October 2013, Written by Guela Zamist
How Does our Garden Grow?
Hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz - Each week when we join together to make the blessing on our challah, we thank God for bringing forth bread from the earth. Most of our children think of bread coming from the bakery. Now, we will have the opportunity to show children first-hand how things grow from the ground.
In late August a dedicated group of volunteers, teachers, parents and family members joined together to begin working on our new Early Childhood Center garden. Together they dug the Earth and built a raised bed where we hope to soon be able to plant vegetables and help children begin to understand and appreciate the beauty of nature and all growing things. As our young students learn about the plant world, they will gain a deeper understanding and respect for God’s world all around them.
Just as the garden was initiated by parents and teachers, we look forward to it being a place of true collaboration between parents and school. Parents will be encouraged to help with planting and care of the garden. The garden will provide a new opportunity for families to support the learning outside of the classroom. It will also encourage all of us to stop and take note of the miracles that we see every day right around us.
We may not be able to grow wheat and transform it into a fresh challah like in the words of the blessing, but we are certain we will have the chance to merit an appreciation of the blessings that surround us.
Much thanks to our Teachers Robin Goldman, Lori Wolfson, and their husbands, and to Adam Kaufman,
Charlie’s dad, for helping start the process of making this dream a reality.
