The final event of this international Jewish heritage competition includes 190 Jewish institutions, 24 countries and more than 20,000 young participants. The 58 finalists and their families attended the closing event and exhibition opening at The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot in Tel Aviv, Israel
Bursts of laughter, applause of praise and pride, and conversations in languages spanning six continents could be heard throughout The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot in Tel Aviv, Israel. On June 7th and 8th, 2018, Beit Hatfutsot culminated the 23rd year of the My Family Story International Competition in Memory of Manuel Hirsch Grosskopf with a celebration of international Jewish Peoplehood at the My Family Story exhibit opening and the final award ceremony. The 58 finalists from 24 countries around the world were joined by their families and friends for a celebration of the diversity and unity of the Jewish People with a special focus on connections to Israel in honor of its 70th year as a state. The My Family Story finalists and their families gathered for two days of learning, fun-filled meetings, and international gatherings at Beit Hatfutsot. The participants toured the museum, described the stories behind their projects to their peers and families, joined international workshops, and attended the final award ceremony.
This celebration marks the end of the year-long program featured in Jewish schools, communities, and museums around the world, reaching 20,000 young participants from: Israel, USA, Moldova, Greece, Hungary, Germany, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, Latvia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Spain, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and Colombia. Throughout the year, Jewish youth learn about their family’s roots, histories, stories, and traditions using a curriculum and guidelines provided by the Koret International School of Jewish Peoplehood at Beit Hatfutsot. The students submit artistic and creative projects which represented their findings to the international competition.
The final award ceremony was led by Beit Hatfutsot’s CEO Dan Tadmor, the CEO of Beit Hatfusot in America Shula Bahat, and the My Family Story team. The participants were cheered on by their families, friends and classmates as well as an impressive array of diplomats and esteemed guests, representing the Ministry of Education, the Jewish Agency and embassies of Canada, USA, Greece, Germany, Chile, Lithuania, Panama, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Australia, Ukraine, Costa Rica. The final award ceremony took place in a packed Smolarz Auditorium at Tel Aviv University and featured dance performances by the Zooz ‘n Dance company. The event was streamed live to viewers across the globe. The winners’ projects are on display in the My Family Story exhibit at The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot until July 15th, 2018.
Also view: The My Family Story 2018 catalog
(Photos by: Nir Shaanani)
