Education

We in Reading have taken education seriously over the years, both in terms of education for our children and adults both within the community and on a wider scale to the whole of Berkshire . Within the community we have members who are able to educate member’s children from the Kindergarten stage all the way up to Bar Mitzvah and Bat Chayil standard and beyond up to GCSE standard. Currently we are running a series of Children’s Workshops based on Jewish themes, festivals, etc. on a regular basis and can, by arrangement, provide tuition for children approaching Bar Mitzvah and Bat Chayil. Adults, however, are not forgotten with various members of the community taking it upon themselves to provide on- going programme of adult education. Everybody is encouraged to take an active part!

Welcome Days

Please note that our current Welcome Day offering is under review. Please contact us for further details. We hold three Welcome Days each school term. At the start of the school year we circulate details to in excess of 100 schools and Local Authorities with the programme. School parties are welcomed in groups of up to a maximum of 60 pupils per time slot and go firstly into our beautiful Synagogue. The features of the building are explained and they are told how Jews pray. The high point is when the Holy Ark is opened to oohs and ahs of wonder! A Sefer Torah is taken out, its importance and holiness is explained, it is carried to the Bimah and back. After about 30 minutes our visitors are divided into small groups. Each group is escorted by their respective speaker into our hall where we have set up a Sabbath Table, a Passover Seder Table, a Succah, a table for Chanukah, a table with the outward signs of Judaism, and a table for the Cycle of Jewish Life. The guide spends about 9 minutes at each table talking about its meaning, and they move from table to table, concluding their visit with a taste of traditional Jewish foods: Challah (Shabbat), Matzah (Pesach), Apple and Honey cake (Rosh Hashanah), Latkas (Chanukah) and a glass of orange squash. There is time for the pupils to visit the Judaica shop, and purchase their momentos. When the pupils depart they will have a better understanding of the Living Tradition of Judaism, and had an opportunity to meet warm and friendly Jewish people. Academic Year 2019/20 Event Summary What you need to know Conditions of Booking

School Visits

A small team of us visit primary and secondary schools at their request to lead assemblies or run lessons about aspects of Judaism. We tailor make the lesson to the requirements of the school and talk about festivals or aspects of Judaism as required by the school curriculum. We ask for a small donation and the travelling expenses of the speaker. Schools who would like a visit should contact the synagogue secretary who will help to match them with the appropriate speaker.