Year 4 Judaism - Jewish faith. How do Jewish people demonstrate their faith through their communities? (Autumn 1)
Session 1 What happens at a Synagogue?
What places are special to you? How do you feel when you are there? Who is there with you? What will you do there which makes it special for you? How often do you go to this special place?
Can you recall any places of worship that you have been to on visits or at home.
Knowledge hand... The synagogue is the Jewish place of worship.
What happens in a Synagogue?
We are going to watch some clips which may help us to collect some clues to help to answer our questions about what might happen in a synagogue.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02mx8x7 My Life My Religion.
The busiest days at the synagogue are often Fridays or Saturdays for Shabbat services and for festivals. Remember Shabbat is a special time each week that starts at sunset on Friday evenings and lasts for 25 hours. It is part of the Commandments about the day of rest.
Who or what is a Rabbi is and what might they do? What do Jews do at a synagogue? Remember different traditions and diversity within Judaism.
Draw and label a diagram of the synagogue. Remember to label Ark and Bimah
Session 2 - How do Jewish people worship?
Key words: Orthodox and Conservative Reform Prayer Covenant Israel Head coverings Shema
Watch Holy Cribs Synagogue by True Tube. https://www.truetube.co.uk/resource/holy-cribs-the-synagogue/
Using the investigation sheet record as you go along. Make notes on the differences between Orthodox and Conservative compared to Reform synagogues on this sheet and draw some of the artefacts which are pointed out to them.
Worship in the Synagogue mainly includes daily services, rites of passage and festivals. Worship in the home mainly includes prayers, Shabbat meal and study.
Worship is important to Jewish people as it is part of their Covenant with G-d and brings the community together. Jewish people should pray three times a day, in the morning, afternoon and evening which can be formal or informal. Some Jewish people also pray whenever they eat or drink. The Shema is considered the most important prayer in Judaism as well as the oldest. It is said at home and in the synagogue. The Shema reminds Jews of promises made to and by G-d.
Wherever possible those worshipping in Synagogues face the direction of Jerusalem in the country of Israel. So in the UK they face East. Israel was part of the Covenant with Abraham and Jewish people consider it a Promised Land.
What is a covenant? An agreement between two people. Jewish people believe that they do certain things and in return G-d takes care of them. In the Jewish faith these special covenants were made between G-d, Noah, Abraham and Moses.
Answer the question on the Investigation sheet about how Jewish people worship.
Session 3 - Who was Moses?
KEY WORDS Moses Freedom Slavery Promised Land Plagues Yahweh
Moses is important for Jewish people, Muslims and Christians. This story is remembered in Jewish homes and synagogues each year with a festival which we will learn about in the next session by watching the Dreamworks film Prince of Egypt we will try to understand why Moses id important.
The Jewish people in this story are often referred to as the Israelites or Hebrews.
The name for God in the Torah as often written as YHWH (Yahweh). Many Jewish people prefer to use the term Hashem when speaking it out loud which means “The Name” or Adonai which means “My Lord”.
TASK - As so much happens during this story and to make sure the order is correct, we will watch a section of film then record parts of the story.
Write and record in order - Why is Moses important for Jewish people?
Session 4 - What happens at Pesach?
KEY WORDS Pesach Passover Seder
DISCUSSION - feasts with family and friends which we can remember.
Children to encounter the various stages of the seder meal, but first let's watch SIX13 and another clip from The Prince of Egypt - The Ten Plagues
TASK - Investigate the symbolic items on the plate and predict their symbolism. Label the Seder table.
Have a look at how this happens in a Jewish home. This clip is from My Life My Religion Passover.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n2kt9
TASK - What foods would they use to think of a memory?
Design your plate and explain your symbolism. Have each section representing something different to you personally e.g something which ties you down, a symbol of new life, something which makes you cry, something which gives you hope for the future, makes you laugh, sets you free, makes sacrifices for you.
(Examples from RE Today)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n2kt9
If time allows have a quick look at this page about modern additions to the Seder Plate. https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/passover/8-modern-additions-seder-plate
Start with a film clip of the jewish group Six13. There are several ones on their video page about Passover. Uptown Passover and Lion King are a good start. http://www.six13.com/videos
TEACHERS NOTES
Week 1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02mx8x7 My Life My Religion.
Week 2 https://www.truetube.co.uk/resource/holy-cribs-the-synagogue/ Watch Holy Cribs Synagogue by True Tube.
Special places - What happens at a Synagogue?
Torah
What happens at Pesach? What else is this celebration called? Let's see why...
What is Sukkot?
How do Jews remember the giving of the Torah? Story of Ruth. Shavuot celebration - Is it the same around the world? Let' s watch another clip
What rules for Jews are there to follow in the Torah? Mitzvot - God's Laws.Mitvah explained
Kosher - design a meal (Levitucus 11:9 & Deut. 14:9) What does this mean? Pesach and buying Kosher food
What happens during the life journey of a Jew? Birth, Bat Mitzvah, Funeral