Showing posts with label CCAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CCAR. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Paper Midrash in Lafayette (no, not the one from Hamilton)

Just wanted to quickly post a few photos from our Paper Midrash residency at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, California. Rabbi Shawna and I gave a visual sermon on "People of the Comic Book" and we used our "Paper T'filah Visual T'filah" for Friday night services, had an oneg Shabbat scavenger hunt with some of my work, led an adult papercutting workshop, and even had the religious school get into the fun with our exclusive "Fold-and-Cut Torah" lesson plan!

"Paper T'filah Visual T'filah" in Erev Shabbat services



Oneg Shabbat Scavenger Hunt



Making Paper Midrash with Rabbi Shawna


Rabbi Nicki Greninger made Paper Midrash in our workshop

We had a great group in our adult papercutting workshop

Paper Midrash made by Karen, a workshop participant

Paper Midrash made by Nathan, workshop participant

Paper Midrash made by Rabbi Greninger

Friday, October 30, 2015

Birkon Mikdash M'at: NFTY's Bencher

Just in time for Shabbat!

This groundbreaking publication fills a need for a handy source for Shabbat, weekday, and holiday blessings and songs. Created by NFTY, edited by Jeremy Gimbel, and spearheaded by Rabbi Dan Medwin, this app makes all the blessings and songs even more accessible and easy to use. For use in the home, the synagogue, in camps, at weddings, or wherever your travels take you.

And yeah, it features a bunch of my Paper Tefillah papercuts. I'm so proud to be a part of this!

Get it from the app store for your iPhone... or there's a print version too.



Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Schepping nachas





I created the “Superman Samson” papercut in tribute to “Superman Sam” Sommer, and tonight at the 125th Annual Convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), it was presented to Sam's parents: Rabbi Michael and Rabbi Phyllis Sommer.

I am so proud to have been able to be a part of this incredible effort, raising money for pediatric cancer research. The organizers (Rabbi Rebecca Schorr notably among them) kept adjusting the goal upward as it was met and exceeded throughout the campaign, and the total is now more than $570,000 (and still going up!)


Sam Sommer succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia earlier this year, and his parents and friends organized a fundraiser through St. Baldrick's to support pediatric cancer research. Originally designed around 36 rabbis who would shave their heads to raise money for the cause, the number of shavees wound up more than double that number, with countless volunteers and supporters.

The papercut I created to support the cause is a mix of sadness and joy, of challenge and triumph – fitting for Samson's story, and Sam's as well. It's made with cut-up Superman comics, including the "World Without a Superman" trade paperback, and includes a speech bubble which reads, “Those are lessons I'll never forget” — it's a reference to the lessons we take from Sam's life, from this event, and from our determination to fight the good fight.

How can you get involved? Give. And for those who give $360 or more in new donations at this special "Art for a Cause" page, you'll receive a limited edition signed and numbered giclée print of "Superman Samson." It measures 14" x 11" (same size as the original), and will only be available for a limited time.