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.

"Superman Samson" – supporting "Shave for the Brave"

I created the “Superman Samson” papercut in tribute to “Superman Sam” Sommer.

Sam succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia earlier this year, and his parents and friends have organized a fundraiser through St. Baldrick's to support cancer research. Originally designed around 36 rabbis who would shave their heads to raise money for the cause, the number of shavees is now 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.

Telling stories by cutting paper... at camp

Two weeks ago I posted about what I do every summer at URJ Camp Newman – teaching kids to cut paper. Last week I posted about the campers' first projects: mizrach plaques. This is the third of my four posts about cutting paper at Camp Newman, and this one is about the big project: paper midrash.

Bereshit

All of the campers in the two-hours-a-day yetzirah group (and many in the one-hour-a-day hizdamnut group) made "paper midrash" – they used their newly-developed papercutting skills to tell a story from the Tanakh (Torah, prophets, and writings) or midrash, picking a story or theme that was personally meaningful and interpreting it in this medium.

Eden

The Giants

The Rainbow

Parting the Sea

David and Goliath: Kavannah

Samson

Others had more esoteric sources for their work, pulling ideas from Sefer haAgaddah or other books that I brought for inspiration.

Claws

Dwarvish

Li

Mad Man

Pillar of Fire

Time

Sus

Next time – my last post about the camp workshops – will feature photos of the finished group projects which we made as a gift for camp.