The synagogue community welcomed Year 5 pupils as part of their discovery of world religions and beliefs. Pupils were encouraged to join in a Shabbat Meal and they enjoyed sharing grape juice and Challah bread. They learnt about the significance of The Exodus and The Passover and were able to share their knowledge of other Jewish Festivals such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
We were then invited to visit the synagogue itself and watched as the Ark was opened for us to see the beautiful Torah Scrolls. They were ceremonially unfurled under the eternal light and pupils were able to look at the hand written Hebrew Text.
It was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to ask questions and explore the beliefs and practices of a local faith community.
The other half of the day was spent at the bright but chilly University Botanical Gardens. There were two sessions, including a classroom activity learning about the origins of chocolate and how Fairtrade companies are trying to develop sustainable production of cocoa, with consideration for the rainforest environment. The other session involved a tour of the glasshouses, with a particular focus on the tropical plants and how they have adapted to living in rainforests.
A fantastic day for Year 5!