The First Annual Storybook Carnival took place the first week in March, at the Meyerhoff Matnas in Givat Sharett, Beit Shemesh. The Storybook Carnival was an idea of the Otzma Volunteers from Washington who are here volunteering in our community for three months. Iris Schwarz, Erin Glazer, and Rebbecca Goldberg all of the greater Washington area developed the idea, drew all the artwork, set up the booths, and made the carnival a reality. Otzma is a yearlong program for post college graduates to spend a year in Israel in various communities to get to know the people and country. Since Washington D.C. is our sister city for Partnership 2000, we were fortunate to have these great kids for three months. Ever year there is a different set of young adults, and these young women really left their mark on our library! Otzma is certainly the correct name for the group, as their initiative was outstanding.

The Storybook carnival will hopefully become an annual event to look forward to. It is both a great happening to encourage love of books and a Fundraising Event for the Benjamin Children's Library in the Meyerhoff Matnas. Benjamin Children's Library received funding from Partnership 2000 to help grow to its present size of close to 18,000 volumes. Many of the English volumes were donated by children from the Rockville Jewish Community Center. The entire community is involved in volunteering, fundraising, and using the library, which also serves as a main meeting place for Ethiopians, Russians, Israelis, and English speaking kids.

The idea behind the Storybook carnival was a variety of all types of booths and activities, games and fun for children ages 3-8 based on their favorite books. Spot, Curious George, Cookie Monster, If you give a Mouse a Cookie, Cinderella and many more were there to greet and entertain the kids as they went from booth to booth doing the many games and activities. At the end, each child received a prize, a yummy brownie or chocolate chip cookie, provided by "Not Just Bagels", of Migdal HaMayim.

The Storybook Carnival was also manned by teen volunteer from Fierst High School whom the Otzma kids have been tutoring in English. Adult Library Elfs volunteered as well and a new annual fundraiser for Benjamin's Children's Library got off to a great start.

The Israeli Matnas staff and participants were amazed at the orderliness and cooperation of the parents and small children. As each ticket was for one hour program, some children had to leave before they might have otherwise wanted to in order to allow other kids to come in and participate. Not a complaint or argument was heard - a real salute and tribute to the children and their parents.

Adar 5761 - March 2000