community review www.jewishharrisburg.org
January 4, 2019 | 27 Tevet, 5779 | Vol. 93; No. 26 Published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg | Greater Harrisburg’s Jewish Newspaper
Potatoes to
Latkes
BY JODIE RAFFENSPERGER, ART AND GARDEN SPECIALIST, BRENNER FAMILY ELC
T
here are so many moments during the year when I am awed by the things I get to teach and do in the Brenner Family Early Learning Center. Every day I get to teach the children about the earth and her great beauty. I get to teach them about Jewish values and how they connect to our earth. And I get to connect it all with art. It’s a pretty great job. At any rate there are a few especially poignant moments where everything I teach comes together in a very beautiful way. All the cogs turn and clink, clink, clink, everything meshes. Hanukkah is one of those times.
In January while we are learning about trees and Tu B’Shevat, we are also discussing the things we want to plant in our garden at the JCC when winter breathes its last wintry breath and the earth is reborn. “Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year. For gardening begins in January with the dream.” ~ Josephine Nuese Only a few weeks later we are learning about cold weather crops, especially the root crops (potatoes, onions, carrots, etc.). Soon after we are preparing the ground and the first root crops are planted. The children, at least most of them, love the feel of the rich dark earth. We put the seed potatoes in, cover them, and pat them down. We dig a row and in go the onion sets. All through the spring we watch them grow above ground, hoping for just the right amount of rain and sunshine. We can hardly wait to dig them up and see what lies below, but we wait patiently. Finally, it is time to harvest them…but not all. Some we leave under the ground, the biggest and the best, and we wait. Finally, it is time, Hanukkah, festival of freedom and light is upon us. We go to the garden and dig up the last of the potatoes. We pull the last of the onions and we begin. We scrub and grate those potatoes, we peel and grate those onions, and we add a little matzoh meal, salt, pepper, egg, and a little love. Soon all the halls of the ELC are permeated with the smell of latkes frying. Our mouths water as we wait for the first taste of the savory latkes and the sweet applesauce. We are in heaven. I get to stand back and watch the children as they get their first taste, but more, I get to watch the circle complete itself. We are so fortunate. From the first idea of the potato planted through its growth, harvest, cooking, and tasting. Really, it doesn’t get any better…we are Shomrei Adamah, guardians of the earth. We are B’rit, partners with Hashem…we marvel at Ma’aseh B’reishit, the miracle of creation. The circle completes itself. We hope everyone had a happy Hanukkah and a joyous holiday season.
