There was a new sound at JFS this week, a sound not heard for over 25 years – students singing tefillot (prayers).

The launch of the new Tefilla Programme was warmly received by students and teachers alike. Mr Marcus, Deputy Headteacher for Jewish Life and Learning, conducted a lively educational prayer session for the new Year 7 students. Each child was given the newly released Koren NCSY / Tribe  Siddur in their first full tefilla class this past Tuesday and Wednesday.

The new Siddur is geared to educate students on the origin of the prayers recited and to give its readers opportunities for deeper understanding about tefilla as a whole. Going forward, Year 7 will be exploring tefilla in their Jewish Studies classes once a week. The intended result of this new practice is to help Jewish students feel comfortable in being able to navigate the Siddur in any given situation, whether it is at Shul or any other time it may be needed.

It was a truly spiritual moment to witness 150 students at a time singing their prayers with feeling.