Children of Jerusalem</em></strong> (1991–1996) is a collection of seven films by multi-award-winning filmmaker Beverly Shaffer. The series offers portraits of life in Jerusalem as experienced by seven children from diverse social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
This short documentary tells the story of 13-year-old Gesho, one of the 14,000 Ethiopian Jews who left Northeast Africa for a new life in Israel during a massive refugee effort initiated by the Israeli government in 1991. In Ethiopia, he and his family lived without running water or electricity, and Gesho had to drop out of school in grade 6 to help his father. Now his family lives in a trailer equipped with basic conveniences in a temporary community for new immigrants on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Ages 10 to 14
Study Guide - Guide 1
Ethics and Religious Culture - Religious Diversity/Heritage
Family Studies/Home Economics - Child Development
Health/Personal Development - Human Growth and Development
Health/Personal Development - Identity
Brief “lesson launcher type” activity or a series of inquiry questions with a bit of context: