Temple Shalom hosts memorial to AIDS victims
Committee brings traveling memorial quilt to Aberdeen
BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer

ABERDEEN - The world-renowned tapestry dedicated to the memory of AIDS victims has made its way to town.

As part of a special weekend devoted to social action, sections of the internationally celebrated AIDS Memorial Quilt, a 54-ton, handmade tapestry that is a memorial to more than 90,000 individuals lost to AIDS, was on view at Temple Shalom May 1 to May 4.

According to Lenore Robinson, chair of the Social Action Committee, Temple Shalom sees this as an important social issue that the congregation and community should be a part of.

"Those of us on the Social Action Committee like having the temple and community learn more about the issue," said Robinson. "The quilt is such a nice gesture that when Lori Tarke asked us if we wanted to host it, we immediately said yes."

Robinson said that the temple hosts events around social issues, promoting tolerance and educating community members about others.

"We have had gay and lesbian speakers here before and we have also hosted speakers discussing teen suicide," Robinson said. "It is important for us to showcase these things as a service to our congregation and community."

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NAMES PROJECT/AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT The AIDS Memorial Quilt was on display at Temple Shalom May 2 through 4. Pictured is a close-up of a section of the quilt.

Lori Tarke, a national speaker on leadership, social awareness and diversity, addressed the congregation after services May 2, to discuss the meaning of the quilt and answer questions.

According to Robinson, the temple's donation to Tarke as guest speaker will be donated to the NAMES Project Foundation, which is the caretaker of the International AIDS Memorial Quilt.

The quilt was started in San Francisco in 1987, and each block of the quilt measures 12 feet by 12 feet. According to aidsquilt.org, the entire quilt is made up of more than 47,000 individual panels, each one memorializing a victim of the AIDS virus, and is known around the world for its continuing memorial to victims.

"The quilt transforms statistics into souls, loss into hope, and indifference into understanding," stated Julie Rhoad, executive director of the NAMES Project Foundation, in a press release. "The NAMES Project Foundation has partnered with hundreds of organizations around the country to try and get every 12-foot-by-12-foot block of quilt - almost 6,000 blocks - on display. We are so grateful that Temple Shalom is part of this ambitious grass-roots effort to raise awareness and saving lives."

According to aidsquilt.org, each panel commemorates the life of someone who has died of AIDS. The panels come from places worldwide and have been sewn by hundreds of thousands of volunteers affected by the pandemic hoping to continue this memorial, the largest piece of ongoing community art in the world, according to aidsquilt.org.

The quilt was available to the religious school at the temple as well.

"The religious school was able to view the quilt and learn about the issue," Robinson said. "Our community seemed very interested and excited about the event. I am really glad we got involved."

The AIDS pandemic affected more than 1,185,000 persons in the United States by the end of 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. According to CDC statistics, in 2006 more than 35,314 new cases of HIV/AIDS in adults, adolescents and children were diagnosed in 33 states.

Internationally, the quilt has traveled around the world and throughout the United States. Portions of the quilt are available for display at community events. According to aidsquilt.org, the quilt and the NAMES Project have 43 international affiliates, including Brazil, Hong Kong and Uganda, just to name a few.

It was a busy weekend for the temple as the Brotherhood of Temple Shalom hosted its semiannual blood drive during the display of the quilt on Sunday, and the Aberdeen Community Choir Fest showcased community choirs, including the Temple Shalom choir, in song.

For more information on the NAMES Project and the AIDS Memorial Quilt, visit aidsquilt.org or call the national headquarters at (404) 688-5500.