MY FAMILY
THE BETA ISRAEL CURRICULUM
SECTION IV – LIFE IN ISRAEL
UNIT 9: FROM DREAMS TO REALITY
| Learning Goals | 1. To learn about the challenges that faced the Beta Israel upon arrival in Israel, including: a. Reconciling with loss of Holy Temple b. Contending with doubts over their status as Jews c. Degradation of their rich Jewish heritage and culture d. Lack of recognition over Beta Israel heritage and rituals 2. To consider how the Beta Israel’s difficult absorption affected the community and contributed to socioeconomic disparities |
| 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 Starter, followed by Return to Jerusalem,
and then Loss of Holy Temple
Lesson 2 should continue with Recognizing Jewishness and Jewish Education
Lesson 3 should explore Religious Leadership
Lesson 4 should include Socioeconomic Challenges and Addressing Mistakes & Obstacles
Relevant references are included as footnotes.
