Operation Moses workshop

Educational Vision and Programing

The International School for Jewish Peoplehood Studies (ISJPS) at ANU offers innovative

resources, educational tools and creative opportunities to explore one’s identity.

Operating in three areas—museum education and programming; professional development for educators; and development of curricular resources and programs—ISJPS strives to promote Jewish consciousness, involvement, action, and education through a knowledge-based sense of belonging. With less than 50% of Israeli and American youth reporting any interest in exploring their Jewish roots or identity, this endeavor is critical.

As with most of ANU’s temporary exhibitions, ISJPS will launch an educational-experiential program featuring the Ethiopian Israeli community, based on the exhibit “Operation Moses: 30 Years After”.

The program is intended for individuals in positions that influence change (teachers, counselors, educators, activists and young leaders), as well as for students from all educational networks in Israel and abroad. It will include youth movements, missions, young adults and academics, providing them with a unique perspective on the journey of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. The program is based on rare material from ANU archives, and on photographs and clips filmed by young Ethiopian Israelis. It will offer guided tours of the exhibition, including lectures and workshops that consider questions of belonging, identity and solidarity.

:Educational Leadership and Guiding Course

This course is intended for 15 academic oriented or young professionals who represent a diverse group of young leaders with an emphasis on the participation of Ethiopian Israelis. The goal is to train and enrich participants about the history, culture and immigration of the Ethiopian Israeli community together with the broader Jewish peoplehood vision of the museum.  The course will also develop their professional skills, enhance their resumes and professional opportunities, as well as offer course graduates the chance to join the museum's permanent guiding team.  The course will be publicized to key Ethiopian Israeli NGO’s like Olim Beyahad, The Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews (IAEJ) and others.

We anticipate that “Operation Moses: 30 Years After” will continue as a traveling exhibit displayed in  various Jewish communities, in which case ANU will provide the hosting community with concepts, tools, curricula and more as required.

Initial Ideas for Educational Programs

ANU devises a set of educational programs to accompany special exhibits in order to enhance group visits so they can enjoy both the exhibition as well as quality workshops, lectures and special events.

With “Operation Moses: 30 Years After” a variety of ISJPS’ flagship educational initiatives will be augmented to highlight the Ethiopian Israeli story.  For example, the G2G: Generation to Generation program joins two different generations via high tech and history. Jewish students and seniors are paired whereby the adults broaden their Internet and computer skills, while the young students learn the value of personal and collective narratives. Each pair documents a personal chapter in the fascinating story of the Jewish people, which is then posted online on the museum’s website. Together they enrich their Jewish identity, history, collective memory and technical skills. As part of this program ANU will collect, document and preserve a collection of testimonies by senior Ethiopian Israelis involved in Operation Moses.

My Family Story is another popular museum program, which will also focus on the Ethiopian Israeli experience. The program is a fun-filled, meaningful, personal, global and multigenerational, a Jewish heritage journey to the past, where the exploration of one’s Jewish family story, genealogy, heirlooms and traditions culminates in an artistic installation.  It connects the younger generation, from 5th-8th grade to their personal stories, their family stories, and the broader story of the Jewish people.  Ethiopian Israeli students will be encouraged to share their family’s stories impacted by Operation Moses and then to create artistic projects displayed in the My Family Story exhibit.

From Ethiopia to Israel – A journey to Ethiopian Jewish heritage (Workshop)

Target group: Students, Families and IDF groups

ISJPS will develop a dynamic program to present the cultural and unique heritage of Ethiopian Jewry that explores 2,000 years of history, customs and traditions often preserved by word of mouth from one generation to the next. The program will complete the exhibition as it will share with visitors the rich culture of Ethiopian Jews based on ANU's expansive archival materials: photos, films, family names, music, etc. This will include three stages – identity led discussions, tours and creative workshops. Programing will involve the consultation of an advisory group of Ethiopian Israelis.

Spotlighting A Community  

Public audiences of all ages will be invited to a series of encounters including personal meetings, round tables, story telling and Q & A's highlighting various groups connected to the Ethiopian Israeli community such as:

• Senior Ethiopian Israeli activists who directly impacted on Operation Moses;
• Second generation Ethiopian Israelis;
• North American activists who played a supportive role in Ethiopian Israeli aliya;
• Ethiopian Israeli spiritual and cultural representatives as well as artists.

The ANU Jewish Communities Database is one of the richest collections of Jewish community culture in the world. Over the past thirty years, ANU has collected an astounding array of facts, figures, anecdotes, narratives, and cultural descriptions from over 3,000 Jewish communities, past and present. As in many other evenings dedicated to learning about various communities like Vilna, Toledo or Haleb, events to hear more and learn about the Ethiopian Israeli community will be organized. Prior to the gathering, guests will be urged to send personal materials. The evening will include short films, presenting genealogy trees and a lecture. This event will be held three times over the course of the exhibition. This unique program can be also offered to audience outside of Israel.

Artistic workshops and program (activity)

This section focuses on elementary school students with the goal of appreciating Ethiopian Jewry’s heritage and stories through meaningful and engaging activities. An Ethiopian Israeli artist will lead creative workshops for young visitors and Ethiopian arts and crafts will be on display.