The Milken community gathered together on Sunday, January 31, to commemorate the unveiling of the Mosaic Ark Wall, cherry wood Ark doors,and the Eternal Light in the Beit Midrash of David Saperstein Middle School. Rabbi Eli Herscher and Head of School Jason Ablin extended heartfelt thanks to the donors who made funding for this project possible and also recognized Ms. Debra Sokolow and her team of 14 students responsible for shaping the design. They also congratulated the community of over 250 individuals - students, teachers, administrators, parents, alumni, and staff who participated in setting the glass pieces on the formidable 8- by 22-foot mesh mural.
Several of these students offered reflections and Ms. Sokolow acknowledged the invaluable contribution of the participants who came forward to make this process and its impressive result a beautiful and lasting treasure for our new Middle School.
Special thanks to the following families who contributed so generously to the establishment of these beautiful enhancements to our campus: Younes and Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation for the Beit Midrash, Susan and Mel Plutsky and Scott and Nancy Beiser for the Mosaic wall, Susan and Mel Plutsky for the Aron Kodesh - Holy Ark, and Beverly and Herb Sturman for the Ner Tamid - Eternal Light.
The Ark Wall Mosaic, cherry wood Ark Doors and the Eternal Light have been a year and a half-long creative collaboration facilitated by Ms. Debra Sokolow, who shaped the design and theme of the seven species with a team of 14 dedicated art students from Grades 7 through 12. Milken's community of Middle and Upper School students, faculty, parents, administration, staff, and alumni have had an opportunity to place glass pieces within the design and help bring the mosaic wall to life for the Beit Midrash on David Saperstein Middle School campus.