How Do Our Gardens Grow?
Celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut in Torah Garden
Celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut in Torah Garden
by Carol Eisenberg, parent and President, Board of Directors
Spring of course brings Purim and Passover, but it also brings Israel
Independence Day. And since Yom Ha’atzmaut comes later and is
more likely to correspond with warm weather in Maine than the other
spring holidays, it’s often the first opportunity to celebrate spring
outdoors. As I write, Levey students are buzzing with preparations for the
celebration that will have taken place a few days before you read this, on
May 2.
Last year, Levey’s first through fifth grade students planted a Torah
garden of plants related to their Torah study. In the fall they harvested
the wheat, spices and herbs they had grown. And this spring, all Levey
students and families were invited to enjoy the fruits of their labors on
Yom Ha’atzmaut.
The wheat went with the children on a field trip to Big Sky Bakery (thank
you, Big Sky!), where it was milled into flour. Back at Levey, our own little
red hens took the flour from the wheat they had planted, tilled, harvested,
and milled themselves, and baked it into loaves of challah.
The spices chosen for the b’samim garden bed were all fragrant ones to
be enjoyed in spice boxes at the Havdalah service that marks the end of
Shabbat and the beginning of the new week. The children made
packets of these spices to take home to share with their families and
are offering for sale a complete Havdalah kit which includes grape juice,
candles, organically grown spices, blessings and readings for the
Havdalah celebration.
The mint and lemon balm grown in the herb garden was used to flavor
tea served at the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, reminiscent of a special
Levey practice of Tea and Torah. Once a week our students share a cup
of tea with their teacher as they study and discuss Torah. It is in this
atmosphere that we pass on our wonderful traditions of active learning
through questioning, challenging, discussing and listening.
Rounding out the festive day were shish kebabs, a kids’ rummage sale
to raise money for Tzedakah projects, and Israeli dancing. Families
were also able to admire the flower garden alongside of the building.
Last year’s fifth grade students planted flowering bulbs, as their
continuing gift to Levey. This year’s fifth grade students will be
expanding that garden.
BACK TO NEWS
Spring of course brings Purim and Passover, but it also brings Israel
Independence Day. And since Yom Ha’atzmaut comes later and is
more likely to correspond with warm weather in Maine than the other
spring holidays, it’s often the first opportunity to celebrate spring
outdoors. As I write, Levey students are buzzing with preparations for the
celebration that will have taken place a few days before you read this, on
May 2.
Last year, Levey’s first through fifth grade students planted a Torah
garden of plants related to their Torah study. In the fall they harvested
the wheat, spices and herbs they had grown. And this spring, all Levey
students and families were invited to enjoy the fruits of their labors on
Yom Ha’atzmaut.
The wheat went with the children on a field trip to Big Sky Bakery (thank
you, Big Sky!), where it was milled into flour. Back at Levey, our own little
red hens took the flour from the wheat they had planted, tilled, harvested,
and milled themselves, and baked it into loaves of challah.
The spices chosen for the b’samim garden bed were all fragrant ones to
be enjoyed in spice boxes at the Havdalah service that marks the end of
Shabbat and the beginning of the new week. The children made
packets of these spices to take home to share with their families and
are offering for sale a complete Havdalah kit which includes grape juice,
candles, organically grown spices, blessings and readings for the
Havdalah celebration.
The mint and lemon balm grown in the herb garden was used to flavor
tea served at the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, reminiscent of a special
Levey practice of Tea and Torah. Once a week our students share a cup
of tea with their teacher as they study and discuss Torah. It is in this
atmosphere that we pass on our wonderful traditions of active learning
through questioning, challenging, discussing and listening.
Rounding out the festive day were shish kebabs, a kids’ rummage sale
to raise money for Tzedakah projects, and Israeli dancing. Families
were also able to admire the flower garden alongside of the building.
Last year’s fifth grade students planted flowering bulbs, as their
continuing gift to Levey. This year’s fifth grade students will be
expanding that garden.
BACK TO NEWS
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Levey Day School
A Community Jewish Day School
