Advanced: How do Jewish people show care?

Ella: Hi, I’m Ella, and I’m Jewish.

My synagogue is where my family goes to worship, but it’s also where we have lots of community events.

There’s a nursery and a school, and all different kinds of activities every week.

We also try to help people in need, because that’s really important in Judaism.

The word ‘tzedakah’ means ‘charity’.

Many people have a tzedakah box at home. We have one at our synagogue.

We put money in it every week and, when it gets full, we give it away to help people.

We also try to do good for ‘tikkun olam’, which means ‘repair the world.’

People at my synagogue bring meals to older members, help them, and even visit people who are unwell at hospital. The rabbi also tries to do this where he can.

A few times a year, our synagogue also becomes a blood donation centre, and many people from the community come and give blood.

And we also try to think about ways we can take better care of the environment. We recycle and use re-usable cups and plates wherever we can.

We also try to help look after nature, rewild local green spaces and keep them clean so everyone can enjoy them!

The Torah is very important to Jewish people.

The beginning of the Torah explains how Jewish people believe G-d (God) made the world in just six days.

The Torah teaches about the creation of light, sea and land, plants and trees, the sun and moon, birds, fish, all the animals, and, last of all, humans.

The Torah says that on the seventh day God did no work and rested, so Jewish people also take the seventh day to rest.

For Jewish people, the seventh day of the week is Saturday. It is a special time called Shabbat.

Shabbat begins when the sun goes down on Friday evening and ends at darkness on Saturday night.

As Shabbat is a special time where Jewish families take a break from their busy week, they get ready and celebrate in special ways.

There are different ways to celebrate Shabbat but there are some things that lots of Jewish families choose to do.

On Friday, many Jewish families get ready for Shabbat by cleaning their house and cooking a special meal.

This boy is putting his toys away to prepare for Shabbat.

Just before Shabbat begins at sunset, the mother lights two Shabbat candles.

After the candles are lit, the family say "Shabbat shalom," to each other, which means 'peaceful day of rest'.

This begins with Kiddush, a special prayer thanking God for making the grapes in the wine. Then everyone takes a sip. Jewish children might have grape juice instead of wine.

On the Shabbat table are two loaves of bread called challah. Challah is made for Shabbat. It is plaited and tastes sweet because it is made with sugar, oil and eggs.

After a prayer thanking God for the gift of food, everyone eats a piece of challah.

Everyone enjoys the Shabbat evening meal together.

After the meal, the family enjoy singing special Shabbat songs.