Jewish New Year for Trees

My dear Friends

This Feast is known in Hebrew as Rosh Hashanah Lailanot. When I was in my Jewish primary school we celebrated it by bringing in as many different fruits as possible (I found some lychees, which were quite rare in those days!)

In 1999 I had a dream in which Cardinal Lustiger, the priest before whom I took my first private vow in Paris, told me to hold the anniversary of The Little Sisters of Joy on this Feast. I discovered later that it was the only Jewish Feast which his mother celebrated in her family. Sadly, she died in Auschwitz.

In January 2000, I planted a silver birch tree in the garden of Newton Road, where the Foundation first began. A group of us gathered round and recited Psalm 96:

'Let the trees of the wood shout for JOY
at the presence of the Lord,
for He comes to rule the earth'

We are now in our 11th year and we have had a celebration on this Feast down the years. What better one than the Jewish New Year for Trees? This year we will be in the home of Kitty Stidworthy, a great friend and someone who translates Russian poetry and who will be giving us some renderings. I may sing a little and get the group to sing with me.

Why don't you do something special on this day and be in solidarity with us? A special greeting to Maryvonne, without whom this would not be possible.

Love and Shalom
Sister Gila