Lesson video

Hi, my name is Mrs. Afshan Today we are going to learn about a special place where Jews come together to pray, learn, and celebrate.

This place is called a synagogue and we are going to focus on the Orthodox synagogue, which is a type of Jewish synagogue that follows very traditional ways of worshipping.

The outcome of today's lesson is, I can describe how Jews might belong to an Orthodox synagogue.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to answer some very important questions.

These are some of the keywords we will be learning about in our lesson today.

The words are synagogue, a place of worship for Jews.

Service, an event or celebration held in a place of worship.

Kippah, a skullcap worn by Orthodox Jewish males.

And tallit, a Jewish prayer shawl worn during different services and celebrations.

Shall we have a go at reading them? Let's try by having my turn and then your turn.

So first it'll be my turn, then you can repeat after me.

Then it's your turn.

Synagogue, synagogue, service, service, kippah, kippah, tallit, tallit.

Well done.

You did that really well.

We have three cycles in our lesson today learning about belonging to an orthodox synagogue, but first, we'll be looking at how do Jews belong to a synagogue community? Let's get started.

Let me introduce you to Rafi.

Rafi is an orthodox Jewish boy from London.

Rafi attends his synagogue every week with his family.

Here's an image of Rafi's synagogue.

Let's hear what Rafi has to say about his synagogue and how he feels when he goes there.

Rafi loves going to his Orthodox synagogue because Rafi says, "My synagogue is a special place where I pray and learn with my community.

I love going to my synagogue because I feel close to my friends and family and I know it is a place where I belong." Time for a check for understanding.

A synagogue is a place where Jews may go to pray, learn and celebrate together.

True or false, what do you think? True, that is correct.

A synagogue is a place for the community to come together, learn about their traditions and support each other.

Great work.

Rafi believes there are different ways Jews can show they belong to a synagogue community.

Let's have a look at some of the examples.

Many Jews become a member of a synagogue and attend special events.

Many Jews attend services to pray together.

This helps them feel close to each other.

And many Jewish children go to Cheder.

This is a school at the synagogue to learn about Jewish traditions and special stories from the Torah.

Let's check if you got that.

What can Jews do to show they belong to a synagogue community? Is it, they may attend a sports club at the synagogue or attend a Cheder at the synagogue or attend services to pray together? Find two ways Jews may show they belong to a synagogue community.

Have a go.

Let's check our answers.

Two ways Jews may show how they belong to a synagogue community.

That's correct, they may attend a Cheder at the synagogue.

Cheder is the school at the synagogue where children learn about Jewish traditions and special stories from the Torah and they may attend services to pray together.

Well done.

You got them right.

Here's a time for a task.

Are you ready? Jacob says, "Many Jews attend different events to show they belong to a synagogue community." Do you think he is correct? Give two more ways many Jews show they belong to a synagogue community.

You can pause the video now and come back when you're ready to check your answers.

Let's check our answers.

Give two more ways many Jews show they belong to a synagogue community.

Some of the possible ways are: many Jews become a member and join a synagogue.

Many Jews attend services to pray together.

You may have written, many Jews go to Cheder at the synagogue to learn about Jewish traditions and special stories from the Torah.

Well done if you've got them right.

Great work.

Now we know how Jews belong to a synagogue community.

Now let's go and find out what special events are held in an orthodox synagogue.

Many Jews also describe a synagogue as a place where friends and families come together to celebrate special events.

These events can take place weekly, once every year or once in a lifetime.

Let's talk about some of these events and how they help Jews connect to the community.

Let's start with Shabbat, which happens every week.

Many Orthodox Jewish families gather for a service at the synagogue every Saturday morning to mark Shabbat.

Let's find out what Rafi says about a Shabbat service at synagogue.

"After the synagogue service, there is usually a kiddush.

We have a blessing over the wine and some delicious food! Often someone in the community will sponsor the kiddush as a gift for the community." Time for in the check.

How often do Jewish celebrate Shabbat? Is it every week, once a month or once a year? What do you think? Have a go.

That's correct, every week.

Jews celebrate Shabbat every week.

Let's move on to another special event.

Every year there are special events held at the synagogue.

A festival like Rosh Hashanah is celebrated yearly with special prayers, songs, and actions to welcome the Jewish New Year.

Time for another check.

