Mazel Tov! Eden celebrates its bnei mitzvah

Graff said: “Every single part of the tallitot project was created by and for the children, which was amazing, and it meant that every child, irrespective of religious background or belief, was involved. It was a really powerful visual reminder about the centrality of children in Jewish life and learning.”

The children show their hand-made tallitot (Photo: Eden Primary)[Missing Credit]

The portion Balak was particularly apt for the children because it contains the Ma Tovu prayer that the children learn and sing throughout their school journey at Eden.

When the school opened it was under head teacher Jo Sassienie, who played a key role in building Eden and designed the structure, alongside architects and the co-founder Peter Kessler.

After Sassienie’s departure in 2023, Helen Graff – formerly the school’s deputy head – took up headship. The school has remained one-form entry, with a tight-knit community, where strong bonds are formed among families.

Eden Primary's bnei mitzvah ceremony (Photo: Eden Primary)[Missing Credit]

Graff said that Eden Primary prided itself as being a Jewish school where everybody was welcome. Its ethos, she said, meant it embraced children from across the spectrum of Jewish belief and the wider community on an equal basis.

Graff added: “We really wanted to highlight spiritual development, not just through academic achievement, but also through ritual and community belonging. We wanted to honour every child's place in the Jewish community, in a school community, create a visual and emotional experience the children will remember. [We wanted] to reinforce our identity as a values-led Jewish school with inclusive practices, and give every class a tangible, lasting contribution to a major milestone in our school's history.”