Leeds Menorah School

The Leeds Menorah School was founded over 45 years ago following a directive of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Dayan Yehuda Refson z l and his wife Ettie Refson tlcht a. The school caters to the more observant families in the community who want a stronger kodesh ethos and learning. Mornings are dedicated to limudei kodesh and afternoons to limudei chol. The school is co-ed.

The school has always had a family feel to it. Many of the parents are also teachers in the school. The school body has always been diverse and currently has children from Lubavitch, Kollel, Aish and Modern Orthodox backgrounds and the children and parents all get along. The warm and happy atmosphere is an important part of our ethos.

This has been very clear in our Charidy campaigns when there have been many warm nostalgic messages of support. Our kodesh and chol departments are strong, with Mr Bell in particular being a great asset to the school. His chol lessons are al taharas hakodesh and his plays and songs legendary - one of them was a winner of the Meaningful Life Chassidic Art competion.

The school uses the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds reading scheme. While the school body has always fluctuated based on which observant families have moved to or stayed in Leeds, there is a recognition that the Leeds Jewish community is at a very good place at the moment, and the school will continue to attract new pupils.