MY FAMILY
THE BETA ISRAEL CURRICULUM
THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL
Having begun with this thought experiment, the teacher should then explain:
I asked you this question because we are about to start learning an incredible story, about a group of people called the Beta Israel, who are still living today. This group was separated from the rest of its family at a time of political distress. To fully understand, let’s look back at the biblical story of Jacob.
Teachers can read the following information to their students, or suggest that the students read on their own and then research independently on the internet to understand the biblical stories referenced below:
As you may know, one of the forefathers of the Jewish people was named Jacob. He was also called by a second name, Israel. Together with his four wives, Jacob/Israel had twelve sons (and a daughter). The teacher may ask students if they know the names of the sons, or simply list them): The sons’ names were Reuben, Simon, Levi, Judah, Dan,5 Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.
During Jacob’s life, his sons often fought. But when Jacob died in Egypt, his sons came together. From then on, Jacob’s twelve sons became the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Just as Jacob’s family was only complete with 12 sons, the Jewish people were complete only with the presence of the Twelve Tribes.
Throughout ancient history, the Twelve Tribes traveled together. When the Israelites finally entered the Land of Israel, each was given a portion to plant roots and build their lives. As history progressed, the Twelve Tribes became divided. At that point, ten of the tribes formed a kingdom in the north of Israel, while the remaining two tribes maintained a kingdom in the south.
It is recommended that teachers show students a map of the Biblical Land of Israel (next page), to demonstrate how the land was divided between the tribes in the northern and southern kingdoms.
In 721 BCE, the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians, and over time, the Ten Tribes of that region were either exiled or assimilated into neighboring countries and cultures. 6
The prophets, especially Prophet Isaiah, dreamed that one day these ten lost tribes would return to Israel.
| Isaiah 11:11-12 | ישעיה יא׳:יא׳–יב׳ |
| 11. And it shall come to pass that on that day… to acquire the rest of His people, that will remain from Assyria and from Egypt and from Pathros and from Cush7 and from Elam and from Sumeria and from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. 12. And He shall raise a banner to the nations, and He shall gather the lost of Israel, and the scattered ones of Judah He shall gather from the four corners of the earth. | יא וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יוֹסִיף אֲדֹנָי
שֵׁנִית יָדוֹ, לִקְנוֹת אֶת שְׁאָר
עַמּוֹ אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁאֵר מֵאַשּׁוּר
וּמִמִּצְרַיִם וּמִפַּתְרוֹס וּמִכּוּשׁ
מֵּעֵילָם וּמִשִּׁנְעָר וּמֵחֲמָת
וּמֵאִיֵּי הַיָּם. יב וְנָשָׂא נֵס לַגּוֹיִם וְאָסַף נִדְחֵי
יִשְׂרָאֵל וּנְפֻצוֹת יְהוּדָה יְקַבֵּץ
מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ. |
In the early rabbinic period, some expressed hope that these lost tribes would eventually return, but many others believed it would never happen. 8
The teacher should pause here and ask the students if they have any questions, and, whether they had heard of the Ten Lost Tribes before this lesson.
5 For more information regarding the birth of Dan, see Genesis 30:5-6.
6 See Kings II 15:27-29.
7 Students should be taught that “Cush” is generally understood as Ethiopia, when mentioned in biblical reference
8 See Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:3 which states that: “The ten tribes will not return [to the Land of Israel], for it is said, “And He cast them into another land, as is this day” (Deuteronomy 29:2): just as the day goes and does not return, so they too went and will not return. These are the words of Rabbi Akiba. Rabbi Eliezer says: “‘As is this day’ just as the day darkens and then becomes light again, so the ten tribes even as it went dark for them, so will it in the future become light for them.”
