Two Progressive Jews helped to bring the Jewish Living Experience Exhibition to Chelmsford, Essex, for the first time.

Hanan Charles and Progressive Judaism’s Head of Communications Simon Rothstein – both of East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue – are part of the team who ran the week-long Board of Deputies exhibition for non-Jewish schoolchildren.

A launch event was attended by senior civic and faith leaders including the new President of the Board of Deputies, Phil Rosenberg, and Co-Lead of Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Charley Baginsky (pictured above).

Guests at Jewish Living Exhibition Essex launch event

They were joined by Cllr Jill Reeves (Chair of Essex County Council), Sarah Lane Cawte (Chair of Essex SACRE), Robin Harbord (School Effectiveness Partner at Essex County Council), Alex Crawford (ARU Associate Chaplain), and Sheila Gewolb and Anna Silver of the Board of Deputies.

The Jewish Living Experience Exhibition is a mobile travelling exhibition created by the Board of Deputies and aimed at school groups. It is designed to educate non-Jews about the Jewish way of life and enables visitors to gain an insight into Judaism as a living faith.

Designed by education experts, the exhibition covers areas including the Jewish calendar and festivals, lifecycle events, Shabbat and diversity within the community both ideologically and geographically – giving school pupils the chance to get hands on with Jewish ceremonial and ritual items, including blowing the shofar and spinning the dreidel.

Rabbi Charley recited the traditional Jewish Shehecheyanu blessing at the launch, which is said on moments of firsts.

She added: “This is a vital part of helping young people understand about Judaism and the different ways people express their Jewish faith.

“At the moment it is really difficult to do interfaith work, and talk about what it means to be a person of faith. Exhibitions such as this begin to give us the tools to have those conversations with each other, understand each other and to know that what is happening in your neighbour’s house is actually very similar to what is happening in your own.”

The Jewish Living Exhibition Experience was based at Anglia Ruskin University and hosted a number of primary and secondary school visits, a teacher training session – to answer educator’s questions and improve their teaching of Judaism – and a visit from the Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr Janette Potter and Mayoress Jackie Galley.

Ben Maddison of Essex SACRE, Cllr Adrian Smith of Tendring District Council and Stan Keller of Chelmsford Jewish Community were also instrumental in bringing it to Chelmsford.