Yosef's Dream

A story of dreams, choices, and belonging, Yosef’s Dream tells of a young Jewish Ethiopian boy’s journey to the land of his ancestors.

The colorful picture book, suitable for students in grades K-2, depicts Yosef’s journey to Israel as part of the 1991 rescue mission, Operation Solomon, in which 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted out of Ethiopia and flown to Israel over the course of 36 hours.

Students gain insight into the historical context of the rescue mission through the firsthand perspective of a child who lived it. Yosef, now a young man in Israel, recalls a dream he had as a child in Ethiopia. After falling into a deep hole, he was visited by animals who each offered a way out: climbing mountains with Gazelle, hiding in the shadows with Hyena, or flying far away on an eagle’s wings. Yosef chooses to fly with the eagle to Israel.

Later in the story, a visitor at Yosef’s school announces that the Jews of his community will be given the choice to go to Israel. The most remarkable part is that they will fly there, just as the eagle in Yosef’s dream promised.

Through Yosef’s dreams and reflections, students come away with messages about hope, courage, choice, and the meaning of home.