STRENGTHENING OUR COLLECTIVE JEWISH MEMORY: FOREWORD BY MARTIN AND PEARL HERSKOVITZ
The Jewish world seems to be splintering into increasingly fragmented factions, each defined by differing visions of what it means to be a Jew. It is becoming harder for Jews to believe in a common purpose and to find our shared path as a people. We have forgotten what it means to say, “we are one.” It is crucial that we make every effort to recognize, respect, and remember the diverse heritage of the Jewish people, with the understanding that our collective nation is the sum of so many distinct parts.
Creating Memory, our arts-based initiative for Holocaust education, is proud to support publication of My Family – The Beta Israel Curriculum. This is the first English-language study guide of its kind on Ethiopian Jewish heritage, designed specifically for high school teachers and students at Jewish schools.
It is our deep hope that this curriculum will help familiarize the wider Jewish world with the unique history, culture, and traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community. The Beta Israel is, and always has been, part and parcel of our collective Jewish memory. Let us strengthen our Jewish identity by educating ourselves and reflecting on our collective memory as a global people, with a shared legacy and a common destiny. Let’s develop comprehensive curriculum that explores the rich and varied experiences of all Jewish communities worldwide.
The Jewish people are diverse, global, and pluralistic, by nature. But no matter where we live, let’s remember that the Jewish people are one. We must listen to one another and internalize the multivariate narratives of our complex nation. Let’s ensure that the center of our Jewish unity holds strong, even amid hardships and challenges. Let the Jewish people live on for eternity, as one.
MARTIN AND PEARL HERSKOVITZ
CREATING MEMORY
REHOVOT, ISRAEL
