MY FAMILY
THE BETA ISRAEL CURRICULUM
UNITY VS. UNIFORMITY
After learning about the individual stories of three different members of the Beta Israel, students should be told that many of the key personalities mentioned in this curriculum – including Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, who contributed greatly to the content – are dedicated to the vision of an Israeli society that promotes unity, not uniformity. With this vision, every community in Israel has the right to live according to its own truth, celebrating its rich and unique heritage and contribution to global Jewry.
The remarkable heritage of the Beta Israel deserves its place in the annals of Diaspora Jewish history. Any attempts to marginalize, diminish, or degrade the authentic Jewish traditions of the Beta Israel is an insult not only to Ethiopian Jewry, but to the very survival of the Jewish people. There is so much to learn from the Beta Israel about the centrality of hope and prayer; about different philosophies and values, laws and customs, rituals, and symbols; and to celebrate the Beta Israel’s dreams, achievements, and aspirations. It is up to us to know, understand, and share the diverse traditions of all Jewish people.
