Self- taught sculptor began his craft at age 80 and continues on with several planned dedications
90-year-old Kobernick resident Sidney Fagin taught himself how to create beautiful claysculptures ten years ago. Today his creations are celebrated at Kobernick-Anchin. “We fell in love with his artwork,” said Darlene Arbeit, Kobernick-Anchin CEO. “We set aside a workspace just for him to sculpt and his creations are truly breathtaking,” said Arbeit. Kobernick-Anchin will dedicate Fagin’s sculpture, called “Dancing with the Torah” at a special celebration and ceremony on Tuesday morning at 10am. The celebration will honor the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Simchat Torah (which in Hebrew means “rejoicing of the Torah”) marks the end of the annual cycle of reading the Torah. The Tuesday morning celebration will include residents, staff and board members and will feature a festival parade of the Torah scrolls amidst singing and dancing. Simchat Torah is a joyous holiday celebrating having completed the study of God’s word and looking forward to hearing those words again during the coming year.
Fagin has created several sculptures including a nine-foot tall sculpture, “Benediction”, which is at the Jewish Community Center in Miami and a four-foot bronze “Butterfly Boy” sculpture at New College of FL.
About Kobernick-Anchin
Established in 1993, Kobernick-Anchin is a state-of-the-art retirement complex on a beautiful campus, convenient to all the many cultural and recreational attractions in the greater Sarasota-Manatee area. It is a not-for-profit enterprise developed by the Sarasota Manatee Jewish Housing Council, offering seniors the very best in independent and assisted living as well as skillednursing care. The community has two residences, Kobernick House, with 191 apartments for retirees who enjoy active, independent living, and Anchin Pavilion. Housed within Anchin is a 70-bed assisted living facility, including the Fannie Green Memory Care Center, and the Benderson Family Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 50-bed skilled unit. All options are available on the same campus so those who choose to live here are able to age in place.