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Special Program Tuesday, October 21, 2014 “The Sistine Chapel: 7:30 PM The Hidden Jewish Messages of Michelangelo With Rabbi Benjamin Blech This lecture will be based on Rabbi Blech’s newest book that came out in April ’08 coinciding with the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo’s starting work on the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel – “The Sistine Secrets: The Hidden Messages of Michelangelo”. This ground- breaking book is already the subject of huge interest and discussion. Selling briskly in 25 countries, translated into 15 other languages, a first printing of 100,000 copies by HarperOne, movie and TV rights presently in negotiation with 3 major film companies, national TV coverage, major Feature stories in the Wall Street Journal as well as US News & World Report, this major work proves that Michelangelo incorporated many teachings of Jewish Midrash and Kabbalah into the Sistine Chapel – daring ideas unknown to its 4 million annual visitors. And unlike the DaVinci Code, this book is not fiction but fact. Rabbi Benjamin Blech: A recipient of the American Educator of the Year Award, Rabbi Blech is a Professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University in New York since 1966. A tenth generation rabbi, Rabbi Blech is Rabbi Emeritus of Young Israel of Oceanside, which he served for 37 years. He is the author of twelve highly acclaimed best-selling books, an international lecturer, and has appeared on national television. Rabbi Blech is an unusually eloquent and gifted speaker, as well as a profound contemporary theologian and religious spokesman, who has made a major impact on the many tens of thousands of people he has addressed. Sponsored by Rev. George Balasko in honor of the 80th anniversary of his baptism. All are welcome, but registration is requested. Refreshments to follow presentation. Free will offering accepted. Register on line at www.vmesc.org or call 724-964-8886 VILLA MARIA EDUCATION & SPIRITUALITY CENTER P.O. Box 424 ● 2067 Evergreen Road ● Villa Maria ● PA ● 16155 .

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