Jewish New Year was the talk of Simon Marks Primary School on Friday as Rabbi David Mason presented a special assembly.

Rabbi Mason, the Cazenove Road school’s rabbi, spoke to students about Rosh Hashanah, a festival literally meaning “the head of the year” in Hebrew which starts today (Wednesday) and marks the first day of the 10 days of repentance.

Jewish people repent for their sins of the previous year in the lead up to Yom Kippur – the holiest Jewish holiday on September 29.

One of the main attractions in Rabbi Mason’s assembly was a shofar, or ram’s horn, which many students were keen to have try playing.

Assistant headteacher Yolande Pieters said: “Rabbi Mason explained that the shofar plays both short, broken up notes, symbolising our individual identities and a long, drawn-out note to show unity. They are played in the synagogue over the festival.”