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I Art Exhibit Features Work of IDF
Soldier Killed by Hamas
n August 2014, 23-year-old Israel Defense Forces Lt.

Hadar Goldin was kidnapped and killed in Gaza by
Hamas terrorists, just two hours aft er a cease-fi re
was declared aft er Operation Protective Edge.

Nearly eight years later, Goldin’s parents, Leah and
Simcha Goldin, still wait in agony for the return of his
body for burial in Israel.

Goldin’s story is shedding new light in Greater
Philadelphia as part of a traveling exhibit that show-
cases the late soldier’s prolifi c artistic talent.

Funded by the Jewish Federation in partnership with
Kaiserman JCC, the Consulate General of Israel in
New York and the Hadar Goldin Foundation, “Hadar
Goldin: Th e Final Peace” is open to the public through
June 17 at the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood.

Following the recent uptick in terror attacks in
Israel, this exhibit comes at a much-needed time to not
only celebrate Goldin’s artwork but also raise aware-
ness about Hamas’ control of the Gaza Strip and the
Israelis who have been held captive by them.

“I hope that people who visit this exhibit will join
in the eff ort to bring Hadar home from Gaza aft er
eight years and help bring peace to Hadar, peace to
his family and peace to the world,” said Leah Goldin,
who, along with her husband and children, continue to
hope, advocate and fi ght for the return of her son and
fellow slain soldier Oron Shaul.

Th e exhibit’s opening on June 1 included a private
briefi ng and conversation with local legislators about
Israel’s challenges in dealing with Hamas in Gaza.

Reut Baror, a Kaiserman JCC board member; Alan
Scher, the Kaiserman CEO; and Danielle Weiss, the
Jewish Community Relations Council chair, welcomed
guests during the program and discussed the impor-
tance of bringing this opportunity to the community.

Th e reception featured remarks by Ambassador Asaf
Zamir, Consul General of Israel in New York; Maya
Karkai, the exhibit curator; Leah Goldin, founder of
the Hadar Goldin Foundation; and William Daroff ,
CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish
Organizations. “We were honored to host the Goldin family and an
exhibit of Hadar’s artwork in Philadelphia,” said Jason
Holtzman, director of the Jewish Federation’s JCRC.

“Th e situation that the Goldin family has been dealing
with since 2014 is truly heartbreaking.”
Goldin’s story is of special importance to
the Jewish Federation, as the incident took place
in the Sagaiya neighborhood of the organization’s
Partnership2Gether region in Netivot and Sdot Negev,
12 JUNE 9, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
From left: Alan Scher, the Kaiserman JCC CEO;
Leah and Simcha Goldin of the Goldin Family
Foundation; Maya Karkai, the exhibit curator;
and Israel Nitzan, deputy consul general at the
Consulate General of Israel in New York
Courtesy Consulate General of Israel in New York
just miles from the Gaza Strip. Th e region’s com-
munities have rallied behind the family’s eff orts to
advocate for Goldin’s return, including members of
Kibbutz Alumim. Located directly across from where
the horrifi c capture took place, the kibbutz named a
playground in his memory.

“We think raising awareness of the fact that Hamas
has been holding Hadar’s body, as well as the body of
Oron Shaul and two other Israeli civilians, is greatly
important for people to understand,” Holtzman con-
tinued. “We want to see Hadar and the others returned
home immediately.”
Experience “Hadar Goldin: The Final Peace”
Th e traveling exhibit has been presented to the
United Nations, featured around the world and is
now on display for the Greater Philadelphia com-
munity. In addition to general touring hours, the
Jewish Federation and JCC are hosting two special
programs as part of the exhibit, off ering even more
thought-provoking experiences:
Israel and Jewish Life on Campus: The Latest
Trends with Dr. Noam Weissman and Gabe
Greenberg Tuesday, June 14 | 7-8:30 p.m.

Noam Weissman, executive vice president of
OpenDor Media, and Gabe Greenberg, executive
director of Penn Hillel, are leading a discussion about
The exhibit opened June 1 and will run through
June 17 at the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood.

Courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
the latest trends regarding Israel and Jewish life on
campus. Th is workshop will give students tips on how
to create engaged and meaningful dialogue about
Israel and being Jewish on campus, inside and outside
classes long before they get there. It will also introduce
parents to the challenges students face today.

Theatre Ariel Presents “Songbirds and
Pomegranates” Wednesday, June 15 | 7-8:30 p.m.

Enjoy actors from Th eatre Ariel performing
“Songbirds and Pomegranates.” With texts and music
curated by Deborah Baer Mozes and Jesse Bernstein,
the show refl ects on the life, artwork and legacy of
Goldin through a dynamic reading of poetry, theater
and contemporary Israeli folk and pop music.

Visit jewishphilly.org/hadarexhibit for more infor-
mation about exhibit hours, as well as tickets for
special programming.