Year 8 Syllabus

YEAR 8 SYLLABUS

3. JUDAISM

Aims:

To gain a knowledge and an understanding of the faith and customs of Judaism and to help pupils to investigate and respect a belief system other than their own. To revise and consolidate work already done in primary schools and develop further.

'Implicit' Ideas:

Place and value of the individual; origin and destiny (cf. Collective responsibility); customs; traditions; shared history etc; values and attitudes; expression of beliefs in symbols, festivals etc.

Concepts:

Implicit: authority; belief; commitment; community; celebration; suffering; symbolism.
Explicit: monotheism; festival; God (G_d); Orthodox Judaism; Sabbath; kashrut; synagogue; Torah; rabbi; mezuzah; tallit; tephillin; Holy Ark; Bimah; Sifrei Torah.

Content and Suggestions:

Could begin by looking at modern problems of persecution. Trace from Middle Ages and then from Russian pogroms to Hitler's policy of Anti-Semitism, to more recent Iraqi (Saddam Hussein's comments) views expressed in Gulf War. In face of such persecution, and scattered throughout the world, how have they survived as a people and as a religion? Origins back to Abraham and Moses.
Sabbath and Havdalah - home ceremonies and requirements.
Synagogue - use and symbolism: Ark, perpetual light, Bimah, seating arrangements, Sifrei Torah, Music.
Torah and its importance. Orthodox and Progressive Judaism.
Other symbolic items - Mezuzah; Tefillin; Tallit.
Bar Mitzvah - see previous section.
Dietary Laws. Rules for meat - animal, fowl, water creatures. Slaughter and kashering. Meat and dairy produce. Why?
FESTIVALS PROJECT: Make up project loan from the Library and add to it our own project books. Also copies of recipes, music, games, models. Pupils to work in groups of four for 3 or 4 weeks on a particular festival at the end of which they will make a presentation to the rest of the group to include demonstrations (food, music, ceremonies etc. - live or through media of video or audio cassette). Written project to be produced with information, illustrations, own impressions and so on.
Festivals: The 3 Pilgrim festivals of Pesach; Shavuot; Sukkot. Also Purim, Chanukah, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Research historical background. How is it celebrated? Why is it celebrated? What is a festival? (Cf. with more familiar Christian festivals and reasons for them)
Summary - more than a religion; it is a way of life.

Time:

About 7 weeks

Resources:


Judaism					FitzWimarc Work Guide
Arrest Amsterdam 1944			Books
Judaism (Domnitz)			Books
Jewish Family Life			Books
Jewish Belief and Practice		Books
Judaism 1,2,3				Books
Shabbat					Books
Encounter with Judaism			Radio Slides
Sukkot					Cassette tape
Chanukah				Cassette tape
The First Chanukah (drama)		Cassette tape
Shabbat songs				Cassette tape
Jews					Photopak
Ages of Anguish				Tape/slides
Judaism					Filmstrip
Selections from the Seder service	Cassette tape
Passover				Cassette tape
Judaism					34 slides
Jewish Wedding				Slides
Judaism					5 OHP slides
Festivals (Sukkot)			Video
Judaism I				Video
Judaism II				Video
Judaism - Eyes of Jewish Children	Video
3 Families in Jerusalem (part)		Video
Judaism (Visit to Jerusalem)		Video
Aspects of Judaism (Video Text)		Video
Bar Mitzvah				Video
Chanukah				Video
Passover				Video
What's it Like to Be a Jew?		Video
Judaism					Posters
Judaism					Photo Posters
Jewish Festivals			4 posters
Teaching Cards				Jewish Education
Book Resource Box			Various books
Artefact Box				Various artefacts
CD-ROM - The Haggadah			CD-ROM
Sources of Faith			CD-ROM
Aspects of Religion			CD-ROM

Assessment:

Basic knowledge of Jewish way of life, synagogue, festivals, food laws. Ability to collect and organise relevant information.
In group work and presentation of festivals, to show a knowledge of Jewish beliefs and practices.
(From presentations) To show an understanding of Jewish beliefs and practices, especially from a Jewish point of view. (empathy)

Written work. Presentations and project work.

G. Jones:
The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh, Essex