In a digital age, lots of children, and adults for that matter, can suffer from a
need for instant gratification either through external stimuli or peer interactions.
This kind of instant gratification is much less present in nature where patience is the key.
A seed must patiently wait for water and proper nutrients before it can sprout and
even then it must wait for enough sunlight and time undisturbed before it can become
even a sapling. This process of slow, measurable growth draws a parallel to our own lives in
which progress is often slow and noticed only after some time. Growth over time is beautiful and
challenging to endure. Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of the trees, gives us a unique opportunity to introduce children
to the planting and growing process including the responsibility of caring for the plants.
Chag Sameach and thank you for letting your children grow with us.
School Wide Tree Planting : On Tuesday, we
recognized Tu B’Shvat as a whole school in the planting
of an Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) which notably has
smooth leaves compared to the usual spiky leaves of
its relatives.We planted the holly in the roundabout at
the front of the synagogue grounds so we may pass it
and watch its growth each
day. Everyone was invited
to grab a handful, or
several, of dirt to scatter
on top of the roots.
Capable at all Ages : From our youngest to our
oldest group, children are constantly showing
morot/morim how capable and adaptive they are in
nature. The Foxes class recently embarked on a two
hour hike with their group of one year olds – what an
accomplishment! The Black Bear PreK class loves to
explore new ways of moving through the forest
including most recently the slug crawl and walking
backwards. Both classes scouted down the same hill
on separate hikes; steep hills can be tricky when it
rains but we can find a way
–Morah Zia