What is the New Year called for Jews? Is it synagogue? Is it Shabbat? Or Rosh Hashanah? Have a go.

That's correct, Rosh Hashanah, well done And there's a very special once-in-a-lifetime event that happens at the synagogue, the Bar Mitzvah for boys and the Bat Mitzvah for girls.

It is the coming-of-age celebration for Jewish boys and girls.

Boys celebrate when they are 13 and girls when they are 12 or 13 years old.

As part of the celebrations, boys traditionally read from the Torah in public for the first time.

Let's check if you got that.

What is Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Is it a coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys and girls? Is it a special holiday celebration? Or a type of Jewish food? What do you think? That's correct, Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys and girls.

Great, you got that right.

Time for another task.

Fill in the missing events and their descriptions.

As you can see in the table, fill in the description for Shabbat and information about the Jewish New Year and finally, what is Bar or Bat Mitzvah? You can pause the video now and come back when you're ready to check your answers with me.

Let's check our answers.

Shabbat is a weekly celebration.

This is a service on a Saturday, which often will have food and wine afterwards.

Rosh Hashanah is a yearly celebration.

This is the Jewish New Year celebrated with special prayers and songs.

And finally Bar or Bat Mitzvah, which is a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony.

This is a special life event for many Jews.

It is the coming-of-age celebration for Jewish boys and girls.

Now let's look at how do Jews show they belong to their community.

Let's look at two very special items that Jews wear in the synagogue to show their connection to God and their community.

Jews show they belong to their community in many ways.

They may use symbols or items to show their Jewish identity.

Rafi says, "We have two important items that Jewish males in my synagogue wear to show their belonging and connect them to the Jewish community." Let's start with kippah.

This is a small, round skullcap the Jewish males wear, usually during prayer in synagogue or in other religious settings.

Wearing the kippah is a sign of respect for God and a reminder that there is always something greater than ourselves.

It helps choose to stay humble and mindful of God's presence.

Rafi tells us, "This is a kippah, a skullcap.

I wear my kippah to show respect to God and to remind me that I'm always under God's care, especially when I'm in the synagogue." This is how the kippah connects a person to their faith and the community.

Time for a check for understanding.

What is a kippah? Is it a skullcap warn by Jewish males or a type of prayer book, or is it a special coat worn by males? What do you think? That's correct, it is a skullcap worn by Jewish males.

Next we have tallit, a large prayer shawl that Jewish adults wear during prayers.

Rafi says, "This is a tallit, a prayer shawl.

After a Bar Mitzvah, an adult will wear a tallit during prayers at the synagogue.

It can help them feel close to the community and God, and I look forward to wearing my tallit when I have my Bar Mitzvah." The tallit is usually worn by men, though some women wear it too, especially in more progressive communities.

The tallit has fringes called tzitzit, and these are at each corners which are tied in a specific way to remind the person of Gods commandments.

When someone puts on the tallit, it's a way of physically covering themselves in their faith and it serves as a reminder of the connection to God and the community through shared traditions and prayers.

Time for another check.

What is tallit used for? Is it to wear during sports or to decorate the synagogue or to cover up during prayers? What do you think? That's correct, tallit is used to cover up during prayers.

Well done.

Time for another task.

Are you ready? List three ways you think Orthodox Jews show they belong to the synagogue community.

Orthodox Jews might show they belong to the synagogue community by.

Have a think.

You can pause the video now and come back when you're ready with your answers.

Orthodox Jews might show they belong to the synagogue community by.

Here are some possible ways.

By participating in synagogue services, by attending a Hebrew school at the synagogue, which is the Cheder, by celebrating festivals like Rosh Hashanah together, by attending community events like Bar and Bat Mitzvah, and also by wearing special items like kippah and tallit.

Well done if you've got those answers.

Now let's go back and remind ourselves about all the learning we've done today.

Now we know the synagogue is a special place for Jewish community where people gather to pray, celebrate, and support each other.

We also know that there are special events that happen in the synagogue and it is a place where important moments are celebrated together.

We also now know that Jews might show they belong to the community in different ways, like attending services, wearing specific items, and participating in rituals.

Great job, you've done a fantastic job learning how to belong to an orthodox synagogue.

Remember, synagogues are special places where Jews can come together to pray, learn, and celebrate important moments in their lives.

Brilliant, you worked really hard today.

I'll see you next time, bye.