Year 9 students recently took part in an engaging and educational visit to the Leicester Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, deepening their understanding of Judaism as part of their Religious Education curriculum.

As part of their GCSE studies, Year 9 recently attended a morning workshop at the Leicester Synagogue and Heritage Centre on Highfield Street, Leicester. Each session lasted around 25 minutes and allowed the students to explore different aspects of Jewish belief and practice in an interactive way. The workshops focused on dietary requirements and their scriptural origins, the nature of the covenant, Shabbat and Jewish life, and what the inside of a synagogue is like. Those who attended said they found the visit useful and informative, as it allowed them to “visualise” what was being taught in class.

The trip was a highlight of the term, offering students a first-hand look at one of Leicester’s most important religious landmarks. Established in the late 1800s, the Leicester Synagogue remains a vibrant centre for Jewish worship and community life.

Led by members of the synagogue, the tour introduced students to the key features of Jewish worship and tradition.

Students also took part in interactive discussions about the differences between kosher and non-kosher food, exploring laws around food preparation, meat and dairy separation, and the scriptural basis of these rules.

Another key learning point was the history of the Jewish community in Leicester, giving students a sense of how Jewish families have contributed to the city’s cultural and religious diversity over the years.

The workshop also introduced pupils to the Jewish calendar, how it operates differently from the Gregorian calendar, and the importance of major Jewish festivals like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover.