I8: Aliya

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Operation Icebreakers

- When reading this chapter you may have noticed that the Israelis tend to give biblical names to many of their rescue operations. As an icebreaker you could hold up signs of the various operation names and ask your audience if they know anything about them. If they don't know, encourage them to guess based on the biblical nature of their names. Some are explained below: (year, country, numbers)

EZRA & NECHEMIA (1948-50, Iraq, 110,000)
With the destruction of the first Temple, the Jews were exiled to ancient Babylon, which is now identified with Iraq. In those days, Ezra & Nechemia were leaders who educated and led many of the exiles back to Israel.

MAGIC CARPET (1948-50, Yemen, 45,000)
This is not a biblical title. The Yemenite Jews were airlifted to Israel in huge planes. Many had never seen planes before. It was as if they were being carried home on a magic carpet.

GOSHEN (1948-53, Egypt, 10,000)
When the Jews were enslaved in ancient Egypt, they lived in the province of Goshen.

THUNDERBOLT (1976, Uganda, 103)
This was not about aliya. It was a rescue of Jewish hostages. Thunderbolt was named for speed at which the operation would have to be carried out.

MOSES (1984, Ethiopia, 7395)
The operation involved walking people out of Ethiopia and across the border into Sudan. Planes were waiting in the desert to fly them to Israel. Thus, just as Moses had, these people were led out of hardship and into the wilderness.

EXODUS (1989 ongoing, FSU, 700,000 to date)
The sheer numbers of this aliya make it comparable to the ancient exodus from Egypt.

SOLOMON (1991, Ethiopia, 14,500)
The Beta Yisrael are said to be descendants of marriage of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

- Draw two columns on the board or on a large piece of paper. On the left write out the operation titles and on the right, in a different order, write out the country from which Jews were rescued. Ask members of the audience to match up the operations and their countries of action. Draw in the lines connecting them.

- Looking at the board, ask for 'guestimates' of how many Jews were rescued and in what year. You could even make a disordered three or four column table (Operation, Country, Numbers, Year) which needs to be unscrambled. Throughout your programme leave all this information clearly visible and refer to it when you talk and explain.

Ethiopian Jewry

- Where is Ethiopia? Show a map to your audience.

- Who are the falashas? Ask your audience whether there are equivalent derogatory words for Jews in the UK or any other country.

Operations Moses and Solomon

- These were historic rescues that made world headlines. Ask your family about them. How did they feel about these rescues? You could use this information for your programme.

- Where the Israelis right to bribe Ethiopian officials in Operation Solomon? You could debate this one.

- Have you met any Ethiopian Jews? Do you know others who have? Tell your audience about personal experiences.

Behind the Iron Curtain

- You may know of some refusnik stories. The most famous refusnik, Anatoly Sharansky, is now a minister in the Israeli Government.

- If you know about Glasnost and the eventual disbanding of the Soviet Union then you could describe this to your audience.

- Many Jews want to stay in the FSU while many others want to come to Israel. Why? Ask your audience to suggest reasons for staying or leaving. Draw up a 'pros & cons' list on the board.

Mass immigration and absorption

- Many Soviet immigrants know very little about Judaism. Absorption is expensive and difficult. Is the State of Israel obliged to help? Are they any more responsible than the Jews of America for instance? You could lead a fierce debate about the reason for Israel's existence. After all, Israel has successfully developed due, in no small part, to the historic huge influx of Jews to the infant state.

- Develop the idea of absorbing eight million people into the UK to explain what Israel is up against.

The UJIA

- Phone the UJIA for information and other materials on the background and future of the Beta Yisrael and the Jews of the FSU. They can provide you with a wide range of interesting speakers. (Main office: 020 8446 1477)

A tradition of aliya, rescue prayers

- Write out those words of the prophet Yechezkel or the Amidah prayer on the board. Discuss God's part in these rescue operations. Are they miraculous? Should we rely on God to be saved or do we have to do everything we can to help?

Operation Thunderbolt

- This can be told as a gripping story. Be well prepared if you want to make a lasting impact.

- Again, your family may remember when it happened. Their feelings are worth relating to your audience.

- A few action films (Raid on Entebbe, operation Thunderbolt) were made of this incredible story. Makor-AJY (020 8446 8020) should have copies.

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