Dear Friends,
In 2014, Israeli artist Hadar Goldin had just become engaged to be married. He was a commander, completing his army service with the Israeli Defense Force. One evening, while deployed on a mission, he sketched his wedding invitation on a piece of paper. He included a quote by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, “And this generation will live to praise both beauty and life.” But his wedding never took place. Despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States and the United Nations, Hadar was abducted and killed by Hamas terrorists. His body has never been returned. What remains is his memory and the art he left behind – a testament to the vision he articulated in echo of Rabbi Kook.
Hadar Goldin: The Final Peace, is an exhibition now open to the public here at the Kaiserman JCC through June 17. It tells not only Hadar’s story, and the coming of age of an artist, but a larger narrative of a global Jewish story. The JCC is proud to tell stories of this nature, those that wrestle with identity, growth, and the impact of living in a complex world. To celebrate this exhibition, we are offering several events aligned with this ethos, as well as extensive access to the show. Please join us over the next several weeks by touring the artwork. Details and registration information can be found here.
To commemorate the opening, the JCC was thrilled to welcome local dignitaries, politicians, and leaders, including Israeli Consul General in New York, Asaf Zamir, and our partners from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish Community Relations Council. We are grateful to our collaborators for making this opportunity available to the community, and believe all who experience it will embrace Hadar’s dream in his memory to, “…praise both beauty and life.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Alan
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