Is there a braver soul than one who faces their fears? Here at Oz Park, immortalized in bronze, stands the Cowardly Lion. He may not believe it, but he taught us all a thing or two about courage. Oz Park itself is a tribute to L. Frank Baum, the author who brought us the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum actually lived in Chicago, settling here in 1891. You can almost imagine him strolling through these very grounds, dreaming up tales of fantastical journeys. The Cowardly Lion statue, installed in 2001, wasn’t always destined to be bronze. The artist, John Kearney, was renowned for his sculptures made from chrome car bumpers. But for this king of the jungle, only bronze would do. Kearney wanted to capture the texture of the lion’s mane, the raw power hidden beneath his timidity. And he succeeded! Just look at the detail in his mane, the way each strand seems to catch the light. He might be cowardly, but he’s certainly magnificent.
Congregation Or Torah
Rabbi Zvi Engel’s leadership guides Congregation Or Torah. This impressive Modern Orthodox Synagogue stands proudly in Skokie Illinois. It’s one