framed images for rooms in the 
building and constructed a per-
manent glass mosaic 7 feet wide 
to reflect life at the orphanage.
“Imagery that we did showed 
children playing,
” Kaplan said. 
“We have an image of the Haiti 
flag logo design, which is a 
drum and a palm tree. 
“We did a mosaic as a trip-
tych because it was easier to 
transport the wooden boards 
on which over 5,000 tiles were 
placed. Everybody cut and 
placed the tiles because it’s really 
their artwork, and it shows their 
community.
” 
The types of work that Kaplan 
planned were met enthusias-
tically by the children, Kaplan 
said.
“The triptych was an excit-
ing project because they went 
from the design to completing 
it and really working together,
” 
she said. “We talked a lot about 
working together on a commu-
nity project, and I explained 
about measuring the designs 
and ordering supplies.
“It’s not just doing a design. 
It’s about how to execute the 
design and order supplies. It 
became a little bit of a math les-
son for the kids to try to under-
stand what goes into being a 

working artist and planning for 
something like this.
”
Working days were from 8 
a.m.-5 p.m. with Albom making 
visits to see how they were 
doing. After dinner, they were 
ready to go to their rooms and 
think about the next day. 
Although the children’s center 
is Christian, Jewish structures 
and symbols entered into their 
interests and projects. The 
sisters from America brought 
iPads and phones so the kids 
could look up ideas. 
“They were very thoughtful 
children, and faith plays an 
important part in their lives,
” 
said Kaplan, a member of 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek. 
“They made a community sand 
art installation to be hung in the 
building. We talked a lot about 
working together. 
 “One of the most touching 
parts of the visit for me 
happened when a young girl 
asked how I say ‘love’ in Hebrew 
and asked me to draw the 
Hebrew letters,
” said Kaplan, 
who showed her. “The girl, to 
my surprise, then made me 
a T-shirt that said ‘love’ with 
Hebrew lettering for ‘love’ 
[ahavah].
” 

DECEMBER 22 • 2022 | 51

TOP: Students at work 
– and their art projects. 
RIGHT: A student 
artist paints a T-shirt. 
 
BELOW: Hands individu-
ally created and signed 
by each child.

