At the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre, we offer a range of sessions for school visits. Our most general and widely accessible is the Synagogue Discovery tour. Suitable for both primary and secondary pupils, this session is particularly valuable for those studying Judaism, in Religious Studies, with a focus on Jewish beliefs, practices and customs – all while spending time inside the historic Garnethill Synagogue. Lasting approximately 1hr30, the session can accommodate up to 32 pupils per visit. If you choose one of our Learning Kit sessions, a shortened version of the Synagogue Discovery tour is included in the visit. Below is an overview of what to expect from a Synagogue Discovery experience.
On arrival, pupils have time to settle in, use facilities, and we begin by discussing their current studies to gauge their understanding of Judaism – we welcome all levels of knowledge! We then move upstairs to the synagogue entrance, where pupils are introduced to the history of the Jewish community that built Garnethill Synagogue in 1879, Scotland’s first purpose build synagogue. Moving through to the foyer, we highlight features including commemorative plaques and our Kindertransport sculpture, before pausing to admire the stained-glass stairwell.
The group then enters the prayer halls, where the majority of the session takes place. Here, pupils learn about the key features of a synagogue, including the Bimah, Ner Tamid, and Ark. A highlight for many is the opportunity to approach the Ark and learn about the customs of a Shabbat service. Pupils can also try on kippahs and a tallit (prayer shawls), with plenty time for photographs. Throughout this part of the visit, we cover a range of topics while allowing space for questions and tailoring discussion to the group’s age and level of knowledge. For younger classes, we have fun colouring activity sheets relating to what they can see in the prayer hall, we allow time for them to sit in the prayer hall to colour these in.
After exploring the prayer hall, we move downstairs to the kitchen, which is still in use by the congregation and maintained as a kosher kitchen. Here, pupils are introduced to a Shabbat table setting and learn how Jewish families mark the beginning of Shabbat. We also explore dietary laws, discussing which foods are considered kosher and how a kosher kitchen differs from others. Alongside this we also discuss Jewish festivals and their associated foods.
The Synagogue Discovery session concludes here – with the option to add a visit to our Holocaust Timeline Display exhibition. Pupils return to the function room to gather their belongings, ask any final questions and prepare to leave. We are always grateful for the enthusiasm of both pupils and teachers during these visits. If you are interested in booking, please visit our school booking page to make an enquiry.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
