Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 7 June 2018
Jewish museum in Cyprus aims to build bridges to Arab world

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS from Abu Dhabi to learn
LARNACA, Cyprus (AP) about Jerusalem, to open
— A new Jewish museum the door to these people
in Cyprus aims to be a and learn about the
bridge-builder to the Arab Holocaust."
world and beyond, a The museum is the
place where visitors who brainchild of the Israeli-
may never set foot in Israel born Raskin and Sibyl
can learn about the Jewish Silver, director of the U.S.-
faith, the Holocaust and based Jewish Heritage
the tumultuous beginnings Foundation. Silver will also
of the Jewish state. provide the museum with
Items going on display in objects the Nazis stole from
the seven-story structure eastern European countries
in Larnaca will include and that were recovered
some of more than 100 by the Soviet Red Army.
Torah scrolls — Judaism's The rare scrolls dating back
holiest book — that Russian to the 19th century tell the
authorities discovered in stories of once-thriving
the Nazis' possession and Jewish communities in
which for decades were Europe that were wiped
kept at a military installation In this Wednesday, May 30, 2018, Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin, the leader of Cyprus' 3,500-strong out, says Silver. She said
450 kilometers (280 miles) Jewish community, looks at Torah scrolls including two that were stolen by the Nazis in WW2 and Russian authorities have
east of Moscow. recovered by the Soviet Red Army. agreed that the scrolls —
A key selling point for the Associated Press which remain under their
eastern Mediterranean legal jurisdiction — could
island nation as the venue the island's then-British rulers "Through education, Zeev Raskin, the leader be put on exhibit in Cyprus
for the museum is its held more than 51,000 Jews we can make a big of Cyprus' 3,500-strong because of Moscow's
proximity to the Middle fleeing post-World War II difference and a big Jewish community. "It's an traditional bonds with the
East. It plans to open in Europe. Another floor will change," says Rabbi Arie opportunity for a prince island.q
May 2019. give visitors a sense of the
Through a number of state- Nazi concentration camps
exhibits at the new museum, others were exterminated Gucci donates scrap fabric
reality where millions of Jews and
of-the-art
virtual
visitors donning head- in the Holocaust, while
sense of the internment the sights and sounds of to migrant dressmaking shop
mounted gear will get a a third floor will exhibit
camps of Cyprus, where Jerusalem.
seeing themselves only
as in a situation of need,"
Giaretta said.
The New Hope tailoring
cooperative, which
has a storefront shop in
Caserta, was born in 2004
as a project affiliated with
Giaretta's residence and
until now made mostly
bags and accessories.
Its workers branched
In this Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 file photo, people walk in front of out into clothing after
Gucci shop in Monte Napoleone street in Milan, Italy. attending in training
Associated Press workshops put on by design
students from the local high
By NICOLE WINFIELD a group of Italian design school. The Gucci bolts
Associated Press students who helped teach of fabric were donated
ROME (AP) — Nigerian them to sketch and sew the as part of the fashion
women who were designs, which mix Gucci house's philanthropic
trafficked to Italy to work silks, satins and cotton with environmental initiative,
as prostitutes have found bright African prints. Equilibrium, which seeks to
work in a handbag and Sister Rita Giaretta, who distribute leftover leather
dressmaking shop that runs a home for rescued and fabrics to organizations
recently received some migrants in the southern that work with marginalized
top-notch raw materials: city of Caserta, said the groups.
4,000 meters (4,374 yards) aim of the project was to "When I saw the fabric I was
of leftover fabric from give the women dignified amazed," said Josephine
Gucci. work so they aren't reliant Phillips, a 35-year-old
The initiative was on handouts. Nigerian woman who works
announced Wednesday "Giving them their dignity in the New Hope workshop
in Rome, complete with means putting them back and modeled a headscarf
a fashion show by the on their feet and believing and reversible handbag
Nigerian dressmakers and in themselves and not Wednesday. q