Birmingham Progressive Synagogue’s Cheder took part in an inspiring peace-building activity, influenced by the words of Rabbi John Rayner in Siddur Lev Chadash.

“It is not enough to pray for peace,” he wrote, “We have to work for it… to build bridges of respect and understanding, trust and friendship, across the chasms that divide humanity.”

Moved by this powerful call to action, the young people discussed their experience of things that can divide us at home, in school, and in their communities. Through teacher-led conversations, they then explored how small acts of kindness and understanding can help to bridge divides.

They wrote about their experiences and actions for peace on symbolic paper “stones”, representing the building blocks of a better future. Then they assembled these stones into a striking image of a peace-building bridge over the divides, held proudly here by 14-year-old Sarah Adusei-Hillel, Sharon Adusei-Hillel, who’s 12, and 14-year-old Maya Pappworth-Ryan. Their picture reveals the impact of hope, unity, and youthful determination.

By constructing a paper bridge together, the young people demonstrated the values they were learning, namely collaboration, respect, the courage to imagine, and the power of small actions to help build a more peaceful world.