Understanding Faith Through Stories

​Today we have been learning about the importance of stories and history in understanding faith. We began by recapping the story of Abraham, which we learnt last term, and reflected on the message behind it. We then explored the story of Jonah and the Whale, thinking about the lesson it teaches.
As a class, we discussed thoughtful questions such as:

• What message can we take from this story?
• What might this story teach Jewish people about their faith?
• Did anyone in the story do something to help others?
• Do Jewish people believe in helping others?

We then explored how helping others is a key part of Judaism, looking at some of the ways Jewish people support their communities and the wider world:

• Tzedakah – Giving to those in need through money, food, or acts of help.
• Gemilut Chasadim – Carrying out acts of kindness, such as visiting the sick or helping the elderly.
• Welcoming Guests – Hospitality is very important, especially during special times like Shabbat.
• Community Volunteering – Supporting food banks, schools, and charities.
• Tikkun Olam – Aiming to ‘repair the world’ by making it a better, fairer place.
• Mitzvot – Doing good deeds and following God’s commandments with kindness and respect.

To finish the lesson, we reflected on how it feels to do something for the common good – something that helps another person or benefits the whole community, we then made a class paper chain with our ideas. Take a look at our class photo below.
It was a thoughtful and inspiring lesson and I was so proud of how everyone reflected so thoughtfully.