YEAR 5 RE LESSON 3

• EO: To understand practices and lifestyles

• F: To explore the rules of Shabbat and Havdalah

Our lesson pathway

Last lesson investigated the preparations for a day of rest

Today we are looking more closely at the traditions involved with Shabbat and do’s and

don’ts when preparing for Shabbat

Next lesson we will be learning stories from the Torah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjmjZWHXKFY

We watched this video last week, we’re going to watch it again and this time I would like you to make some notes about Shabbat. It’s up to you how you present them you could use bullet points or a mind map but note down the most important information

Question: What are traditions and why are they important?

SHABBAT TRADITIONS

Shabbat Candles

are lit on the dinner table.

Wine (or grape juice) is shared in a

Kiddush cup.

Challah bread is eaten.

Blessings are recited.

CHALLAH BREAD

Challah is a special plaited loaf that is bought fresh on Friday morning, ready for the Shabbat.

The loaves are covered with a special Challah

cover, so they can’t ‘see’ the wine when it is

blessed.

Challah tastes much sweeter than normal

bread. This helps remind people that Shabbat is

special.

Two loaves are always bought together.

OTHER CUSTOMS

Families enjoy talking together. Children can stay up late and tell and

listen to stories. Songs are sung.

Families will visit a Synagogue during

Shabbat.

No work can be done. Including homework!

Havdalah is the end of Shabbat. A special plaited candle is lit and prayers

are read. Special spices are smelt and finally the candle is put out in the

wine.

SHABBAT – DO’S AND DON’T

To show how important Shabbat is, Jews are not allowed to work. When Jews speak of 'work' on Shabbat, they mean something quite different from the usual meaning of the word. For example, switching on a light bulb is considered to be 'working' on Shabbat, but moving furniture inside your house is not.

Jews are forbidden to drive on Shabbat, to use the telephone (except in an emergency), watch television, play computer games, take photographs or go fishing. They may go for a walk in the park, but are forbidden to take a ball with them; they may stroll past shops and look in windows, but may not buy anything. In Israel, where many Jews live, the buses do not run.

Not all Jews follow all the laws about work on Shabbat. But, no matter how they keep Shabbat, it is a day when they enjoy themselves in different ways from the rest of the week.

GUIDED CHALLENGE

Have a read of the jobs below. Which ones are allowed and which are not?

ANSWERS

INDEPENDENT CHALLENGE

Make a list of 'Dos' and 'Don'ts' around school and compare these with the do’s and don’t of Shabbat that they explored last week.

Then using full sentences explain how they are similar and how they are different.