Individuals with physical and intellectual handicaps find working with nature immensely therapeutic and the deep satisfaction that comes from observing the fruits of their labor also serves as a great confidence booster.
On Thursday, in honor of Tu Beshvat, the students of Seeach Sod participated in a large-scale tree planting ceremony, as part of the Horticulture Program. A total of 60 fruit trees, including fig, pomegranate, olive, orange, and lemon trees, will be planted over the course of this month in the courtyards of Seeach Sod’s various campuses. On Thursday, fruit trees were ceremoniously planted at Yeshivah Otzar Yerushalayim and at the Ma’as Vocational Training Center. The saplings were donated by generous donors from the United States, who hope to see the students of Seeach Sod blossom and grow, just like the trees they have planted.
These newly planted trees will provide another dimension to Seeach Sod student’s horticulture experience – they will be in charge of watering and tending to the trees while exercising their patience as they wait for the first shoots to bloom.
Seeach Sod’s CEO Rabbi Shimon Levy said during the ceremony: “The planting of these trees is a manifestation of our guiding principle – to keep our students connected to their homes and communities.
Throughout the year, our staff works hard to arrange events and activities that will make our students feel just like their counterparts in regular schools. Whether it’s Shabbatons, Siddur parties, ongoing interaction with the community, there is constant cultivation to ensure that our students keep growing. The tree planting ceremony today is a poignant representation of our students’ blossoming growth. May these trees yield abundant fruits, which we should merit eating in the Beis Hamikdash. And may Seeach Sod’s trees continue to bloom and yield abundant, sweet fruits!”
The words “ki ha’adam eitz hasadeh” came to life as the students excitedly helped dig up the soil to plant the trees. Participating as guests of honor were Rabbi and Mrs. Ginzburg, the Rav of the Chofetz Chaim Torah Center in Cedarhurst, New York and Shmuel Sakett, an activist who promotes tree planting in Israel. In the presence of Seeach Sod’s staff members, the students sang “Ilan, Ilan bamah avarechecha” and then planted the saplings together with the guests of honor.