2 minute read
Calaniot Before the Rain
March 2024
By Jessica Goldfarb, JFGC Communications Specialist
The calanit, also known as the red anemone, is Israel’s national flower, which blooms during winter. These little red flowers, symbolizing life and resiliency, carpet the landscape for miles in Israel's south and are the basis of the annual Darom Adom (Red South) Festival.
This past winter, a group of Israeli ceramic artists came together with the goal of creating 100,000 clay calaniot across the world in memory of the victims of the October 7 attack and subsequent war. Today, these clay flowers can be found in multiple locations from the Dead Sea to Haifa. The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte and the Levine Jewish Community Center (Levine JCC) participated in this project in solidarity with Israel and the Israeli people.
Calaniot ceramic workshops took place throughout January and February, coinciding with the peak season for the red anemone flower bloom. The “Calaniot Before the Rain,” art installation includes flowers created by more than 200 community members who came to the workshops. It can be seen in front of the Levine JCC. The final destination for these flowers is the Hebrew Cemetery.
Michelle Rusgo, director of the Art and Culture Department at the Levine JCC, remarked, “It has been so moving to see everyone come together to create these flowers. Art is a great vessel for healing. After making donations, people are still wondering what they can do. There is a strong pull to connect with one another and to heal together. This project has been a wonderful way for our community to do that.”
As the clay calaniot stand as a testament to resilience and unity, they also serve as a reminder of the enduring connection among communities worldwide.
