Fifth- and sixth-graders from Saint Cecilia Catholic School visited Congregation Kol Shalom to learn about the history and traditions of the Jewish community on Oct. 18.

Prior to the visit, the students read “Tirzah” by Lucille Travis, the fictional story of a teenage girl’s journey with the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt through their first years in the desert on their way to Israel.

Kol Shalom’s Judi Leader taught the visitors about the synagogue, let them try on yamikas and modeled how people put on the prayer shawl. Students also learned about kosher foods, and they learned the differences between Orthodox, conservative and Reform congregations.

Saint Cecilia teacher Alexis Anjomshoaa-Brown proposed and planned the event, a noteworthy first for the school, said Saint Cecilia Principal Susan Kilbane.

“This is the first time our students will be visiting Kol Shalom,” she said. “Alexis is in a program at the University of Notre Dame that encourages these types of learning experiences to deepen our students understanding of what they are reading.”