Family Role Cards: 1- 2

The Pharaoh-Levi Family

Members of the Middle Class

Name: Chaim Pharaoh-Levi

You and your family are descendants of Levi, son of our forefather Jacob, who came to Egypt several generations ago. All the Jewish families were given their own neighborhood at that time, and that is where they live. The neighborhood is called the land of Goshen. You and your wife, however, do not live or work there but rather in an Egyptian neighborhood on the banks of the Nile.

You think to yourself: how long can we live in Egypt without becoming part of the general population? You and your family dress like the Egyptians, and your children attend an Egyptian school. The Jews still believe in the promise that you will return to the land of Israel, and they all say, "G-d will redeem us."

You don't know who this "G-d" is; here there are many gods, and you pay homage to the Nile to ensure your own success at work. Among the Jews, a new leader named Moses has arisen. He is trying to persuade them to leave Egypt and worship G-d in the desert.

You believe that:

• G-d's promise will not be kept.
• The land of Egypt has taken the place of the Land of Israel.
• The decrees against the Jews will not affect your family.

Name: Ya'el Pharaoh-Levi

You are the wife of Chaim Pharaoh-Levi and the mother of two children: Chaman and Eliliyah. You are descendants of Levi, son of our forefather Jacob. You live in the center of the city near the port in an Egyptian neighborhood. You send your children to an Egyptian school, because you think that they should be part of the Egyptian people.

Of course, you are troubled somewhat by the fact that the children are required to pray to the Egyptian gods each morning, to bow to an idol, to the sun, and to the Nile. But everything has its price. While your children are in school, you attend an Egyptian cookery class.

You believe that:

• Egypt is the land of the Jews.
• Jews should make an effort to become part of Egyptian culture.
• The decrees against the Jews will not affect your family.

Name: Chaman Pharaoh-Levi

You are the son of Ya'el and Chaim. You study at the Egyptian school near your home, because that's where your parents think you can receive the best education in Egypt. There you study Egyptian and participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Your favorite extra-curricular activity is Magic Class, where you've learned to turn a fish into a bird and a staff into a snake.

It's too bad that your relatives who live in the land of Goshen don't enroll in Magic Class. In school, you are required to pray to the sun god each morning and to the Nile, and this bothers your mother a lot, but you don't really care.

You believe that:

• Your cousins will eventually realize there's nothing wrong with Egyptian culture.
• Jews should be modern.
• Egypt is your country.

Name: Eliliyah Pharaoh-Levi

You are the daughter of Chaim and Ya'el Pharaoh-Levi. There is no school here for girls, but there are many clubs and classes in cookery, art, music, and fashion. Here in Egypt, there are beautiful fabrics, and you really love the way the Egyptians dress. Jewish girls of your age wear ridiculous clothes. They wear long skirts, claiming they're more modest! The way they go about embarrasses you.

You believe that:

• Jews should be modern, and by that you mean fashionable.
• Egypt is the country of the Jews.

The Joseph Family

Members of the Upper Class

Name: David Joseph

You are a distant descendant of the saintly Joseph son of Jacob, who came to Egypt several generations ago. Your wife Deborah has born you three children, Daniel, Hannah, and Isaac. Like the original Joseph, you hold a high position in Pharaoh's court. You are a tax contractor, and your position confers upon you considerable wealth and status.

There is a rumor circulating at court concerning new decrees against the Jews, decrees that would enslave you all. And they are even saying that Pharaoh wants to kill every male child. But you can't believe such a thing could happen. Egypt has always been open to foreigners. Generations ago they welcomed our forefather Jacob and his sons. Some Jews want to flee, but you think you can persuade Pharaoh not to enact the decrees.

You believe that:

• Your contacts in Pharaoh's court are important to the Jews.
• Jewish leaders should serve as an example to the Jews and to all Egyptians.
• Mutual responsibility is extremely important.
• Money is important.

Name: Deborah Joseph

You are the wife of David Joseph, and the mother of three children -- Hannah, Isaac, and Daniel. Your husband is one of Pharaoh's close advisors. He is a tax contractor, and this confers great wealth and status upon your family.

You gave your children Jewish names, and you send them to the Jewish school located in the land of Goshen, the Jewish neighborhood. In school, they learn Hebrew and the traditions of your fathers. Your children also participate in Egyptian clubs and classes. It's not easy to be an Egyptian Jew, but your husband shows that it can be done.

You believe that:

• Your husband can prevent the decrees.
• Jews should be involved in the Egyptian government.
• In any case, the Jews must deal with the decrees against them.
• Egypt is the "second home" of the Jewish people.

Name: Hannah Joseph

You are the daughter of Deborah and David Joseph, descendants of Joseph son of Jacob. Your father is a member of the Pharaoh's court. There is no school for girls, but there are many clubs and classes for girls. You attend two kinds of classes:

1. Jewish classes in cooking and sewing;
2. Egyptian classes in drawing, music, and sculpture.

You believe that:

• Egypt is the Jews' second home.
• Contacts in the Pharaoh's court are important to the Jews.
• Jews should be true to their tradition but also modern.

Name: Isaac Joseph

You are the son of Deborah and David Joseph, descendants of Joseph son of Jacob. Your father is a member of Pharaoh's court. You suffer somewhat from your father's position. At the Jewish school, your Jewish friends call "assimilator," even though your family is extremely faithful to the Jewish traditions. In the Egyptian classes you take, such as music and drawing, the Egyptians mock and call you "Jew."

You believe that:

• Jews should be true to their tradition but also modern.
• Contacts in the Pharaoh's court are important to the Jews.
• The decrees will be repealed.

Name: Daniel Joseph

You are the son of Deborah and David Joseph, descendants of Joseph son of Jacob. Your father is a member of Pharaoh's court. You are studying medicine. Egyptian medicine is a combination of medicine and magic, and you find it extremely interesting. You hope that when you complete your studies, you can be appointed as a physician to Pharaoh's court, and you are convinced that your father's contacts can help you.

Your believe that:

• Jews should be true to their traditions.
• Having Jews close to the Egyptian regime is a sanctification of G-d's name.
• Money is important.
• The decrees will be repealed.

[Next] [Pesach] [General Index]

Produced by: Unit for Jewish Education in the CIS