This Sukkos hundreds of holiday visitors to Crown Heights will be learning about the Daled Minim at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens thanks to a Lubavitcher Chosid.
The Botanical Gardens has been cultivating a complete collection of the Daled Minim in its artificially controlled climate Greenhouse.
A beautiful Yemenite grown Esrog tree, a young but hardy Moroccan Lulav palm, exquisite Tzfas Hadassim, and a lush specimen of kosher Brooklyn Arovos are each clearly marked with their scientific and traditional Hebrew names on an easy to find plaque in the BBG Greenhouse.
A major Kiddush Hashem last Sukkos, hundreds of visitors to the Gardens came to see the seasonal four species growing in their natural state. During Chol HaMoed, an inspiring and informative guided tour was independently provided by a botanic expert and specialist on Lulavim & Esrogim, Rabbi Yehuda Benchemhoun. The special collection of the Sukkos plants are supervised by Brooklyn Botanical Gardens curator Karla Chandler.
A perfect short trip for the kids, and just a stone’s throw from Crown Heights, the local Botanic Gardens also boasts myriad varieties of plants, hundreds of exotic flowers and trees from all over the world.
This year’s visitors to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Greenhouse when Rabbi Benschemhoun is giving a tour will also see and learn about other fascinating horticultural displays of interest to the Jewish connoisseur. There are many herbs and plants needed to make the Ketores incense that could be ground into the daily incense offering in the Beis HaMikdosh and an old mature frankincense tree. There are also several varieties of olive trees that mature with ripe oil olives right around Chanukah.
If you with to visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens this Chol Hamoed Sukkos you can enjoy Rabbi Benschemhoun’s eye-opening presentation about the ‘Four Species’ in English, Hebrew or French. Tours will take place on Chol HaMoed, Sunday from 12-3:30 pm Monday 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm and Tues from 10am-12:30 pm. For a free group tour group tour please call the Brooklyn Botanic Garden visitors information at 718-623-7260.
Travel Directions:
To drive or walk from Crown Heights, proceed west on Crown Street until Washington Avenue, enter at 1000 Washington Ave.
By subway, take the #3 Train to the ‘Brooklyn Museum’ station and enter the gardens at 900 Washington Avenue.
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden send a note that this Monday they will restrict the entry to reserved parties. So the presentation will be on Sunday and Wednesday only. Take note of it ,
thank you and a GUT MOED to all.
The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens has just announced that this Monday entry will be restricted to private parties.
we are kinda very much like a shtettle…
It’s about time Chabad starts to influence the community landmarks in a meaningful way. We aren’t just a shtetl. Kan Tzivah Hashem es haBrocho!
I wish I knew of this earlier…I would of taken my class there when teaching them about the Arba Minim.
Boys learning Mishnayos Maseches Sukkah – Chapters 3-4 – would treamondously benefit from such a tour! I hope our schools will take our children there!
I was there last year when Rabbi Benchemhoun was giving a tour… he was very informative, knowledgeable and patient with my children! I highly recommend going!