From Seton Hall University:
Writer activist Devorah Halberstam (left) will share her poignant story of the terrorist attack that took her 16-year-old son, Ari, at the 23rd annual Evening of Roses fundraiser at Seton Hall University on Sunday, May 1, 2016. Her life’s transformation, motivated by the memory of her son, led her to support victims the world over and co-found the Jewish Children’s Museum.
“This year’s Evening of Roses pays tribute to very special women who have made stellar contributions to education in Jewish-Christian Studies, the mission of the Sister Rose Thering Fund to rid the world of religious prejudice and build a more just and inclusive society,” said Professor David Bossman, SRTF executive director.
The event honors the memory of Women of Valor Sister Rose Thering, and beloved Trustees Ellin Cohen (left) of Maplewood and Mary Vazquez of West Caldwell (right), who both passed away in 2015. There will be a special recognition of retiring SRTF administrator Marilyn L. Zirl (bottom right) of Livingston, who worked closely with Sister Rose since her arrival at the university in 2000. A musical performance of Psalm 133 by Israeli composer Moshe Knoll, will feature soprano Allison Charney, violinist Ani Bukujian, pianist Craig Ketter and narrator Jordan Charney.
“We honor the memory of Sister Rose on the tenth anniversary of her passing and these special women as we continue to fulfil the legacy of her valor. We are proud of how the community comes together to provide complete tuition support for our teacher/scholars and are gratified that each year hundreds of public, private and religious school students learn how to approach interreligious understanding because of these devoted women and men,” said Deborah Lerner Duane, Board Chairman.
Duane explained that the event will also celebrate the generosity of Luna Kaufman, founding trustee and chairperson emerita, announcing the inauguration of the Luna Kaufman Endowed Scholarship.
The program begins at 1:30 p.m. in Jubilee Hall Auditorium on the Seton Hall University South Orange campus, 400 South Orange Ave, South Orange.
The Sister Rose Thering Fund for Education in Jewish-Christian Studies was created and named in honor of Sister Rose Thering, 
O.P., Ph.D., in recognition and appreciation of her exemplary dedication throughout her life and that continuing legacy to improving Jewish-Christian relations through teacher education, especially at the elementary and secondary school levels. The goals of the Fund’s programs are to reduce prejudice born of ignorance and misperception, to promote means for conveying the richness of the Jewish and Christian traditions accurately and without bias and to foster cooperation among Jews and Christians in areas of common social welfare. More than 350 teachers throughout New Jersey have benefited from Fund scholarships for their studies at Seton Hall University’s Jewish-Christian Studies graduate program during the past two decades, and have had an impact on more than 150,000 students in their classes.
For tickets and information, contact the Sister Rose Thering Fund office, (973) 761-9006 or marilyn.zirl@shu.edu. Tickets can be purchased at the event.
Bottom right photo: Outgoing SRTF administrator Marilyn Zirl.
