New York, NY, December 12, 2005 … Jewish, Muslim and Catholic fourth and fifth grade students from three Brooklyn religious schools were inspired to create original artwork after reading Mark Podwal's new book, Jerusalem Sky: Stars, Crosses and Crescents.  A special exhibit of their work is currently at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and will remain on view for the holiday season, December 12-31, with funding made possible by Donna Karan and The Karan-Weiss Foundation.

Representatives of the more than 80 students from the Holy Name School (Catholic), Hannah Senesh Community Day School (Jewish) and Brooklyn Amity School (Turkish Muslim) spoke about what inspired them to craeate their artwork at a program at BAM on December 12 organized by the New York Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).  Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz read Jerusalem Sky to the audience of students, teachers, parents, and the author-artist Mark Podwal.

ADL Regional Director Joel J. Levy described how the program is the culmination of several projects supported at the three schools by ADL's New York Regional Office in an effort to promote Muslim-Jewish and Catholic-Jewish dialogue and to enhance understanding of America's cultural and religious diversity.

Jerusalem Sky: Stars, Crosses and Crescents (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, August 2005), winner of the National Parenting Publications Award, celebrates Jerusalem as the ancient home and inspiration for three major faiths, as expressed through the art and poetry of Podwal, an award-winning New York City author and illustrator.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.