Think before you print
Printer-friendly
PDF
Send to friend
Membership
The Old City Of Jerusalem Rises at Temple B'nai Abraham
Building Jerusalem with 60,000 LEGO Building Blocks
Sponsored by the temple’s Membership Committee, Men’s Club, 
Sisterhood, Early School Parent’s Council and PTA, 140 attendees, (80 children and 60 adults—parents & grandparents), spent a snowy Sunday afternoon together building the Old City of Jerusalem out of 60,000 LEGO building blocks. Under the guidance and direction of Temple B'nai Abraham member and architect Stephen Schwartz, AIA, of Building Blocks Workshops, participants created Jerusalem's ancient walls, the Temple Mount w
ith the Beit haMikdash, the Tower of David, and Montefiore's Windmill, as well as many landmark buildings inside the walls.
Sisterhood, Early School Parent’s Council and PTA, 140 attendees, (80 children and 60 adults—parents & grandparents), spent a snowy Sunday afternoon together building the Old City of Jerusalem out of 60,000 LEGO building blocks. Under the guidance and direction of Temple B'nai Abraham member and architect Stephen Schwartz, AIA, of Building Blocks Workshops, participants created Jerusalem's ancient walls, the Temple Mount with the Beit haMikdash, the Tower of David, and Montefiore's Windmill, as well as many landmark buildings inside the walls. A large outlined and marked map of Jerusalem, created by Stephen, was spread across the floor of the temple’s Silberman Conservatory. As the “builders” sat around the map, he explained to them that it is sometimes hard to visualize a city from a flat map, so they were going to build a 3-
dimensional model. He assigned small groups to work on the windmill, the Kotel, and the Beit haMikdash, and gave general directions about building walls so they would be structurally sound. Many helped build the walls; others built buildings which were then placed inside
the walls. As they worked, Stephen offered suggestions, advice and encouragement. The walls rose up around the city, with decorative gates and fanciful parapets as well as familiar landmarks of the city.
the walls. As they worked, Stephen offered suggestions, advice and encouragement. The walls rose up around the city, with decorative gates and fanciful parapets as well as familiar landmarks of the city. A number of temple leaders attended including Vice Presidents Ken Bernstein and Bruce Greene, Men’s Club President Jeff Grabelle,
Immediate Past President of Men’s Club Steve Delman, PTA President Sandra Kantor, and Co-President of Early School Parents Council Abby Silverman as well as Religious School Director Janet Resnick.
Immediate Past President of Men’s Club Steve Delman, PTA President Sandra Kantor, and Co-President of Early School Parents Council Abby Silverman as well as Religious School Director Janet Resnick.We also had as a guest of honor, Jack 
Oelbaum, who will celebrate his 101st birthday on February 7, 2010. We had a cake, everyone sang Happy Birthday. “Every Shabbat when I see Jack he always asks me how is "LEGO" ? So I wanted to make a point of letting him finally see one of my LEGO programs, and he loved it,” noted Stephen Schwartz.
Oelbaum, who will celebrate his 101st birthday on February 7, 2010. We had a cake, everyone sang Happy Birthday. “Every Shabbat when I see Jack he always asks me how is "LEGO" ? So I wanted to make a point of letting him finally see one of my LEGO programs, and he loved it,” noted Stephen Schwartz.
At the end of the program, the group sang Hatikvah led by 11 year-old Elizabeth
performed at the temple with the Elmo Jool quartet.
As the families were leaving, the children received participation certificates At that time as well as throughout the afternoon, there was nothing but overwhelmingly positive feedback about this family event.
On behalf of everyone involved in the LEGO event, I want to thank you for all of the support and encouragement provided.
Ken Starr, Co-Chair Membership Committee
Annual Florida Reunion Scheduled
