Montreal day school, Israeli museum plan celebration of Israel’s 70th

(Amos Ben Gershon/GPO photo)

In celebration of two milestones – Israel’s 70th and Hebrew Academy’s 50th anniversaries – Hebrew Academy’s elementary school and Israel’s Beit Hatfutsot Museum of the Jewish People will host a trilingual exhibition in Côte-St-Luc, Que., on May 15.

Students in kindergarten through Grade 6 will present a variety of projects showcasing Israel’s accomplishments over seven decades, in the face of political, geographic and climatic challenges, among others.

“We look forward to highlighting with pride all of the country’s achievements since Herzl proclaimed, ‘If you will it, it is not a dream,’ ” said elementary director of French studies and academics Miriam Schrager, who is organizing the show alongside director of English studies and technology integration Elyse Haber, director of Judaic studies Jordana Levy and kindergarten teacher Ilana Krief.

READ: THE SHABBAT TABLE – HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY ISRAEL

“We are featuring the realization of a dream. The exhibit will display different ecosystems like Eilat’s and the desert, and the flora and fauna in these environments,” Schrager said. “We will also recreate a kibbutz and describe the daily life of early settlers.”

Visitors will gain an appreciation for the various Jewish cultural groups that made aliyah and helped build the Jewish state. Guests will explore Israeli inventions, biographies of influential figures in Israel’s history and the development of non-profit organizations.

“The critical role of the Israel Defence Forces will occupy a central place in our exhibition and, of course, the city of Jerusalem will be showcased through visual arts,” said Schrager. “At the information booth, visitors will have the chance to leaf through pamphlets describing popular Israeli landmarks.”

Among the evening’s highlights will be Beit Hatfutsot Museum’s display of 29 posters describing the various waves of Israeli migration, called Celebrating Israel: Snapshots of the People Behind a Young State.

As part of Hebrew Academy’s (HA) 50th anniversary celebrations, almost 100 elementary students participated in a drawing contest, in which they illustrated “What HA at 50 means to me.” The winning drawing will be featured on souvenir gifts that will be distributed to all families in attendance.


The exhibition will take place at 5700 Kildare Rd. in Côte-St-Luc on May 15 from 6-8 pm.