For 3 months from April – July 2016, 665 pupils and 16 Jewish primary schools too part in our annual Great Sunflower competition.

This competition supports the roof garden project at the Reuth Medical and Rehabilitation Centre in Tel Aviv. The Roof Garden is used by 90% of the patients, as part of their daily rehabilitation.  Garden Therapy and The Roof Garden form part of the Quality of Life Programmes, which enable patients to reconnect with their identity. Being active in “normal” activities helps them feel meaning and passion, and reclaim their inner sense of worth.

Eitan Hurwitz was hit by a car and suffered server physical and emotional trauma. He spent 15 months as an outpatient at Reuth Medical Centre. The type of care that he received, led him to not just survive and learn to cope with his injuries, but he was able to grow from his personal crisis and learn to manage his daily challenges. Reuth provided him with therapeutic treatments including gardening programme which was the key to his recovery. His experience transformed him into the person he is today.

 During the project, the pupils not only learn’t about plants growing and the science behind it, but also about Tzedaka and raising money for a fantastic charity.

The winner of the competition was Miri Frydenson from Beis Yaakov School. Miri wrote the following poem about her experience with this project:

The tallest sunflower we did grow

To help the special people’s faces glow

As the sunflower creeps up slowly to this great sight

So we wish all at Reuth Medical Centre reach great heights

The competition included the following schools:

Beis Yaakov Primary School, Beit Shvidler Primary School, Bnos Beis Yaakov, Brodetsky Primary School, Hasmonean Primary School,  Immanuel Primary School,  Kerem School, Michael Sobell Sinai, Menorah Foundation School, Moriah Jewish Day, Naima Jewish Preparatory School, North West London Jewish Day School, Rimon Jewish Primary School, Rosh Pinah, Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School and Wolfson Hillel Primary School