The Board of Deputies has put out a casting-call for aspiring Jewish actors to take part in short films on Jewish life, which will be shown in religious education classes in primary schools across the UK.
The Board of Deputies is setting up an immersive website, consisting of multiple short films featuring children aged seven to 13 talking about Jewish beliefs, lifestyles and cultural values.
The website will allow school pupils to “walk” through a “Jewish neighbourhood”, where they will find different Jewish buildings, such as kosher restaurants, synagogues and a Torah scribe’s workshop.
Board of Deputies’ education officer Anna Silver said: “We hear over and over again that schools don’t have big budgets for religious studies. There is nothing like [the website] within schools at the moment. We are really excited to fill this gap.”
Board of Deputies Vice President Jeremy Michelson said: “We are very excited to have the opportunity to create a resource to support the teaching of Judaism in Religious Education in primary schools.
"It will be free for schools to use and provide an immersive experience where students can virtually visit a Jewish neighbourhood and ‘meet’ Jewish children and adults, in Jewish homes, synagogues, shops etc. There is a real need for good quality, authentic and accurate educational resources on Judaism for this age group, which show the diversity and lived experience of British Jews today."
The Board of Deputies is looking for children from a wide range of backgrounds and different parts of the UK to ensure the material reflects the diversity of the Jewish community.
Participation is unpaid, and parents or guardians will need to be present during filming.
The Board is already running initiatives to increase awareness of Jewish heritage and culture in mainstream education. It oversees an interactive travelling Jewish Living Experience Exhibition (JLEE) and Jewish Living Online (JLO), a free, digital resource which teaches about Jews, Judaism, and antisemitism, created in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League.
In July, the Board won a government grant, in partnership with Catholic organisations, to create lessons on antisemitism, which will be taught in Catholic schools in the Midlands.
For more information on the casting call, email: anna.silver@bod.org.uk
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