THE MANDEL JCC OF THE PALM BEACHES WILL USE 70,000 LEGO BLOCKS TO BUILD JERUSALEM AS PART OF FAMILY LEGO WORKSHOP

BOYTON BEACH & PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla (January 13, 2017) The Mandel JCC is thrilled to announce a one-of-a-kind upcoming family- friendly program, The Lego Workshop. On February 25, 2017, from 3-5pm the community will build Jerusalem using over 70,000 LEGO blocks. Partnering with Building Blocks Workshops, this high energy and fast-paced program will design a 400 square foot model of the old city including the walls, gates, the kotel, the beit hamikdosh, David’s Tower, the Montifiore Windmill and 80 buildings within the walls.

Mastermind and workshop founder, Stephen Schwartz has been doing LEGO programs around the United States for the last eighteen years. After visiting his daughter, a second grade teacher, at work, he learned that by using LEGO, you could teach children about city planning and zoning. From there, his idea sky rocketed. His projects vary from Jewish topics, to Vatican City, Washington DC, Historic Philadelphia, windmills and programs for historic communities. These programs have been a success in cities around the US such as Houston, Nashville, San Francisco, St. Louis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Boston, Naples, Atlanta, and different cities through New York and New Jersey.

Producing an average of sixty programs per year, Stephen has said that he always receives similar comments from participants. “People can’t believe how amazingly engaged the children and the parents are during the program. It’s a sense of team work unparalleled to anything else.” Additionally, this is a great way to bring families and potential new friends together. The first hour and forty minutes of the program is dedicated to building, with hundreds of people working together. Afterwards, Stephen uses the finished model of Jerusalem as a tool to teach participants about the city

The LEGO Workshop will be held at the Mandel JCC of the Palm Beaches at 5221 Hood Rd, Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday, February 25, 3-5pm and at the Mandel JCC at 8500 Jog Rd, Boynton Beach on Sunday, February 26 from 3-5pm. Pricing is $36/family for both events. For more information go to www.jcconline.com/lego.

The mission of the Mandel JCC of the Palm Beaches is to build community and enhance connection of Jewish life. The Mandel JCC is a partner agency of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

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