Risk Taking, Moses, and string painting

Today was the first day of our group's session and our main topic focused on risk taking. We discussed the problem of not having the opportunity to take many risks in a retirement setting, and times when we have taken risks in our lives often lead to feeling very stimulated. Many of the residents were unsure of joining an art group and nervous about their art making ability, so the simple act of coming to the group was considered taking a risk, and actually participating in making the art was also discussed as taking a small risk.
We then related this to a recent Torah (Old Testament)portion relating to Moses. We discussed the fear and risk taking of the Jews leaving Egypt and arriving at the Red Sea. The commentaries on the Bible claim that it was Moses' brother who stepped all the way into the sea up to his neck before the waters began to part, and risk taking is sometimes required even for Bible characters witnessing miraculous activities. The commentaries also mention that manyof the Jews wanted to go back to Egypt because it was easier and more predictable then the journey ahead.
We then began our art project called string painting. Materials include: a piece of string about 15 inches long, paper, and paint in a small dish. The participants place their piece of string into the paint then gently place it on the paper in front of them. The result is a dynamic painting when the process is repeated several times. The repetion is also a very relaxing activity.
String painting was chosen as our first project, because it was a non-threatening activity which required no art making ability. It also served as a physically stimulating activity, requiring participants to lift their arms many times during the session. For an added detail, the paper was taped around the edges and removed when completed to create a nice framed space around the painting.
We concluded our session discussing risks our families took to come to the United States and had each participant shared where their families came from, and stories of their journey. Many of the participants were tired at the beginning of the session and claimed they felt more awake at our conclusion.