Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary

As we entered the final week of the counting of the Omer, our attention focused on a variety of Shavu’ot based learning and activities, which included:

• Reading, translating and discussing meaning of the Aseret HaDibrot (The 10 Statements).
• Studying midrashim to gain deeper insights into how our tradition understands the significance of the Torah.
• Mia Shapiro and Josh New leading a peulah for students in Year 3 and 4, encouraging students to think about the importance of rules and then create their own 10 rules. 
• A Tanakh Pathways information evening for Year 5 parents and students and parents in Year 4. These evenings involved text study, Tanakh familiarisation and reflecting on the meaning and significance of this text for the Jewish people. These evenings were in preparation for the Tanakh presentation ceremonies happening later on this term.

Following a joyous Shabbat celebration this morning, Years K-6 students gathered together, just as our ancestors came together, to celebrate the giving of the Torah. Our Shavu’ot ceremony was led by the Year 6 Jewish Life Leaders and included songs, midrashim and readings that explored the different names and dimensions of the festival, from its agricultural origins to the revelation of Torah at Mount Sinai. The highlight of the ceremony was the chanting of the Aseret HaDibrot (The 10 Statements) by students in Years 5 and 6. 

Thank you to the Jewish Life Leaders for conducting the service and a kol hakavod to Morah Gaida and the students in her Torah reading group who participated in our ceremony.

Chag Shavu’ot Sameach/חג שבועות שמח

The header image, Flowers for Shavuot, was made by Jewish Studies Arts & Crafts Club Year 1 and 2.