SWC Exhibition "People-Book-Land" Opens at Daley Center in Chicago

From the Vatican and Capitol Hill to Paris and now Chicago, the first-of-its-kind historical exhibit, “People, Book, Land – The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People to the HolyLand” opened for a special week-long stop at the Richard J. Daley Center. Developed by The Simon Wiesenthal Center and co-sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, andCultural Organization (UNESCO), the exhibit is designed to be a tool in the ongoing fight against the current resurgence of anti-Semitism.

“The Daley Center is an important address in the U.S. and we’re really proud to make it the first exhibit venue outside of thenation’s Capitol,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “It’s designed to people of all faiths and backgrounds and tells stories of thecountry as a start-up thousands of years ago through to the start-up ventures that prosper today.”

Chicago dignitaries gathered for a kick-off ceremony on Monday morning. In addition to Rabbi Cooper, attendees included, CongressmanMike Quigley, U.S. House of Representatives, 5th Congressional District of Illinois; Alderman Michele Smith, Chicago’s 43rd Ward and Alderman Brian Hopkins, Chicago’s 2nd Ward; ReverendMitchell Johnson, Executive Pastor, New Seasons Church, Chicago; the Honorable Consul General Roey Gilad, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest; Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean of theSimon Wiesenthal Center; and Robert Hartman, Board of Trustees, Simon Wiesenthal Center and Chairman, NuCare Services Corp.

“We have a cure for bigotry – it’s understanding and knowledge; and we have a cure for tolerance – it’s acceptance,”said Alderman Hopkins. “That’s why I encourage people to spend time with this remarkable exhibit.”

Debbie Hartman; Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center; Robert Hartman, Board of Trustees, SimonWiesenthal Center & Chairman, NuCare Services Corp; Alderman Michele Smith, Chicago’s 43rd Ward; Alderman Brian Hopkins, Chicago’s 2nd Ward; Honorable Consul General of Israel tothe Midwest Roey Gilad; Reverend Mitchell Johnson, Executive Pastor, New Seasons Church Chicago; Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center; Rabbi Meyer May,Executive Director, Simon Wiesenthal Center; Dominic DiFrisco

Rabbi May, Rabbi Hier, Rivka Zell, Alison Pure-Slovin, Rabbi Cooper, Consul General Roey Gilad

Photos: Larry Engelhart click on photos for hi-resolution version