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Children revel in exploring
Etz Chaim Touch
OVERWEIGHT G,R ^ 25
BOYS & GIRLS 7-16
ADULT PROGRAM
Special to The Southern Israelite
Congregation Etz Chaim’s Jew
ish Touch Me Museum was offi-
cally opened with a champagne
reception at the Cobb County syn-
agogue. Patrons of the Museum
attended a May 3 preview and the
following day the Sunday School
children of Etz Chaim toured the
exhibits first, learning through
touch and experience their
Jewish heritage.
Etz Chaim’s Rabbi Shalom
Lewis, said, “I first began thinking
about the concept of a Jewish
Touch Museum after having visited
the Please Touch Me Museum in
Philadelphia. Having witnessed the
enthusiasm of the children it oc
curred to me ‘Why not a Jewish
Please Touch Me Museum?’ 1 held
on to this dream for many years,
and now it’s become reality.”
The rabbi had many enthusiasts
among his congregants, but none
more supportive than Jackie Pierce.
Ms. Pierce., a Sunday School
teacher at Etz Chaim and co-ad-
viser, with her husband, Steve, of
the Kadima Youth group at the
synagogue, had also visited the
Philadelphia museum. Her love
for children and the desire to reach
them with an experience of Jewish
involvement made her the perfect
candidate for organizing this mas
sive project. “Without her tireless
effort,” says Rabbi L.ewis, “this
museum would still be just a
dream.”
Youngsters also were invited
from the Atlanta Jewish Commun
ity Center and from the Epstein
School. The museum was disas
sembled on Wednesday but not
before some 400 children and their
parents had experienced hands-on
Judaism.
One of the sights observed while
touring through the museum was
children standing in front of a
replica of the Western Wall. They
could be seen slipping notes, on
which were written wishes, into the
bricks-just as if they were in
Jerusalem.
There were a young girl and boy
dressed in a wedding gown and
suit, under a chuppa, the wedding
canopy, experiencing a Jewish
marriage. They young “couple”
were given a ketubah follow
ing the ceremony, but only after
the groom had crushed a glass
commemorating the destruction of
the Temple.
Others opted to view on a VC R
an actual ceremony performed by
Rabbi L.ewis as he married a cou
ple in the synagogue, in the very
same sanctuary!
The Dress-Up Corner had a kit
tle, a robe worn by rabbis during
High Holy Day services—tallit,
kipot, bedouin clothing and Chas-
sidic clothing, all made in child
sizes by various congregants of Etz
Chaim.
Meanwhile, the “Uncandid
Camera” was flashing away, cap
turing the glow on children s laces
as they were married, their puffy
cheeks while blowing the shofar
for the first time, or cooking
“make-believe” Shabbat meals in
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Young shofar blowers at the Jewish Touch Me Museum.
the kosher kitchen miniature size,
naturally. Perhaps they would be
photographed presenting a puppet
show on a holiday theme or mak
ing a puppet of Moses.
The displays took on life as the
youngsters reached out and shook
a lulav or held an etrog. The child
ren inserted a scroll into a mezzuza
they made. The youngsters learned
how to tie tzitzis, make a menora,
create a havdala spice box and
countless other Jpwish crafts.
There was even a place where
children could get their very own
baby dolls named in Hebrew. The
child received an official certificate
authenticating their Jewish doll’s
Hebrew name.
Replicas of two synagogues were
enjoyed by the children as they
played “shul” with the rabbi, can
tor, and congregant dolls.
If a child wanted to try his hand
at being a scribe, there was a place
to do so. With parchment, calli-
giaphy pens and ink in hand, the
children let their imaginations carry
them back thousands of years ago
to when the first documents were
set down. For the modern scribe
there was even a Hebrew typewri
ter on which they could type out
their name.
Many memories were created in
the museum—many minds were
opened many new frontiers ex
plored. Says Rabbi L.ewis, “We
look forward to reopening the
exhibit in the fall with some new
displays on additional aspects of
our Jewish traditions, customs and
prayers.”
"Each time we would like to por
tray and highlight a holiday of a
different season,” says Jackie
Pierce.
“Our dreams include giving the
museum a permanent home and
perhaps being able to locate a vehi
cle, similar to a bookmobile, in
which to house the items so that
they could be driven to other
communities,” adds Rabbi Lewis.
“Additionally, I am certain that we
could promote better understand
ing with our non-Jewish friends
through an experience of sharing
our lives with them through this
medium.”
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PAGE 9 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE May 30, 1986