by Caroline An, Staff Writer
Pasadena Star News, Nov. 18, 2009
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_13810378

PASADENA - Through the Japanese art of paper folding, Muslim, Christian and Jewish students Tuesday learned the value of building new friendships and fostering religious unity.

For the second year, students from St. Mark's School, New Horizon School and Weizmann Day School came together to make about 150 paper doves and swans - symbols of peace. The pieces will be displayed at the Pasadena Public Library's Central Library from Nov. 30 through the end of the year.

Several of the pieces will also be exhibited during the second annual International Human Rights Day celebration Dec. 10 at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Joel Stern, an origami artist, led a one-hour tutorial on properly making the geometric folds and crease patterns. Stern said since origami is not common to any of the religions represented, it's a "beautiful activity that promotes multi-culturalism."

"This helps to break down barriers, because the students are here examining each other in a totally different setting," he said.

To help foster that goal of building friendships, the students were told to mingle and not sit with friends. As an ice-breaker, Lisa Feldman, Weizmann's head of school, encouraged everyone to share what their favorite movies was.

St. Mark's sixth-graders Ella Rushing and Kate Herrill said their favorite movie is "Twilight." Their new friend Yesmeen Shindy, a New Horizons student sixth-grader, shared the story of how she sprained her arm recently.

"I was climbing down the ladder from my tree house when I slipped and fell," she said.

The three girls became fast friends as they followed Stern's directions for making a paper dove. After a few tries, they helped each other along.

"You need to fold that piece over," Kate said to Yesmeen.

"I don't know why there's a gap between the two folds here," Yesmeen said.

Last year, the students' works were displayed in a courtyard in Jerusalem, where the Christian, Muslim and Jewish quarters meet, said Feldman said.

She added that the community building activity between the three schools is a tool to promote inclusion and fellowship among students of varying religious backgrounds.

"Kids are kids. They play sport and watch movies. This allows for us to promote diversity even among religious schools. The loftier goal is to promote fellowship among all of the students," Feldman said.

caroline.an@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 449