Who am I? Who are you? How do we play together? How are we alike/different? 

 

Building community. Coming together as community. That's what students from Madinah Academy of Madison and Madison Jewish Community Day School students reviewed on Wednesday, May 30. 

 

Approximately four years ago with both of our communities took a major stand about teaching children about tolerance, patience, and peace. After much planning, the first year gathering occurred in an upstairs room in Temple Beth El where we introduced ourselves to each other. The second year we met at Madinah Academy and learned about each other

and what it meant to be a friend. We read books, made stories, and rewrote endings. We truly learned about the "other." At our third get together we built upon the theme of friendship and read about Peanut Johnson and how she was the first female African American to play baseball in the Negro League. 

 

In reading about her that rainy afternoon we learned about how to keep taking risks and how to never give up, how to follow your dreams and how to work for peace among your peers. This past fall we took this advice and took even greater risks than before. We asked each other about our differences.We learned about our histories, our customs, and our traditions. 

 

And now, just this past week, on Wednesday, we came together to build community. Some of the groups had underwater parking. Some of the groups built communities with museums with malls on top. Some had libraries. Many had synagogues and mosques. Almost all had schools. They constructed communities and put people in them. They took chances and wrote stories, and poems and songs! They shared them out loud.

 

Most importantly, they plunged in and they built peace. Thank you Saad Khalifa for birthing an idea with Madinah and Madison Jewish Day School many moons ago. Thank you Madinah constituents. Thank you MJCDS members. 

 

May we all go forward and find peace: Salaam. Shalom.

 

-Meisha Leibson

Irwin A. and Robert D. Goodman Jewish Community Campus

Kick off the summer at this wonderful community event, which is moving to June this year. Reconnect with old friends, meet new people, and learn about Jewish community organizations, programs and events. Enjoy freshly grilled hot dogs, children's activities, and the Goodman Aquatic Center pool.

Vendors wanted for the Mini-Shuk (market) at the Hava Nagila Jewish Community Picnic

Are you a Jewish artist?  Jewish business owner?  Would you like to sell your art/jewelry/products at the Hava Nagila Jewish Community Picnic on Sunday, June 24th at the Mini-Shuk?  Please contact Dina at dina@jewishmadion.org for more information.

 

Kick off the summer at the 1st annual Kickball Tournament

Join us for the 1st annual Kickball Tournament which will take place at the Hava Nagila Jewish Community Picnic on Sunday, June 24th.  RSVP to Dina at dina@jewishmadison.org and we will place you on a team. Everyone ages 7 and up (adults and children) are invited to play. Come join the fun!

 

 

photo by Leslie Greenspan