SCHOOL DESK

Academy celebrates families at rooftop garden

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SAR Academy invited families to come out and enjoy the fall weather on what was described as a perfect Sunday afternoon at Gan Ilan — SAR’s “magical” rooftop garden.

Developed in memory of Ilan Tokayer z”l, a good crowd gathered around farmer Yosef Gillers and SAR’s art teachers for a number of hands-on projects including learning how to make hummus and salad from the Gan Ilan garden, as well as painting planting pots and even some insight on how to start beekeeping.

There was also botanical art painting, bubbles, storytime, an ice cream truck, and what was said to be a beautiful day of relaxed family time.

Gillers is part of GrowTorah, which partners with SAR in developing educational garden programs with the goal of cultivating a more passionate, compassionate and sustainable future driven by Torah values.

Gan Ilan donates 90 percent of its produce to food pantries in not only the Bronx, but also in Bergen County, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River.

According to SAR spokesperson Yael Baker, this year’s garden theme is “Shemita” — a time when Israel takes a sabbatical year of working the land. During this time, land may not be worked, and the produce of the land may not be bought or sold.

Rather, the land is left alone, although people may pick what grows naturally in the fields and orchards as they need.

Maintenance work, such as watering and fertilizing to prevent the plants from dying, is permitted. But it’s intended to be a time when farmers pause and reflect while appreciating the land, environment and nature.

 

Scholarship fund raises $2.5 million

Supporters of the Inner-City School Scholarship Fund recently raised $2.5 million during a 50th anniversary celebration of the educational assistance during a gala celebration earlier this fall at Wave Hill.

More than 200 people attended the event, all to raise money to provide tuition assistance for under-privileged students attending Catholic schools throughout New York.

The event was hosted by “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Mo Rocca, and included a guest appearance by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, as well as Peter Grauer, the president of the scholarship fund who also is chair at Bloomberg.

Elena Villa won a $2,500 scholarship for her poem, “Windows.”

SAR Academy, Gan Ilan, Ilan Tokayer z"l, Yosef Gillers, GrowTorah, Yael Baker, Inner-City School Scholarship Fund, Wave Hill, CBS Sunday Morning, Mo Rocca, Timothy Dolan, Peter Grauer, Bloomberg, Elena Villa,

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