Rita is out for a walk through the neighborhood, admiring all of the plants, gardens, and bushes that her neighbors have planted and cared for through the years. Her walk reminds her of another neighborhood with a special carob tree and a tale of two neighbors. The Carob Tree is a Jewish folk tale retold by PJ Library and presented to families here in audio form and as part of a special PJ Library December 2020 gift. 

Jewish tradition emphasizes both taking care of the here-and-now and creating a better world for generations to come. PJ Library's special December gift invites families to “plant for today” with an at-home growing activity and “plant for tomorrow” through a tree donation campaign– two ways of highlighting for children the miracle of growth and the value of shmirat hateva

(responsibility for the earth).

Episode Credits

Director: Alli Thresher

Additional production: Craig Rossein

Website design: Christina Rizer

Audio editing, mixing and mastering: Peter Moore

Score: Peter Moore

Recorded at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA.

Story editor: Alli Thresher

The Carob Tree: A Jewish Folktale retold by Naomi Shulman and Danny Paller with illustrations by Sabina Hahn. Adapted for audio by Alli Thresher

Young Tali: Danielle Geist

Hannah, Grown-up Tali: Deirdre Wade

Annabel: Gwen D'Angelo