Beyond the Family Tree
Jewish History and Diversity Through Family Languages and Names
Most Jewish students have heard of Hebrew and Yiddish but are not aware of the many other languages their families and classmates’ families may have spoken – from Ladino to Judeo-Arabic, from Judeo-Hamedani to Jewish Neo-Aramaic. Students may think of certain family names as Jewish, but they may not be aware of the many names that have become part of Jewish communities through conversion, intermarriage, and international migration. “Beyond the Family Tree” addresses these needs in a way that empowers students and families and strengthens schools and communities.
How It Works
In this project-based curriculum unit, students will learn about Jewish history and the commonality and diversity of the Jewish community — local and international, contemporary and historical — through family stories about names and languages. After lessons introducing students to Jewish migration patterns and cultural diversity, each student will interview relatives, both of the parent and grandparent generations, about their family’s migration stories, the names their family used, and the languages their family spoke and speaks today. Students will present highlights of their interviews in class and then in a showcase to which families are invited, using various media and formats such as visual art, drama, film, presentation with slides, or science fair tri-fold board.