Skirball Reaches Out to Families With a Variety of Programs

Family is the core of it all, according to Uri Herscher, founder, president and chief executive of the Skirball Cultural Center.

“If there were no families, there would be no future,” Herscher said during the center’s recent Hanukkah Family Festival. “The family historically anchors civilization.”

As more than 1,500 visitors attended craft workshops, listened to traveling klezmer bands, participated in folk dances and toured the center’s exhibits, Herscher said it was all part of reinforcing the idea of family and community.

“The first philosophical statement in the biblical text of Genesis is that it’s not good for human beings to be alone,” Herscher said. “We at the Skirball Cultural Center take that notion very seriously.”

Since opening in Los Angeles in 1996, the center has offered a variety of programs aimed at families -- programs in keeping with its larger goal of demonstrating connections between Jewish heritage and American democratic ideals. The center says it hopes to inspire families of every ethnic and cultural identity in American life and invites them to reflect upon such values as freedom, tolerance and diversity.

The family programs, which are offered twice a month, feature a variety of musical, theatrical, cross-cultural and children’s events. Upcoming activities include family yoga, feng shui for children and African folklore embroidery workshops. Toddler-oriented activities and programs are offered regularly. The center’s “We the People” family festival occurs each year around Independence Day and, this year, featured a chili cook-off, blues and jazz recitals, art projects and demonstrations and lessons by a team of Double Dutch jump-rope champions.

A schedule of family program events can be found at the center’s website: www.skirball.org.

“When family programs first started, they were wrapped around themes of holidays and Jewish values. That’s still an underlying concept, but we’ve worked to broaden that,” said Jocelyn Tetel, the Skirball’s vice president of advancement.

Most events require an admission fee, although directors say the fees do not come close to covering the cost of offering the family programs. Consequently, the center relies on donations and grants. This year, the center’s family programs received $15,000 from the Los Angeles Times Holiday Campaign, which raises money for nonprofit agencies in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

At the Hanukkah Family Festival, families said they found the programs very valuable.

“We’re here so our kids can learn what Hanukkah is about,” said Milka Dyrek, as her daughter Gabriella, 6, and her son, Ariel, 4, constructed toy Hanukkah candles out of cardboard tubes, glue, colored tissue paper and seeds. Father William Dyrek looked on.

“Our kids go to public school, and they get a lot of Christmas exposure,” Milka Dyrek said. “We feel like they need to get exposure to Hanukkah to learn about their heritage. We don’t want them to lose their own identity.”

In another room, Jason Levin watched his son, Jaredan, 5, as he entertained himself in a playroom filled with toys.

“My wife and I have a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, and we don’t want them destroying the house,” , Levin joked. “That’s why we come here.”

However, he said he was surprised at how interested his son was in a stage performance called “The Klezmer Nutcracker” and during storytelling sessions.

“He sat for an hour and a half giggling and in rapt attention,” Levin said. “That means he’s being entertained and he’s learning about the world.”

Center officials say they are building additions that will allow expansion of their family programs. Construction is underway on Winnick Hall and Ziegler Amphitheater, which are scheduled to open in 2004. Winnick Hall will consist of a three-story building, the amphitheater and outdoor education areas. The second floor of the building and the outdoor education areas will be known as Noah’s pArk, a new family and children’s destination that will open in 2006.

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HOW TO GIVE

The annual Holiday Campaign is part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, which this year will match the first $800,000 raised at 50 cents on the dollar. Donations (checks or money orders) supporting the Holiday Campaign should be sent to: L.A. Times Holiday Campaign, File 56986, Los Angeles, CA 90074-6986. Do not send cash. Credit card donations can be made on the website: www.latimes.com/holiday campaign.

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