See Over 500 Daffodils In Bloom At Bernard Weinger JCC In Honor Of Holocaust
JCC Chicago, JUF Russian-Speaking Jewish Division, and Holocaust Community Services CJE SeniorLife participating in The Daffodil Project to help build a worldwide Living Holocaust Memorial
Sunday, April 23 at 11am at Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook
NORTHBROOK, IL (APRIL 2023) – JCC Chicago, in partnership with JUF’s Russian-speaking Jewish Division and Holocaust Community Services CJE SeniorLife, is inviting the community to come see the Daffodil Memorial Garden in bloom outside of their Northbrook location, Bernard Weinger JCC, (300 Revere Drive) on Sunday, April 23 from 11am-12:30pm.
Last October, the community along with the J and its partners gathered to plant 500 daffodil bulbs as part of The Daffodil Project, which aspires to build a worldwide Living Holocaust Memorial by planting 1.5 million daffodils in memory of the 1.5 million children who were murdered during the Holocaust and in support for children suffering in humanitarian crises around the world. This spring, JCC Chicago welcomes all ages to see the NEW memorial garden in bloom, listen to a Holocaust survivor share their story and enjoy two performances in conjunction with Violins of Hope, a project of concerts based on a private collection of violins, violas and cellos all collected since the end of World War II, many of which belonged to Jews before and during the war.
12-yr-old Baila Gabrielle Vaysman will perform in recognition of her Bat Mitzvah and to honor her great grandparents who were both Holocaust survivors, and all survivors in attendance. Award-winning violinist Aviva Chertok will perform using one of the violins from Violins of Hope.
Ilene Uhlmann, JCC Chicago’s Director of Community Engagement shares, “This project will serve as a living reminder and inspiration to the entire community. In a year when JCC Chicago is focused on themes of resiliency, resistance to adversity and hope for the future, the daffodils are symbolic because their yellow color is reminiscent of the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust and the themes of spring, renewal, hope and beauty.”
This event is FREE, and registration is required at Juf.org/daffodilproject. Children in attendance will be able decorate the rocks to be staged around the border of the garden and play outdoor games. Light refreshments will be served.
About JCC Chicago:
JCC (Jewish Community Centers) Chicago, founded in 1903 and rooted in Jewish values, offers a life-affirming journey fostering a connected, inclusive community from birth through senior years. With a focus on growing good kids and building connections, it is JCC Chicago’s mission to strengthen the Jewish community, from generation to generation. Today, JCC Chicago serves a diverse population of more than 60,000 community members who learn, grow and thrive through early childhood, day and overnight camps, teen, adult and family offerings, fitness and wellness, aquatics & sports and special events and happenings year-round.
With headquarters in Northbrook, JCC Chicago has over a dozen facilities that serve the greater Chicagoland area including: seven Early Childhood Centers, nine Apachi Day Camp locations, Camp Chi Overnight Camp and Perlstein Retreat Center (located in Lake Delton, WI) and five Community Centers. For more information on JCC Chicago programming and commitment to community visit, www.jccchicago.org.