Minister for Education and Employment Owen Bonnici participated in the end of Jewish Summer School event where Jewish children are given the opportunity to have access to Jewish education.
Minister Bonnici explained that, “there are different educational programs that are done throughout the year to supplement the Jewish children who learn in different local schools with their culture and the Hebrew language. Gan Israel Summer School became one of the highlights of these programs, as the Jewish children aged 3 to 12 get to enjoy a full month of their culture, with their friends from the community. Despite the tight timetable and the challenges that the Covid-19 gave us, the School managed together to bring up this amazing summer experience to the local Jewish children.”
Rabbi Chaim Segal said that, “through lots of fun and experiences, we do our utmost to give them the Jewish values, and education. The growing number of kids attending proves the success. Chabad of Malta sees education as a top value. Around the year we do lots of different Jewish educational activities, to the different age groups of our community. We wish to convey our appreciation towards the cooperation and help provided by the Minister for Education Owen Bonnici and we look forward to continue this great relationship for the benefit of our children and students.”
Jewish roots in Malta date back to the 4th and 5th Centuries during the Roman period as evidenced by several Jewish Catacombs with drawings depicting the Jewish Menorah (candelabra) that can be found at the St Paul’s Catacomb site near Rabat. In Mdina, where the Jews made up almost one third of the population, there is a ‘Jewish Silk Market’ and a ‘Jews’ Gate’, and in Valletta, there is a sign ‘Jews Sally Port’.
Even the island of Comino, almost uninhabited today, has Jewish roots. Comino is where the well-known Jewish Mystic Avraham Abulafia lived.
This event is a milestone that marks the cooperation between the Ministry for Education and Employment and the Jewish community in Malta.
