Archive | 2011 | July | 26
Holon’s Storybook Gardens Teach Children About Organ Donation (Via Nocamels)
By Liat Biron
Walking through Holon, in Israel is a little like walking into a fairytale: In recent years the city has turned many of its gardens into live storybooks, with giant statues scattered across the lawns, based on characters from famous children’s books.
The latest storybook garden inaugurated in Holon — now termed the “children’s city” — is called “A Story From The Heart.” It is based on a children’s tale that explains the sometimes difficult subject of organ donations.
The project came from a cooperation between the municipality of Holon and the National Center for Transplants. The statues, all friendly-looking characters in shape of organs, are based on a book written by author Efraim Sidon, which tells the story of a little girl in need of a heart transplant. The purpose of the book, according to its author, is to educate children on the importance of organ donations.
Located in one of the oldest gardens in the city, project was created with the help of landscape architect Carmela Gabriel. Sculptor Meir Trosman then created 6 statues, made of stone and painted in durable colors.
“The children that will come and play in the garden will be exposed to the subject of organ donations in an inviting and unthreatening manner,” sais Moti Sasson, Mayor of Holon.
Professor Rafy Biar, Chairman of the National Center for Transplant, said: “I hope that the younger generation will come to understand and pass on this important topic, which is that all of us will be able to save lives.”
The general initiative to create storybook gardens started started seven years ago and so far there are 34 such gardens spread around the city. All gardens have statues created by well-known artists and influenced by popular children’s books.
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Maccabi Jerusalem Boxing Club brings together Jews, Arabs
Jerusalem – When Gershon Luxemburg started his boxing club 30 years ago, he was looking to build champions, not bridges.
But thanks to a loyal cadre of Jewish and Arab fighters who flock to his stuffy gym inside a converted underground bomb shelter, Luxemburg’s club has become a rare melting pot that brings the warring sides closer together, one punch at a time.
Luxemburg and his brother Eli run Jerusalem’s only official boxing club. The cramped, smelly gym has pictures of Muhammad Ali and other boxing greats gracing the walls and an assortment of heavy bags hanging from the ceiling. Located in a neighborhood in Jewish west Jerusalem, it draws boxers from all parts of the city and has become a second home for both aspiring professionals and amateurs looking to learn the sweet science.
Despite the sport’s violent nature, Luxemburg says Jews and Arabs never clash in his gym.
“It’s very easy for me to see hate in someone’s eyes, and I’ve never seen it here,” he said. “The boxers are close. They are like brothers to each other.”
At a time when Israelis and Palestinians are increasingly segregated, the Maccabi Jerusalem Boxing Club offers a hub of coexistence. Jews and Arabs who would normally never cross are found jogging, skipping rope and sparring together. They pant and sweat, and the occasional nose gets bloody, but tensions never rise after the bell is rung.
Luxemburg says it is typical for aspiring boxers to come with troubled pasts. But learning how to fight actually lessens violent tendencies, he said.
“When someone has that confidence in himself, he doesn’t look for a fight. He doesn’t need to throw stones,” he said. “Sports brings people together. When you get in that ring together, when you get so close you can smell the other person … it’s a different level.”
He said that in sanctioned tournaments he lets his fighters get “cruel” and hit hard. But the in-house training is kept civil, even cordial.
Ismail Jafrei, a 37-year-old Palestinian truck driver from east Jerusalem, the section of the city claimed by the Palestinians for their future capital, says the trick is to leave politics at the door.
“When we walk down those steps we leave politics, religion and all that mess outside,” he said. “Inside the club, we are all brothers. We spar and at the end we shake hands and everyone goes their own way.”
A frequent Israeli sparring partner agrees.
“We’re just fighters and it doesn’t matter if one is an Arab and one is a Jew,” said Yehuda Luxemburg, a 23-year-old Israeli combat soldier and nephew of the club’s trainers. “There is something pure about boxing. It brings people together.”
Eli Luxemburg is an equal opportunity screamer. At a recent practice, he hollered at his charges “fire, fire, fire” and they began to unload jabs at each other.
“Mohammed. Move your feet! You aren’t moving your feet!” he yelled at a Palestinian boxer. The shy east Jerusalemite nodded, and Yehuda Luxemburg gave him some pointers on footwork and other fine points.
“Now hit me!” he said.
The Luxemburg brothers were both former champs in their native Uzbekistan before emigrating to Israel. They now enjoy a cult-like status among Jerusalem’s small but tightly knit boxing community.
They instruct in a mixture of Hebrew, Russian and English. While many Palestinians in Jerusalem know Hebrew, instructions are translated into Arabic for those who don’t understand.
Israeli boxers have enjoyed a moderate level of success internationally. Most originate from the former Soviet Union, such as former WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman and heavyweight Roman Greenberg _ nicknamed the “Lion from Zion.”
Some of the Gershon Luxemburg’s fighters have gone on to compete in the Olympics and in European championships, but he says his ultimate dream is to host a tournament in Jerusalem with all religions attending _ and perhaps Muhammad Ali too.
“I don’t care if they become boxing champions, so long as they become champions in life,” he said.
Source: Achshav.com
VIDEO: The Diesel Award @ the ITS#TEN Fashion competition in Italy goes to…. (HINT: Winner is from same country as the first ever winner)
ISRAEI FASHION DESIGNER: NIRAN AVISAR
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Avisar won a cash prize of € 25,000 and a six-month internship with the Diesel creative team at the company’s headquarters in Italy.
Avisar, a student at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Ramat Gan, was given the 2011 Diesel Award for his modern interpretation of the traditional dandy.