This term most likely derives from days when Jews lived in small villages and there was only one room, a cheder, in which children were educated. Cheder is a fairly ubiquitous term in British Jewry, though not necessarily so throughout the Diaspora.

These schools provide supplementary education, designed to teach Jewish children about Judaism and living a Jewish life, as well as providing various levels of Hebrew instruction. Chedarim (plural) provide a vital service for the Jewish community, exposing children, especially those who attend school which are not specifically Jewish faith schools, not only to Jewish learning, but creating a particular social environment where they get to meet other Jewish children. These are both vitally important to helping form a child’s Jewish identity whilst living in a country where Judaism is a minority religion.

There are many different chedarim with as many different styles. For more information on specific chedarim, contact the synagogue in which you are interested.

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