Hanging from the rafters in the OMJCC foyer are four painted silk banners. In addition to being works of art in and of themselves, the banners embody Jewish values that OMJCC staff members felt were the most cherished of the community. 

 

Those values are Tzedakah (Righteousness), Gemilut Hasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness). Tikkun Ha-Olam (Repairing the World) and Hacnasat Orchim (Welcoming Guests).

 

The project was the brainchild of Jewish educator Matt Biers-Ariel, who served as Education Director at the OMJCC from 1997-1999.

 

Matt was interested in creating a greater Jewish feel to the Center.

He says, "We wanted to address that concern as soon as possible. Nancy Katz and her silk art immediately came to mind. She worked collaboratively with a number of different groups and together they created the banners that still grace the JCC today, almost 30 years later."

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Matt and Nancy had prepared a long list of Jewish values and invited staff members to come to a session where they learned about and discussed them. The staff then voted on which ones best represented the OMJCC.

 

Nancy took the chosen values and created outline pictures on large pieces of stretched silk. Representatives from four different groups at the JCC--staff members, summer campers, senior adults and members of the board of directors-- brought the banners to life by adding color.