Metro

AROUND TOWN

Korean War veteran Hy Deal of Waterford and World War II vet Alan Nathan of
Bloomfield Hills talk to Daniella Lowenberg, 3, of Southfield.

Korean War vet Jerry Order of Oak Park spends time with Aviel Siegel, 3, and Noam
Cohen, 3, both of Oak Park.

Seeds Of Learning

Preschools value veterans and trees.

C

rumbs of potting soil lay sprinkled on the floor at
Ganeinu Preschool in West Bloomfield after a morning
of planting, learning and celebrating Tu b'Shevat. About
20 preschoolers, ages 3-4, made a special presentation to several
members of the local Jewish War Veterans on Jan. 21 to thank
them for their service and mark the Jewish New Year for Trees.
"We made a connection between trees and the soldiers we
honoree said Chaya Devorah Bergstein of Farmington Hills,
director and teacher at the preschool, a project of Bais Chabad
of Farmington Hills. "We explained the Torah teaches us the only
place where the laws of trees are mentioned is in connection
with going to war. We're told when you go to war you should not
cut down fruit trees."

Chaya Devorah Bergstein is director
of the preschool.

A18

January 31. 2008

Ezra Forta, 4, with, in background,

Bracha Werner, 4, and Noam Cohen,
3, all of Oak Park

Following the presentation, the children sang songs, decorated pots, ate fruits and
learned biblical lessons with the veterans.
"It was really cute said Alan Nathan of Bloomfield Hills, a World War II veteran.
He attended along with fellow World War II veteran David Friedman of Farmington
Hills and Korean War veterans Jerry Order of Oak Park and Hy Deal of Waterford.
"We planted seeds with the children and they're going to watch the pots every day,
to watch the flowers or fruit grow."
Bergstein said the children who took part in the program also can be compared to
saplings taking root.
"Dramatizing the growth of a tree, to which a person is compared, the children
held a toy Torah scroll which represents the 'water' needed to grow a Jewish per-
son," Bergstein explained. "When we come and get a good Jewish education, we are
strengthening our roots."

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Shaina Sheiner, 3, of Oak Park

Devori Zuckerbrod, 4, of Oak Park with
(in background) Devorah Leah Whitt, 4,

of Oak Park and Davidee Wrotsiaysky, 4,
of Southfield