MY FAMILY
THE BETA ISRAEL CURRICULUM

STARTER

 Teachers should begin the unit by explaining:

 While the Beta Israel experienced thousands of years of hardship as a religious minority in oft-impoverished Ethiopia, the full extent of their suffering became most clear during the Ethiopian Civil War. It was then that efforts to evacuate the community from harm took full force.

 A close study of these efforts – beginning in 1975 with the lead-up to Operation Brothers (1979-1984), followed by Operation Moses (1984-1985, and Operation Solomon (1991) – demonstrates just how perilous this period in history was for the Beta Israel community.113

 Although many members of the Beta Israel did reach Israel, so many others died along the way, on their harrowing journey as refugees. The tragedies still haunt us, but we know the outcome for the Beta Israel could have been far worse.

Having explained this background, teachers should write the following phrases on the board:

  • BETA ISRAEL’S DESIRE TO RETURN TO ISRAEL
  • WELFARE OF THE BETA ISRAEL
  • POLITICAL WILL IN ETHIOPIA
  • POLITICAL WILL IN THE U.S.
  • POLITICAL WILL IN ISRAEL
  • FINANCES
  • LOGISTICS
  • PRESSURE FROM LOBBY GROUPS

 Having shown students this group of words as a “teaser” for the content to follow, teachers should say:

We’ll revisit this list once we have learned about the various operations that were undertaken to evacuate the Beta Israel from war-torn Ethiopia and help them immigrate to Israel. Look at the words in front of you, and consider them carefully, as you learn about this dangerous and exciting moment in history for the Beta Israel and global Jewry. Let’s begin in 1975: the lead-up to Operation Brothers.

 

113 For a video about Operation Moses, see https://youtu. be/5G6f0ztdoCk, and for a video about Operation Solomon, see https://youtu.be/DJIQlQsMeUA.