Shabbat Shalom

Discover the significance of the Friday night meal and the Sabbath day in Jewish life

Learn how different families celebrate at home and in synagogue

Explore the rich symbolism and rituals of the Sabbath

Bring the Sabbath into your classroom with experiential learning

•Lay a Sabbath table

•Sing a Sabbath song in Hebrew

•Taste Challah, the plaited bread traditionally eaten on Friday nights

•Smell the spices used in the Havdalah ceremony, which signals the end of the Sabbath

•Try on a prayer shawl and Kippah (skullcap)

Taste of Torah

Find out why the Torah is at the heart of Jewish life and reflect on what makes it special.

Learn about the Torah Scroll and its use in worship and study

Explore some of the content of the Torah

•Creation

•Stories of the people of Israel, such as Abraham and Sarah, Moses and the Exodus from Egypt

•Ten Commandments: laws and values

Older students can be prompted to think about different ways of interpreting holy texts

Scribe for the day

•Learn to read and write a few letters of Hebrew script

Synagogues and Jewish Community

This session can take place either in your school or as part of a trip to a local Synagogue in order to create a memorable and interactive learning experience

Explore the importance of synagogues for Jewish people and use a deepened understanding of the role of synagogues to prompt discussion and reflection on special places and communities in the students’ own lives

Learn about the main features of a synagogue, their history and symbolism

•Ark and Torah Scrolls

•Everlasting Light

•Bimah/Reading desk

Explore the functions and running of a synagogue

•Place of worship and study

•Community centre and support network

•The role of the Rabbi and the lay (volunteer) leadership

This session can be run in conjunction with the one on Torah, and can also demonstrate the use and significance of Jewish ritual objects and dress, such as Mezuzah, the Kippah and Tallit