Our sage Hillel should have said these words: “If I am not for the bees, who will bee for me?”
A Buzz Worthy Announcement
In the next few weeks, you will notice some new workers around Temple Emanu-El. These workers will be growing food in our garden, helping flowers to bloom on the property, and making lots and lots of honey! Yes, you guessed it, we’re welcoming two hives of honeybees to Temple Emanu-El this Spring.
Why is Temple Emanu-El bringing honeybees onto our campus?
Honeybees are crucial to human life; without honeybees, there would be no us! As a congregation that works to heal our world, hosting honeybees is one of the best and easiest ways to do that. While we may be able to taste a bit of Temple Emanu-El honey, a honeybee is worth 10 or 20 times the value of its honey. Honeybees pollinate ONE-THIRD of all crops in the United States. By hosting bees on our campus, we are adding more pollinators to the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area. We hope you will be inspired to bring a beehive to your home too.
What’s so Jewish about honeybees?
Jews and honey go way back. Archeologists have found honeybee hives during the reign of King Saul and King David. And, of course, we believe that Torah is as sweet as honey. Just like Torah is essential to Jewish life, honeybees are vital to ALL life.
How can you help honeybees at Temple Emanu-El?
Click HERE and join the Temple Emanu-El Bee Team!
There is something for everyone:
- Learn about how cool honeybees and other pollinators are and how important they are to making food for humans and all plants and animals!
- Care for Temple Emanu-El’s honeybees. You will receive expert training and learn how to help us maintain the hive. Our first training is Sunday, April 16.
- Act in your own home and neighborhood for the survival of the honeybee. You can take many small steps at home to help honeybees without ever having to visit a beehive.
Are honeybees safe?
Yes.
Bees don’t like to sting!
Honeybees WILL DIE if they sting once!
Bees defend their brood and honey from other insects by swarming and flapping their wings to overheat the invaders.
Bees only sting as a tactic of last resort to defend their brood and honey.
The best way to respect the bees is to give them their space.
The hives were brightly painted by Temple Emanu-El kids and will be impossible to miss (they’ll be back by the garden).
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Max
