As a parent and educator, I am constantly thinking about ways we give meaning to traditions and breathe life into events that took place long ago. I recently experienced this connection thanks to a recent PJ Library book mailed to my home (even though the book was meant for my kids)!
The Miracle Seed is a graphic novel that tells the story of the 1963 discovery of 2000-year-old date palm seeds hidden atop Masada. 40 years later, a team of scientists tackled the challenge of regenerating this tree in our current environment! It is truly an amazing story of science, teamwork, and an unlikely connection to the heritage of our people.
Our young children learn best through multi-sensory exploration. Thanks to a generous grant received from UJA and the Jewish Education Project, Gan Shalom is launching our “Back to our Roots” curriculum! Back to Our Roots is an immersive program designed to connect children to the Jewish harvest holidays through hands-on exploration in our nature classroom. Children will explore the historical connection between the barley harvest and Passover, the wheat harvest and Shavuot, and the fruit harvest with Sukkot. By planting, nurturing, and harvesting these very crops in our nature classroom, they’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the land that sustained our ancestors. We are working with Plant A Row for the Hungry and Residents Forward to help with planting bed construction and lesson topics.
Like the 2000-year-old date palm seed, we hope to foster community and a connection to the past by making this curriculum ever present in the process of learning with our young Gan Shalom students. We hope you stop by and see our hard work throughout the year.
Adrienne Rosen
Gan Shalom Director
