As a teacher, you never stop learning. That was the message of the day at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) last Tuesday, where more than 200 people gathered for its fourth National Jewish Education Conference for Primary School Teachers.
Educators from across the UK came to Hendon for the annual event to network, pick up new ideas and discuss the challenges of teaching Kodesh alongside secular studies. All sessions fell under the theme "Keeping it Real", with an emphasis on ensuring that Jewish education remains relevant and engaging.
"Thanks to you all, the prospects of our future look incredibly bright," said Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as he welcomed attendees. He encouraged his audience to keep improving their teaching practices.
"Pupils are very astute," he said. "If there is a teacher who is stale, the pupil will relate to the material in a stale way. If the teacher is motivated, the pupil will be too. You have to grow, however much you know. That is the mark of a spiritual leader and great educator."
"You can't teach everything in a classroom," he added. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try."
If the curriculum focuses on trees, the challenge is to show the whole forest
Participants then split into different sessions, which ranged from discussions about texts and dealing with Ofsted inspections to workshops on how to use technology in lesson plans, and how to keep pupils' behaviour in check in the classroom.
Rabbi Joseph Dweck, senior rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation, urged his audience to "Keep God in the classroom", even when limited by their syllabus. "If the curriculum focuses on trees, the challenge is to show the whole forest," he said.
Meanwhile, Rebbetzin Holly Pavlov, director of the She'arim College of Jewish Studies for Women, spoke of the importance of "Making abstract concepts relevant".
"If you don't talk about Haschem, then you've lost the point," she said.
For LSJS chairman Jason Marantz, the conference gave people the opportunity to "talk and support one another" during this "golden age of Jewish education".
"There has always been a focus on development and growth," he said. "Everyone aspires to do better, and when you feel watched, it encourages you to double your efforts.
"Primary schools are very spread out around the country. It is important to help make relevant connections."
LSJS dean Raphael Zarum agreed: "The key issue here is networking," he said. "Every day, teachers sit with their children, forgetting they are part of a bigger world. This is a pause button for them - it allows them to stand back and think about things differently.
"We're filling in gaps. It's like a tool that needs sharpening every so often."
He added his hopes that people would continue to qualify as teachers for Jewish schools. "The future of our community is contingent on Jewish education," he said. "I believe that if we make our teachers passionate, pupils will want to sign up. All the issues we care about - our welfare, Israel, security - they are all considered so our children can show up in the classroom."
Daniella Shannon, a special educational needs assistant at Kerem Primary School in north London, said the seminars gave her "lots of ideas about how to bring god into the classroom".
Meanwhile, Moshe Feldman, a Kodesh teacher at Broughton Jewish Primary School in Manchester, said he was "uplifted" by events. "This is a good day to make contacts and get inspired," he said. "It's a lovely environment."
Eve Albu, from Hertsmere Jewish Primary School, Radlett, added: "It was a great opportunity to learn new skills."
Throughout the day, the Chief Rabbi's words lingered: "Each one of us is standing with the baton of Yiddishkeit in our hands," he said. "It is thanks to you that the baton will be passed down to guarantee we have an outstanding Jewish community in the future."
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