By Jeffrey Catalano
Assistant Editor
On Thursday, April 30, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mayerson JCC invites the community to paint and schmooze with Chaverim friends, Yarden and Uri, to create a beautiful work of art to take home. Artist Barbara Kelsey will be on hand for the event to help participants paint Israel’s unofficial national flower, the calaniot.
In addition to painting, participants will learn about the calaniot’s protected status, where they can find it in the world, the Darom Adom (Red South) festival that celebrates it and what the flower has come to mean to Israel during the war.
Yarden and Uri are Cincinnati’s current Chaverim m’Israel (Friends from Israel). Yarden is from Netanya and spends time in nearby Even Yehuda. Uri grew up on an isolated family farm between Kiryat Shmona and Tzfat.
Hailing from a coastal city and a northern farm respectively, Yarden and Uri have arrived in Cincinnati. Their goal is to help our local community see Israel through their eyes — and to bring home a deeper understanding of Jewish life worldwide back to Israel.
“Painting with Chaverim Friends” is just one of the events Yarden and Uri have and will participate in throughout the year. You’ll see them around town in schools, camps and community events.
Should you want to attend “Painting with Chaverim Friends,” you need to RSVP with Melissa Shrimplin. You can contact her by email or phone.
