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Rabbi Daniel Greer: Moving Yeshiva of New Haven

· Daniel Greer,Rabbi Daniel Greer

Rabbi Daniel Greer founded Yeshiva of New Haven in 1977. The Connecticut school moved, in 1982, to the Roger Sherman Building, from which it continues to serve students of all ages.

When Rabbi Daniel Greer saw the backyard at the Roger Sherman Building, he was met with what he called an “asphalt jungle.” Apart from the vintage 1950’s playground equipment on the school grounds, which spanned over an acre in size, the landscape was entirely covered in pitted, cracked asphalt. Greer wasn’t disheartened, though. He was inspired.

Soon, Greer had dreamt up a country-style field in place of the suffocating asphalt. In early 1984, he began bringing that vision to life. It began with sand beneath each piece of playground equipment for safety. With the children’s landings padded, he could move to the rest of the yard.

The asphalt was removed and replaced with earth and grass, leaving only the sturdy playground equipment. Next was a sprinkler system, financed by Mr. Horton of Elm City Oil, to keep the grass alive while creating an inspiring play yard. Today, the yard is complete with a stand of white birch and other trees, an antique-style sitting space and living greenery on all sides.

The moving of Yeshiva of New Haven could have been viewed as negative, with the asphalt jungle in the yard, but not in the eyes of Rabbi Daniel Greer. Under his dedication and vision, the move instead was the birth of a welcoming and calming green escape.