Ma Koreh
Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Life Primary
At the end of last term parents of students in Years 4 and 5 attended a special Pathways Tanakh presentation ceremony and tefillah, presenting their child with a Tanakh, a Hebrew Bible. Each student’s Tanakh, when presented to them by their family, became a unique object personally connected to that child and family. The Tanakh was lovingly prepared by parents to include family photos, messages, family trees, family histories and stories.
In Jewish Studies over the coming weeks, students will be invited to share special inclusions in the Tanakh with their class and reflect on what the Tanakh means to them on a personal level.
Together we will be learning its contents, how to navigate the Tanakh and begin reading verses in Hebrew and English for the first time.
Here are some reflections from students having had time with their family and at school to look at what was placed in their Tanakh:
Toby: “I really enjoyed reading all the kind messages and looking at the photos of me as a baby with my parents and grandparents. I am looking forward to learning more about what is in our Torah and its teachings once I learn how to use and read the Tanakh.”
Dan: “I thought the messages from my family were really kind and special. I never realised I have ancestors from so many different places around the world including Brazil, Poland, Germany, Morocco, Romania and Russia. Inside my Tanakh is a family tree with photos of each person that goes back to my great great grandparents. The Tanakh makes me feel connected to my family, to Israel and being Jewish.”
Ryan: “The messages were so nice that I cried with happiness when I read them. I was interested to learn that I have ancestors from Lithuania, Burma, Indonesia, Singapore, England, Russia and South Africa.”
Rafaella: “I love that I have lots of photos of my family in my Tanakh and a photo of me with my grandfather, who passed away (I met him when I was little). My mum and dad wrote special messages for me which makes me feel happy when I read them.”
