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Pinat
Shorashim provides a hands on approach to the exploration of the connection
between the Jewish tradition and the Land of Israel. Visitors to the park
are exposed to Biblical texts, see and experience their expression in
the natural landscape and use different techniques (sculpture, mosaic
art, gardening and more) to create their own three dimensional interpretations.
Each group of visitors leaves their mark. The methodologies employed can
be adapted to settings outside of Israel and can serve as a tremendous
inspiration for teachers of young children and those involved in family
programming. Pinat Shorashim has a number of different sections, each
allowing for another educational "point of entry." Still in
the process of expanding, each entry point has an educational message
designed to give new and creative meaning to Jewish text, tradition, and
ritual. In this way one's relationship to Jewish expression and lifestyle
may begin to take on new meaning. Examples (all built and used by past
participants) include:
THE
PATH of the SEVEN SPECIES
This path
is designed to illustrate the role that the seven species
play in both Judaism and ecology, as well as the centrality of the Land
of Israel in both. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land.
. . a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs and pomegranates, a land
of olive trees and honey. . . (Deuteronomy 8:7). In addition to planting
the species, participants also built and decorated identifying signs thus
increasing their familiarity with the biblical quotes. These signs, now
an integral part of the path, are text for other visitors, enhancing their
understanding of the unique role of the seven species in Jewish life.
THE
GARDEN of EDEN
The garden incorporates
the serpent, the world, the fruit and other elements of the story to form
a large sandbox and play area for young children. It is shaded by an almond
tree that stands inside the sandbox and represents the "Tree of Life."
Beside the sandbox are benches in the shape of a family of goats inspired
by a Reconstructionist translation of the first verse of Psalm 133: "Heinei
mah tov umanayim shevet achim gam yachad". How good and pleasant it
is when families sit together. This area provides adults with a comfortable
place to sit while their children play.
THE
HAVDALAH GARDEN
This garden created by various groups
of students who planted herbs and spices, dug stones and laid them to form
a path through a garden of raised herb beds. They also studied quotes from
Jewish sources about the spices and Havdalah service. They completed the
project by doing Havdalah in the garden. For these students and thousands
of others, Havdalah now has a new meaning.
THE
KABBLAT SHABBAT CORNER
This corner is based
on the recognition that ritual is one of the primary ways that Jewish collective
memory is transmitted. Nestled in a small stand of olive trees that are
tended and pruned each season, the corner contains a winepress (gat)
and a pita oven (taboon), all built by visitors to Pinat Shaorashim.
While engaging participants in various rituals connected to the welcoming
of Shabbat, we refer to the blessings for the oil of the Shabbat lamps (candles),
the fruit of the vine (wine) and the bread of TheLand (challah).
THE
BET KNESSET (SYNAGOGUE) The
synagogue at Pinat Shorashim is probably the most ambitious building project
to date. While learning about Jewish heritage and values, participants completed
work on the Bet Knesset. The educational objective of this project is to
connect the participants with the concepts of Knesset (gathering), community,
the Bet Knesset in Jewish communal life, and the changing role of the Bet
Knesset in Jewish history. The Mosaic tile floor represents the Twelve Tribes.
The lions flanking the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) represent the Tribe of Judah,
King David and the Temple. Jewish tradition teaches that from the family
of David come the messianic age, our future, and ultimately a time of peace.
The ark is decorated with a mosaic of the seven species as well as the Gezer
calendar, written in the earliest Hebrew ever found and thought to be a
child's homework assignment dating back to the time of Solomon. The Bet
Knesset provides the opportunity to learn about community and is an effective
point of entry to connect the past to the future.
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