Jewish calendar showcase for kids’ artwork

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 | 5:19 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 7, 2002

Children's artwork and essays that reflect the start of the Jewish New Year will be showcased in a newly released 2002-2003 calendar.

King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery and the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada are releasing the calendar just in time for the Jewish New Year, which began Friday.

Dozens of Southern Nevada children submitted entries for the calendar in April and the winning entries are featured in the 13-month calendar.

The calendar, which is being distributed free to all local synagogues, highlights community events and Jewish holidays.

Torrey Barrett, 11, was chosen as the first place winner for her computer-generated artwork depicting "mitzvot," good deeds in the Jewish faith.

In addition to Barrett, other local children whose essays or drawings are featured in the calendar are Julia Cramer, Julia Herskovic, Aryn Bordman, Taylor Rosenstein, Michelle Harnik, Chad Smith, Sarah Blank, Stephanie Angeli, Sarah Chester, Drew Barron, Valina Rivera, Scott Petticlerc, Rudy Rivera and Ron Ventura.

Darcy Allen of Consultants in Marketing designed the calendar.

Laura Sussman, executive director of the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada, said most Jewish calendars include the holidays but are published by massive publication houses and don't always show the flavor of the Jewish community. The calendar was designed with that in mind.

"We hope that it inspires some of the young artists in town to think about doing Jewish art," she said. "There's so many holidays and experiences that take place -- Jewish rituals and symbols. This way, kids get the chance to explore that through art and we get a chance to show off their talents."

Organizers are planning to kick off next year's calendar in October.

The Jewish Community Center hosts a variety of educational, social, recreational and cultural programs for children and adults.

The 10,000-square-foot King David Memorial Chapel and 8-acre cemetery is the only Jewish mortuary in the state.