What Do Seeds Represent?

A seed is a starting point. It holds the DNA of the tree which will determine what type of tree the seed will become. Think about your starting points.

  • Where does your story begin?
  • How is does your story hold purpose and meaning for you?
  • As Pesach approaches, consider the following prompts:
    • Share a story about an object that connects you to Pesach.
    • Share a story about a Pesach tradition in your family.
    • Share a story that comes to mind when you hear the phrase "Next Year in Jerusalem."
    • Observe the image below (click to enlarge). What does the picture depict? If you could meet a family member at any moment in time, who would you meet and why?

What do roots represent?

Roots nurture seeds by providing them with the resources and nutrients needed to grow. The roots are essential to a seed. Following up from your story seed in the previous section:

  • What are the roots of your story?
  • What additional resources and nutrients might enrich your story?
  • How might you best categorize the resources with which you have enriched your story? Are they people? Places? Senses?  
  • Why do you think that story came to mind?

What does a trunk represent?

The trunk is a foundational part of the tree as it transfers all the nutrients from the roots to the limbs/leaves. What might the trunk represent in comparison to a story?

  • What components are essential to your story to give it a strong foundation?
  • What makes the foundation of your story distinct? What is unique about its voice?

If needed, compile the many ideas of your story into a storyboard to help with rhythm and flow. Click here for a storyboard template to use.

What do limbs represent?

The limbs are extensions of the tree into the world. The limbs act as your voice and the variations of the different ways you can tell your story and to whom.

  • How are you telling your story?
  • What words are you using?
  • What's the tone?
  • How are you communicating beyond words (as in, body language)?
  • What is the listener's response to your story, and how does it affect you?

In three rounds, tell your story to three different partners:

  • Round 1: Tell your story in just :30 seconds. Limiting the timeframe allows the learner to understand the essentials of their story because he/she only has time to speak what they view as being most important; their narrative spine.
  • Round 2: Tell your story in 2:30 min. This is to add details to your story.
  • Round 3: Tell your story in 1:30 min. Receive feedback about your story from your partner after each round.

What do leaves represent?

The leaves that stem from limbs are the most adaptive parts of the tree. Every season, they change color as they change with their environment. The reflection process is where meaning is made. Hearing feedback about your story and opening yourself up to other perspectives will allow your story to adapt and evolve.

  • What themes, values, experiences, and connections came to mind when telling or hearing your story?
  • What have you learned from your story? How have others contributed to your learning?
  • How does your story connect to other people's stories that you heard? In what ways?
  • Now that you have articulated a story, who do want to you share it with and why?
  • How is your story changing with each telling?

Leaves also bear fruit. And what do fruits bear? You guessed it - more seeds. A good story can be retold time and time again - by both yourself and by someone else - to further plant seeds and create meaning for other trees in the forest.

For more Pesach stories that might inspire some of your own, see Next Year in Jerusalem – A Collection of Stories. Chag Pesach Sameach!