Following international germination, a tree grows in Greensburg
HolocaustPlant, dream, hope

Following international germination, a tree grows in Greensburg

National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education at Seton Hill University receives sapling from Anne Frank Center USA

Seton Hill grounds crew plant a tree whose saplings grew from the horse chestnut tree located behind the Secret Annex in Amsterdam. (Photo courtesy of Anne Frank Center USA)
Seton Hill grounds crew plant a tree whose saplings grew from the horse chestnut tree located behind the Secret Annex in Amsterdam. (Photo courtesy of Anne Frank Center USA)

A tree with international heritage has taken local root. Weeks ago, Anne Frank Center USA delivered a sapling to the National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The gift, which was one of four trees distributed this year by the New York-based Anne Frank Center, stems from a horse chestnut tree in Amsterdam.

Made famous by Anne Frank, author of the eponymous diary, the chestnut tree was a symbol of optimism for the Jewish teenager.

Writing in her diary, Frank said as long as the tree exists, “How can I be sad?”

Twice more during her two years of hiding the German adolescent, who ultimately died of typhus at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at age 15, wrote about the tree while describing the changing seasons.

The tree, which attracted Frank’s attention during a hellish period, continues reminding others about Holocaust horrors and the necessity of future growth, Lauren Bairnsfather, CEO of the Anne Frank Center, explained.

“With each sapling planted, we are sharing Anne Frank’s love of nature with organizations across our coalition that have a common commitment to honoring Anne Frank’s memory through education, free expression and belief in humanity,” Bairnsfather said.

A tree grows in Greensburg. (Photo courtesy of Anne Frank Center USA)

In delivering the tree to Seton Hill on May 7, university representatives and staff from the Anne Frank Center worked with Ambius, an interior landscaping company with more than 2,500 horticulture, botany and landscaping experts nationwide, to guarantee the sapling’s survival.

Bairnsfather expressed gratitude for “Ambius’ expertise and support in ensuring these delicate saplings can thrive in their new homes.”

Kristen Keleschenyi of the Anne Frank Center credited Ambius with securing the tree’s viability and said now that the tree is in the ground, a dedication ceremony will be held in the fall after students return to campus. In the interim, Anne Frank Center and Seton Hill will promote the tree and its symbolism.

Similar attempts to preserve trees and memories, while promoting good, date to 2009. At the time, international efforts were made to strengthen the original tree as well as produce seeds for disbursement. Despite the tree toppling during a 2010 windstorm, its chestnuts were gathered and germinated. For the past decade, Anne Frank Center has presented saplings throughout the U.S., according to representatives of the organization.

Along with delivering trees to the U.S. Capitol, the United Nations Headquarters and the University of Iowa, Anne Frank Center distributed a tree to Community Day School last year.

Speaking at the Squirrel Hill-based ceremony, former Head of School Avi Baran Munro told students, “God willing, this tree will last hundreds of years and, God willing, the teachings you’ve learned here will last hundreds of years,” TribLive reported.

The tree at Seton Hill will serve a similar purpose, according to James Paharic, director of the university’s National Catholic Center for Holocaust Education.

“It’s a way to help us in our mission to help young people to learn about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism and extremism,” he told KDKA.

There’s an element of kismet to the tree’s placement, Seton Hill President Mary Finger noted.

“It is particularly fitting that this sapling — propagated from the chestnut that gave Anne Frank hope in her darkest days — is being planted along this road that connects the Seton Hill University campus with the campus of the Sisters of Charity,” Finger said in a statement. “We believe it will serve as a reflective space where people can come to think, to dream and to hope.” PJC

Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.

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