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News Release Aug. 17, 2006 Memorial Service at Boise State for Founder of Program to Send Books to Israeli Children
A memorial service for Jade Bar-Shalom, co-founder of the international Books for Israel program, will be held from 3-4 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Student Union Jordan A&B Ballroom at Boise State University. Rabbi Dan Fink of Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel will speak. The free event is sponsored by the Boise chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma national criminal justice honor society at Boise State and is open to the public. Free parking is available in the Student Union visitor lot and along Bronco Circle. Attendees are encouraged to bring one book suitable for children in grades K-12 to donate in memory of Bar-Shalom (no flowers, please). Those who wish to do so may include a note of condolence, which will be mailed to the Bar-Shalom family, and/or inscribe the flyleaf of the book with an appropriate message. Bar-Shalom was born in New York City in 1960, and moved to Israel to teach English in 1984. In recent years she organized help for Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze and other families affected by the increasing violence in the country. In fall 2002, she phoned her sister, Rena Cohen, in the United States to share the news that funds to purchase English-language books for Israeli schools would be cut. Convinced that English was essential to success in the areas of trade, diplomacy and science, the sisters determined to find a way to bring the situation to the attention of the English-speaking world and Books for Israel was born. Three years later, in August 2005, Bar-Shalom was diagnosed with brain cancer; she died Aug. 2 of this year. The Books for Israel program has continued to prosper in the United States and England. Synagogues, church groups, youth groups, community centers and individuals have donated more than 41 tons of books. More than 10,000 books have come from Idaho, thanks to the efforts of David Lynch, Idaho flagship project coordinator. The project was renamed the Jade Bar-Shalom Books for Israel Project in 2005 and it continues to flourish as a volunteer, grassroots effort. Not only is the project about books, it is also an opportunity for donors to "adopt" a class or school in Israel, creating personal, international contacts that further understanding of other cultures. To learn more about the project, visit www.booksforisrael.org. Books may be donated at Blue Sky Bagels in either Boise or Meridian. -30- Contact: David Lynch, Idaho Flagship Books for Israel, (208) 884-3114, idflagb4i@clearwire.net; Andy Giacomazzi, Alpha Phi Sigma adviser, (208) 426-4162, agiacom@boisestate.edu Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and public service.
email communications@boisestate.edu Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007
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