Dimensions: 340 cm x 30-60 deep x 220 cm high
Materials: African walnut, graphics printed directly onto glass, computer and keyboard
Lieutenant Shimon Shpringer of Kibboutz Tirat Tzvi fell in battle during the Yom Kippour War in 1973. In his memory his surviving siblings commissioned a piece on the occasion of the fortieth year since his passing. Shimon was a great lover of nature and the Land of Israel, and an avid hiker. He also chose to become an officer in the IDF tank corps and make an extra contribution to the people and State of Israel. His family felt it would be appropriate to contribute to a post-high-school program (mechina) whose goal is to prepare youths to take a more active and responsible role both during their military service and thereafter in society at large. The family chose to make their donation to Mechinat Ein Prat, in Cfar Adumim.
Kimchi joined forces with architect Yael Mann and graphic designer Hamoutal Laurens in the creation of this piece. The guiding concept for this unit is that it should both provide information and images about Shimon’s life and army service and serve the mechina students in their studies. Particularly, the intention is that they use the unit while planning hikes and other outdoor activities. In this way Shimon’s passion for the Land of Israel live on and inspires other young people to connect with the land and serve the people.