This week, Year 2 began learning about Judaism by exploring Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. We learnt that Shabbat is a special time for Jewish people to stop, rest and spend time with their families. Shabbat begins on Friday evening at sunset and ends on Saturday evening when three stars appear in the sky. We discovered that Jewish families celebrate Shabbat in different ways. They may:
Light special candles to welcome Shabbat.
Share a special meal together.
Say blessings over grape juice or wine and challah (a special braided bread).
Spend time with family and friends.
Visit the synagogue to pray.
Rest and take a break from everyday activities, including work and school.
On Thursday, we welcomed Hannah and Chloe from the Jewish Museum into our school for a special workshop all about Shabbat. We had the exciting opportunity to explore and handle real objects used by Jewish people during Shabbat celebrations. Hannah and Chloe helped us to understand the significance of each object and how they are used as part of this special celebration. They also made links between Shabbat and the Torah, helping us to discover where the tradition comes from. We learnt that Shabbat is rooted in the story of creation, when God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. This is why Jewish people celebrate Shabbat as a special time for rest, reflection and spending time with loved ones.
On Friday, we continued our learning about Judaism by exploring Jewish food laws and the meaning of kosher. We learnt that kosher means food that is suitable to eat according to Jewish dietary laws, which are explained in the Torah.
We explored some of the rules surrounding different types of food:
Fish: Jewish people who follow kosher rules can eat fish that have both fins and scales, such as salmon. Shellfish, such as prawns and crabs, are not considered kosher.
Meat: Only certain animals can be eaten. For example, cows and sheep are kosher, but pigs are not. Animals must also be prepared in a special way.
Meat and dairy: One important kosher rule is that meat and dairy products must not be eaten or prepared together. This means Jewish families may use separate plates, pans and utensils for meat and dairy foods.
We discovered that these food laws are an important part of Jewish faith and help Jewish people show their commitment to their beliefs and traditions.
We explored some of the rules surrounding different types of food:
Fish: Jewish people who follow kosher rules can eat fish that have both fins and scales, such as salmon. Shellfish, such as prawns and crabs, are not considered kosher.
Meat: Only certain animals can be eaten. For example, cows and sheep are kosher, but pigs are not. Animals must also be prepared in a special way.
Meat and dairy: One important kosher rule is that meat and dairy products must not be eaten or prepared together. This means Jewish families may use separate plates, pans and utensils for meat and dairy foods.
We discovered that these food laws are an important part of Jewish faith and help Jewish people show their commitment to their beliefs and traditions.
