GivingArts
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Under the Arch, Under the Shekhinah
I have very vivid memories of the St. Louis Gateway Arch from a childhood visit. Something as impressive as this structure stays with you. The day I arrived it was after 11PM when the magnitude and mystery of that giant arch compelled me to drive about 25 minutes downtown to see it. After a long day of travel, unpacking, strategic trips to Office Max (order pads, St. Louis map & booth candy), Home Depot (clear fishing wire) and Kinkos (sign printing) and a late dinner I was powerless to resist. I drove the straight highway to downtown and the riverfront. I couldn’t see it and then a glimpse and another mile or so and suddenly there it was. An awesome passageway to the “west” looming majestically over the Mississippi River. I got closer, it got bigger. The roads were congested and narrow, filled with Saturday night revelers headed to the riverfront casinos. A couple more turns and then the silver legs were directly in front of me. Shiny. With sharp steel edges I did not recall. I looked up, following its graceful arc – awesome. The locals are jaded. When I want to talk about it, they’re fairly blase. Just like the native new yorkers who’ve never visited the Statue of Liberty, I suppose.
Monday my dad arrived. He’s been enriching his rabbinic life for decades at CAJE conferences. He surprised me at my booth and then was off to his sessions. Later we hooked up for evening programs. Family singing with amazing and energetic musicians, Joe Black and several others (I don’t have my book with me to refer). After stayed for the lovely stories and singing, vibrating and radiating shekhinah of four amazing women – Marge, Cheri, Peninia and Helene.
All’s going very well at Booth 48. Solid sales; Great interest. Excellent prospects and wonderful connections with an amazing group of passionate and creative educators. I can’t wait to send them their orders so they can run with them!
Today is my workshop. Last night I made my tile collage sample – its theme evocative of St. Louis, CAJE and this lovely gathering. Here it is:
CAJE 32 Tzedaka Challenge for Darfur
I am excited to be at CAJE 32, the Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education, held Aug 5-9 in St. Louis. Giving Arts will have a presence in the EXPO (Booth 48) and I will also be a workshop presenter on Wednesday afternoon, teaching A Collaborative Creative Arts Approach to Teaching Social Action and Tikkun Olam.
I’ve conceptualized a Tzedaka Challenge to raise money for Darfur relief efforts.
Throughout the conference I hope that attendees will visit my booth and, if nothing else, give $1 into my great big tzedaka box that I’ve built. I will empty it every night and hand over the cash to a CAJE employee for safekeeping.
I believe that 1500 people will be at the conference and I am setting my goal at $1000.00 on behalf of CAJE 32 for a donation to Save Darfur, the coalition of 180 organizations working on relief efforts. Lets do it!
