LOSING FAITH

In 1975 our synagogue was among the first in this country to offer a GCE course in Religious Studies with Jewish texts, siddur, Jewish theology, history, life cycle, calendar, practices, kashrut and values as the syllabus. The students would study at our synagogue and then take the exam either at their respective schools or at an independent examination centre.

Many have gone on to study at our synagogue then take the A/S and A level examination in the same subject. In the past forty years some 300 students have opted for these courses of study at our synagogue. While some of the youngsters have been students at Jewish Day Schools, the great majority have come from schools where no such option was offered.

Like all right-minded people, I am an enthusiastic supporter of maintaining current government policy of introducing all school children at an early age to the principal faiths of this country.

However, by the age of sixteen, GCSE age, they should be given the option of studying just their own faith to GCSE level with a faith leader in their community.

To accept the government’s planned reform ( JC, November 14) to include at least two faiths in the GCSE Religious Studies exam will discourage many teenage youngsters from studying their respective faiths at the very time in our nation’s history that religious values are in decline. Rabbi Steven Katz Hendon Reform Synagogue, Hendon, London