Building Jerusalem, One Lego at a Time

January 24, 2009

Almost 200 parents and children spent a wonderful Shabbat afternoon together today, building the Old City of Jerusalem out of Legos. Under the direction of architect Stephen Schwartz of Building Blocks Workshops, we created Jerusalem's ancient walls, the Temple Mount with the Beit haMikdash, the Tower of David, and Montefiore's Windmill, as well as many landmark buildings inside the walls.

Our Shabbaton began with a delicious lunch, after which we gathered in the Social Hall. There, we found a large outlined map of Jerusalem spread across the floor. We all sat around the map as Mr. Schwartz explained to us that it is sometimes hard to visualize a city from a flat map, so we were going to build a 3-dimensional model. He assigned small groups to work on the windmill, the Kotel, and the Beit haMikdash, and gave us some general directions about building walls so they would be structurally sound. Then we dumped out six huge boxes full of Legos and went to work.

For about an hour, the room was filled with the happy sound of children, parents and grandparents all working together. Many of us helped build the walls; others built buildings which were then placed inside the walls. As we worked, Mr. Schwartz came up to many of us offering suggestions, advice, and encouragement. He seemed to be having as much fun as the rest of us! The walls rose up around the city, with decorative gates and fanciful parapets. Everyone worked together with wonderful cooperation.

Finally, we finished our model. Everyone who had built a house or other building placed it inside the city. The windmill was put in its correct spot in the southwest corner outside the walls. Then we all sat down again around our model, while Mr. Schwartz gave us a tour, using our own model to indicate the important places as he talked about the history of Jerusalem.

Everyone sat very quietly and listened carefully, and we all learned a lot. It was a wonderful way to spend a Shabbat afternoon--family and friends all working together, playing together, and sharing in a very special experience. We finished the day with havdalah and dessert. Everyone got a certificate to take home so we could always remember that we built Jerusalem, one Lego at a time.