Mezuzahs, Mitzvahs & Magic (December KOL Temple B'nai Shalom)

Just came across this wonderful writeup about one of Gary's Hiddur Mitzvah Projects.  I don't think we've ever had a negative response to the program, but it's great to see an especially positive reaction like this.  The program really is great and we are glad to be able to offer it to people like these post-confirmation students.

Mon, December 5, 2011

Sometimes a project or a class goes just perfectly, it is everything you hoped and planned it would be, and it feels almost magical.  And so it was at Post-Confirmation on November 20.  Every year we receive a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and over the years we have used it for incredible projects and improvements to our Religious School, including our Jewish movie library, our Confirmation/Post-Confirmation trip to New York, and our curriculum writing project.  As we applied for the grant for this year, I knew I wanted to do a project with Jewish artist Gary Rosenthal, and so we decided to bring him in to speak with our Post-Confirmation students and to work with them to make mezuzot for their dorm rooms as they go off to college.
The class was amazing!  I am often weary of meeting authors or musicians or artists whose work I really enjoy for fear they will not be who I hoped they would be, and then I am not able to enjoy their work as much.  I have always loved Gary Rosenthal’s work and I can tell you he is who I hoped he would be and more!  He is a true mensch!  He spoke to our students about why he chose to be an artist and how he became a Jewish artist.  He told them how he uses his art to enable him to do mitzvot and live his Jewish values.  And he encouraged them to find their passion and use it to leave the world better than they found it.
After speaking to our students, Gary helped them to create a glass mosaic which will be placed into a metal mezuzah casing that he made.  I was so impressed by the effort and care all our students put into their pieces.  They were all as unique and beautiful as the people who made them.  In addition we were able to make a few extra mezuzot to auction off at our next temple fundraiser, and Gary has also agreed to donate a piece for the auction as well!
Sometimes a project or a class goes just perfectly, it is everything you hoped and planned it would be, and it feels almost magical.  And so it was at Post-Confirmation on November 20.  Here’s to many more magical moments!

B’Shalom,
Rabbi Nyer