MY FAMILY
THE BETA ISRAEL CURRICULUM
OUTREACH II: 1867-1904
Once students are familiar with Joseph Halévy, teachers should explain:
In the spring of 1867,87 Halévy set out on his mission to Ethiopia. Much to his surprise, when he arrived at the Beta Israel villages, the local community members did not believe he was Jewish. In fact, they feared he was a “missionary with intentions to tempt them towards Christianity.”88 But when Halévy mentioned Jerusalem (in passing), the community finally understood, and extended a warm welcome.
At this point, students should be asked:
Why do you think the Beta Israel found it so hard to believe that Joseph Halévy was Jewish?
Discussion here can focus on perception of “others” in relation to ourselves. Then, drawing from their research, students should roleplay Halévy’s first meeting with the Beta Israel and show the community’s shift in perception and attitude when he finally mentions Jerusalem. After this, teachers should explain:
While Halévy’s mission to extend Western Jewish outreach to the Beta Israel was successful, it yielded “few concrete results.”89 In the subsequent years, the Beta Israel suffered greatly from drought.90 In fact, up to two-thirds91 of the Beta Israel community died in [various] plagues.92 No further Jewish missions to Ethiopia were arranged until 1904 (thirty-six years after Halévy’s visit). The 1904 mission, however, dramatically changed the tone of relations between the Beta Israel and the rest of world Jewry.
87 Ibid.
88 Ibid, 54.
89 Ibid, 55.
90 As Rabbi Sharon Shalom explains, between 1888–1892, known as the Kfu Ken (The Terrible Days), the Beta Israel experienced drought, cattle plagues, and invasion of the Darvish people of Sudan (Shalom, From Sinai to Ethiopia, p. 69).
91 See Waldman, The Jews of Ethiopia: The Beta Israel Community, 56.
92 Shalom, From Sinai to Ethiopia, 69.
