The Journey of the Ethiopian Oreyit Getting Ready This activity discusses the idea that important objects go on interesting journeys just as people do. The session is based on the video The Journey of the Ethiopian Oreyit.After watching the video, the facilitator will lead a short discussion. Options for small groups or one large group are also included. Primary sources from the NLI collections 1. After Centuries: A Rare Bible of the Jews of Ethiopia Reaches Jerusalem, NLI 2. The Damascus Keters (for another example of journeys and rescue) 3. Interview with Judy Feld Carr (English begins at 1:37) Background Information 1. Saving the Forgotten Jews 2. The History of Ethiopian Jewry The National Library of Israel, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, [email protected] POB 39105 Jerusalem, Israel http://web.nli.org.il/sites/NLIS/en/Education/Pages/default.aspx Activities Introduction – The story of Judaism includes travel to our home, away from our home, from place to place, and back home again. As Jews have journeyed, they have taken important objects with them. The objects, themselves, can tell incredible stories about their travels. The following video takes us on a dangerous journey with a family and an important object which currently resides in the National Library of Israel. Post-Video Discussion 1. Which community is the story about? 2. Although they always dreamed of going to Israel, what changed in the 1980s and 1990s that made it more urgent for them to leave Ethiopia and immigrate to Israel? 3. Who was responsible for bringing them to Israel? Explain some of the steps in the journey. 4. What object is described in the video? Why do you think they brought it with them? What do you think were some of the challenges of bringing it on the journey? Either continue with a large group discussion using the following questions or structure the activity per the instructions for an active discussion group below. The same questions can be used in either format. 1. What is the oldest Jewish object in your home? 2. What is your favourite or most meaningful Shabbat item? Why is it important to you? 3. What is your favourite or most meaningful Jewish holiday item (menorah, prayer book, seder plate, etc.)? Why is it important to you? 4. What Jewish recipe would you take with you if you had to move to another country? Why would you choose that recipe? 5. Do you have an object that has experienced a journey? Where did it originate? Where has it been? Why did it move? 6. If you were moving, what one object would you be sure to take with you? Why would you take that object? What is its significance? The National Library of Israel, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, [email protected] POB 39105 Jerusalem, Israel http://web.nli.org.il/sites/NLIS/en/Education/Pages/default.aspx Active Discussion Group 1. Participants form two circles, one inside circle and one outside circle. Each person on the inside circle sits facing a person on the outside circle. 2. One of the above questions is posed to the whole group, and after a moment’s reflection, each pair discusses their response. 3. The facilitator then signals that it is time to rotate: people on the outside circle move one space to the right, so they are now sitting in front of a new person. The next question is asked and discussed by each new pair. 4. A new rotation takes place for each question, so that people get to share their ideas with several different partners. 5. Reconvene as one group at the end, and ask people to share some of their answers with the group. Conclusion – Jewish history is filled with travel from place to place. Bringing objects that are important to us as individuals or communities has helped to make us comfortable in our new lands and has allowed each community to retain its own traditions and customs. Collecting and sharing these objects, as the National Library of Israel does, helps us to gain an appreciation of other Jewish communities and to feel a sense of pride in our own Jewish culture. For another example of journeys and rescue, see the Damascus Keters. The National Library of Israel, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, [email protected] POB 39105 Jerusalem, Israel http://web.nli.org.il/sites/NLIS/en/Education/Pages/default.aspx .