MY FAMILY
THE BETA ISRAEL CURRICULUM
SECTION II – THE JEWISH LIFE OF THE BETA ISRAEL
UNIT 5: LAWS & CUSTOMS
| Learning Goals | - To reflect on the authentic Jewish traditions of the Beta Israel
- To understand that there are differ- ences between rabbinic Jewish law (halakha) and the biblical Jewish laws, customs, and traditions practiced by the Beta Israel in Ethiopia
- To know specific examples of these differences – specifically in prayer, shabbat, and wedding rituals
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| Intended Grades/Ages | Grades 9-10 (ages 13-16) |
| Lessons per Unit | Approximately 3-4 lessons x 60 minutes |
Below is a step-by-step procedure for teachers, recommending content and methods of instruction. We suggest dividing the content into three to four lessons. Our recommendation is for each lesson to take about 60 minutes, but this timeframe will vary per classroom. As a general guideline for pacing lessons:
Lesson 1 should begin with the Starter, cover The Beta Israel and Biblical Jewish Tradition, and then introduce How Ethiopian and Rabbinic Jewish Law Differ (with examples in Lessons 2-4)
Lesson 2 should discuss example of Prayer Lesson 3 should discuss example of Shabbat Lesson 4 should discuss example of Weddings
Relevant references have been included in footnotes.
