Inspiring RE: Jewish People

This book focuses on what it means to be one
of the approximately 280,000 Jewish people in
Britain today. We have tried to provide a small
insight into the diversity within this community by
including information on the attitudes to the Torah
held by Orthodox, Reform and secular Jewish
people. Many schools study Jewish people, and
this book has tried to encompass key Jewish beliefs
and ideas on the importance of belief in one God,
the Torah, the community and the land.

We open with ‘Ready Steady RE’, offering starter
ideas encouraging pupils to explore diversity
using a variety of sources, including music, food
and art. It includes a signpost to other units
in our publications that might be of use. The
units in this book begin with concrete learning
regarding artefacts and their use in Jewish homes,
featuring the mezuzah, a charity box and a ketubah
(marriage certificate). Being in the community
and remembering significant events are incredibly
important to many Jewish people, which is one
of the reasons that there are multiple festivals
celebrated by them. We focus on festivals through
two different lenses: a historical lens helps pupils
study the ‘foot’ or ‘pilgrimage’ festivals, and for
younger pupils we also study the importance of
food and its significance in festivals. We see lived
religion as we follow how Beth, Evie and Charlie
share Shabbat. Finally, we look at the significance
of the Torah and how it is treated, with material for
9–11s. The book ends with one of our ever-popular
progression grids.

Please note that members can now download a
digital copy of each unit, allowing you to save
it in year-group or module files on your school’s
internal electronic storage system. On the NATRE
website you can now access many more resources
from earlier curriculum publications using your
membership log-in. Do let us know which of these
activities you use in your school, as we love to see
examples of pupil work