Exploring the Jewish Faith

Year 5 were very lucky to have volunteers and employees from Willesden Jewish Cemetery come into school and carry out a workshop.

The children were able to handle Jewish artefacts and understand what they are used for in the day to day life of a Jewish person. These included:

• a kippah, the traditional Jewish cap
• a mezuzah – the sacred case (containing part of the Torah) which is placed on the doorposts of Jewish houses to sanctify and bless the house
• shabbat candles that are lit to usher in the Sabbath
• a tallit – the fringed Jewish prayer shawl
• a dreidel – the Jewish spinning top that is used to play games during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah

Year 5 were able to ask the Rabbi different questions and learn so much about the Jewish faith to aid their learning in RE around not only Judaism but the Jewish beliefs around life and death. The adults were so impressed by the fantastic questions given and the mature behaviour of our Year 5 pupils!