On Wednesday, we had an incredible opportunity to visit Highgate Synagogue. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel very welcome. Rabbi Liss shared many fascinating facts about the Jewish Faith and the synagogue itself, building on our RE learning from this week. He pointed out the Hebrew scriptures and showed us that they were read from right to left. Rabbi Liss’ Torah is over 175 years old. He explained that it has been in his family all that time, which made it even more special. Rabbi Liss sang from the Book of Esther, enabling us to hear the scripture and experience sung Hebrew.
He also sounded the traditional horn known as the Shofar. He let us hear the different notes it plays, which was quite unique. We discovered that the Shofar is sounded during the Jewish New Year, a time when people think about their actions from the past year and how they can improve for the year ahead.
Later that week, we were lucky enough to meet Georgia Carmichael, a Paralympic rower. She shared her inspiring story about the importance of focus, resilience, and belief. Georgia encouraged us to pursue our passions and emphasised how dedication can lead to success. We even took part in a fitness workshop with Georgia, who put us through our paces! It was challenging but fun, and we all felt fantastic afterwards. Overall, it reminded us of the importance of culture, perseverance, and staying active.
