will certainly continue to be a factor in the Museum's success in the years to come.

The National Liberty Museum is located in historic Philadelphia at 321 Chestnut St. It is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 12-6 pm on Sunday. Hours extend to 7 days a week during the summer months. The facility is fully wheelchair accessible.

Looking to Bike Ride in Israel?

Publisher — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:04:30 GMT

One of the Longest Biking Trails in Israel Inaugurated at the Beautiful Ben Shemen Forest

— by Natalie Kahan-Behar

This trail is part of a biking trail project that Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael KKL-JNF has developed and invested more than one million NIS in.

Yesterday, December 26th, 2011 a new single rider biking trail was inaugurated in Ben Shemen Forest, 32 kilometers long, making it one of the longest biking trails in Israel.

More after the jump.
Over the past decade mountain bike riding has become a very popular sport which created a demand for biking trails in open spaces and forests. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael KKL-JNF responded to the high demand as well as to willingness to preserve the forest. These trails are designed to encourage the public to ride through the trails safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.

The Ben Shemen biking trail is composed of two trails that pass through the western part of the Ben Shemen Forest and continue up to Modi'in Forest: The first trees that were ever planted in the Ben Shemen forest were in honor of Hertzel, hence the name of the trail. It is an intermediate 10 kilometers circular trail that begins and ends at Mitzpe Modi'in.

The trail goes through Ben Shemen's ancient forest scenery, and passes by the oldest Cyprus Pine forest in Israel. After riding about 7 kilometers, the trail splits south and becomes Anava trail. Anava is a 25 kilometer circular trail that begins and ends at Hertzel trail. Along the trail are historical and archeological sites such as Tel Gamzo and the Monks Valley. Throughout the trail there are lookout points to Modi'in city, Shefelah towns and the coastal plain. Together, the biking trails form one of the longest biking trails in Israel.

The inauguration ceremony took place at the event site in Mitzpe Modi'in this morning, and was attended by KKL-JNF World Chairman, Efi Stenzler, Deputy Mayor of Modi'in, Michal Periferi, head of Hevel Modi'in Regional Council, Shimon Shushan, the trail planner, Otto Friedman and many more.

The trails were designed by the architect, Otto Friedman, whom specializes in riding and planning biking trails in parks. While the trail was being paved by KKL-JNF employees, the entire process was supervised by an authorized biking trail constructer, Doron Emetz.

According to KKL-JNF World Chairman, Efi Stenzler, "There is no better time than today, Channukah, Rosh Hodesh, to inaugurate this biking trail that runs through the ancient olive presses that probably produced the oil for the temple. We named the forest "Hertzel" in honor of the first forest KKL-JNF planted. KKL-JNF is 110 years old today and is focusing on the establishment of biking trails throughout Israel. I invite you to ride safely and enjoy the beautiful scenery."

Ben Shemen Forest:

The Ben Shemen forest is a metropolis park located near the large urban area of Gush Dan. The forest has a wide open space for various recreational activities. Both Ben Shemen forest and Modi'in's forests together create a 40 Dunam green region. KKL-JNF established dozens of recreational parks, winding roads, observation points and advanced infrastructure for the public's convenience in the forest.

The optimum riding conditions in Ben Shemen forest allow different riding groups to enjoy the mostly flat forest, the great sequence of the undisturbed forest areas, the varied landscape roads, parking lots, observation spots and heritage sites that make the riding experience unique and enjoyable. Bike riders from all over Israel choose Ben Shemen forest as the most preferable destination for bike riding.

Photo credits: Yossi Zamir

Debbie Friedman (1952-2011)

Publisher — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:33:19 GMT

-- Rabbi Arthur Waskow

Debbie Friedman died of pneumonia on Sunday morning, the 4th day of the month of Shvat. She had sung her heart (and ultimately, her lungs) out to revivify the Jewish people -- to sing new heart into the highest and most spiritually rich version of being Jewish and being human. This song is not only by her but for her. Not only in her memory, looking toward the past, but going forward, envisioning her future and the future that she helped to call us toward.

Lyrics follow the jump.

L'chi lach to a land that I will show you
Lech l'cha to a place you do not know
L'chi lach; on your journey I will bless you,
And you shall be a blessing,
you shall be a blessing,
You shall be a blessing lechi lach

L'chi lach is the feminine version of the phrase that in the Bible God speaks to send forth Abram and Sarai on their spiritual journey. It means: "Go forth toward your self." Or to pick up the word-play in the sounds of the two words -- "Outward bound, unbind inward." The phrase l'simchat chayim means "for the joy of life."