Hard to believe, but The Little Sisters of Joy is approaching the 11th year of its Foundation. Told in a dream by Cardinal Lustiger to hold the anniversary of the founding on the Jewish New Year for Trees, ten of us gathered in Benigna's garden in January 2000 and planted the first little sapling of what has now become a big and beautiful silver birch tree. We chanted psalm 96:
'Let all the trees of the wood shout for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for He comes,
He comes to rule the earth.'
at the presence of the Lord, for He comes,
He comes to rule the earth.'
I have another beautiful silver birch tree in my garden in the Arbury, which I planted when I moved there. Silver birch trees are mystical like the moon, used by native Canadian tribes to make the bark of their canoes, and I heard yet another very poignant story about them.
After the seige of Leningrad when so many died, young people used to visit the mass graves in the cemeteries. Often, there were groves of silver birch trees there. As part of their pilgrimage and to honour the dead, the young people used to hang red scarves round the silvery bark of the trees.
The silver birch was the favourite tree of Latif Freedman, the composer and son-in-law of Benigna who died just before we planted the tree. Watch this space for photos of Benigna, my former garden and the chapel 'in the woodland' where we used to hold services.
Here's to the next 11 years!
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
After the seige of Leningrad when so many died, young people used to visit the mass graves in the cemeteries. Often, there were groves of silver birch trees there. As part of their pilgrimage and to honour the dead, the young people used to hang red scarves round the silvery bark of the trees.
The silver birch was the favourite tree of Latif Freedman, the composer and son-in-law of Benigna who died just before we planted the tree. Watch this space for photos of Benigna, my former garden and the chapel 'in the woodland' where we used to hold services.
Here's to the next 11 years!
Love and Shalom
Sister Gila
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