PRESS RELEASE
Jewish Cultural Booth
8/27/2017 – 10AM
Alaska Jewish Campus, Alaska Jewish Museum, the Mat-Su Jewish Center
Alaska State Fair
2075 Glenn Hwy, Palmer
Demos FREE, Activities $2-$15
Thousands of Alaskans look forward to the annual state fair in Palmer, and now they have one more great reason to attend! The Jewish Cultural Booth, presented by the Alaska Jewish Campus, Alaska Jewish Museum and the Mat-Su Jewish Center will bring an incredible and hands-on cultural experience for all fairgoers. The booth will be open on Experience AK Day, Sunday, August 27, 2017 from 10AM until 8PM.
Guests to the booth will enjoy a complimentary peek at the current exhibits viewing at the Alaska Jewish Historical Museum, including the popular “On the Wings of Eagles: Alaska’s Contribution to Operation Magic Carpet” exhibition detailing Alaska Airline’s refugee rescue mission in Yemen. Other mini-exhibits on display will be “Bayles. David. Koslosky. Gottstein. Green. Loussac: Jewish Movers and Shakers in Early Anchorage” about the early Jewish pioneers and founding members of the city of Anchorage and “Refuge in the Last Frontier: The Evolution of the Alaska Development Plan” regarding the attempt and failure of the United States government to put into action an immigration policy that would have allowed Jews trying to escape Nazi Germany to settle in Alaska during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Museum curator, Leslie Fried, will be on site to answer questions and discuss the various museum displays.
In addition to the museum exhibit and a Judaic gift shop, the booth will host hands-on demos and activities centered around cultural themes throughout the day. The first event, “Challah: Secrets to Braided Bread” at 12PM will center around the Challah bread. Challah, traditionally eaten on the Sabbath, is full of interwoven strands representing the peace and unity we strive to cultivate in our environment. Learn the secrets of braiding your own with a master Challah baker, and try your hand at the braiding process. Demo Free, Activities $2.
At 4PM, the Alaska Jewish Museum curator will present an incredible activity titled “Build Led Circuits”. Turn the story of brave Alaska Airlines pilots' rescue mission of Jewish Yemenite refugees into a light up map of their courageous journey. Children and Adults will enjoy listening to the tale of the Alaska Airline pilots’ heroic rescue mission, and will have a chance to create their own memento from the activity. Exhibit Demo Free, Activity $5.
With the Jewish New Year coming up, another amazing activity will be offered by Rabbi Mendy Greenberg of the Mat-Su Jewish Center at 6PM titled “SHOFAR FACTORY”- a live demonstration turning a ram's horn into a trumpet used at the Jewish New Year's celebrations. Demo Free, Craft Your Own Shofar $15.
Whether you visit the booth to learn the secret techniques to braid your own Challah bread, craft a ram’s horn into a shofar or build a light up map detailing Alaska Airline pilots’ courageous journey, the demonstrations are guaranteed to be full of unforgettable learning experiences.
The Kosher Shelf, a new initiative in the Mat-Su Valley, will partner with local food pantries to stock shelves of Jewish cultural foods for those in need. Stop by to show your support and give back to the Valley community. Donate a can, write your name on our donor wall, and join in fun activities to discover more about how the Kosher Shelf aims to provide for those less fortunate.
The Alaska Jewish Museum provides a home for Jewish history, art and culture in Alaska. The museum offers a safe home for Alaska’s Jewish cultural artifacts and provides a place to showcase the untold Jewish contribution to Alaska’s history, art and culture. The Alaska Jewish Museum also serves as a gathering place and historical repository to help build cultural bridges which promote diversity and tolerance for all Alaskans, enriching and deepening the cultural wealth of the broader Alaskan Community. For more information about the Alaska Jewish Museum, please visit www.alaskajewishmuseum.com.
The Mat-Su Jewish Center was founded in 2015 with a mission to create a safe space for everyone to experience Jewish culture and heritage in a warm and welcoming environment. The community center looks to find opportunities to bring universal values of education, tolerance, and charity through programs, classes and family activities to the Mat-Su Valley. For more information about the Mat-Su Jewish Center and the Kosher Shelf, visit www.MatSuJewishCenter.org.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Chaya Greenberg at 347-415-5412 or email at chayalea@gmail.com.
