A Garden Is Planted At Temple Shaaray Tefila

Online, July 14, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Teich Garden Systems LLC announced today the completion of a new garden system at Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners, New York. The garden project was spearheaded by Barbara Merson, Vickie Gelbtuch and Michael Zuch.

A planting day for the garden was held on July 10th with many congregants turning out for the event under sunny skies. The ceremony to open the garden included a blessing by Rabbi Stacy Bergman. Among the crops planted were lemon balm, cilantro, thyme, oregano, tomatoes, peppers, okra, carrots, radishes, eggplant, pumpkins and artichokes. The temple is planning its first harvest later this summer and another planting day in late summer for a fall harvest.

Mark Teich, founder of TGS, noted, "We are so happy to bring a garden to Shaaray Tefila. The garden will provide so many opportunities for community building and learning. The garden will be a wonderful fixture at the temple for years to come."

Rabbi David E. Greenberg added "The garden embodies so many of the values that are at the core of our religious tradition: helping to feed those who are hungry, cherishing and protecting this earth which God has given us, and promoting a sense of community through a worthy shared effort. Furthermore, the garden will serve as a teaching setting for both children and adults as we focus upon those teachings of our Torah which concern our ongoing responsibility for our environment, and remembering those who are not so abundantly blessed."

The garden at Temple Shaaray Tefila is the third garden TGS has installed at synagogues in the area joining Temple Beth El in Stamford, Connecticut and the Jewish Family Congregation in Lewisboro, New York. The gardens have been used in all facets of temple life including their pre-schools, religious schools and tikkun olam (repairing the world) initiatives.

About Temple Shaaray Tefila:
Temple Shaaray Tefila, in Bedford Corners, New York, is a reform congregation with a traditional soul.