Ethiopian Jewry

There are some 8,000 Ethiopian Jews left to come home to Israel. The Jewish Agency can afford to bring back 2,400 a year, but is looking to do more in 2011 because of some of the urgent needs of the Ethiopian Jews.

Some require urgent medical treatment which they cannot receive in Ethiopia and some families have been separated for many years. Children are growing up and grandparents are aging. Additionally the severe drought that has been plaguing both Northern Africa and Israel has caused a shortage of decent food in the area around Gondar where most of them live. Should the Arab revolutions spread to Ethiopia r an emergency airlift would be required which would disrupt all the vital pre-aliyah programs which are in place now in Gondar.

The decision was made to bring them last November and the flights began early this year delayed only by  an outbreak of Chicken pox in January. Alarmingly the rate of 200 Olim per month, the process could take nearly 4 years. Our help is needed to gradually and steadily increase the rate which they come to Israel.

June 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of Operation Solomon when nearly 15,000 Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel in 36 hours in 34 flights as the Eritrean army was approaching and the leader of Ethiopia was fleeing the country. This group is the Last of the Ethiopians who will be able to come to Israel under the Law of Return.

We should act now to help as much as we can.

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
   I will bring your children from the east
   and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
   and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
   and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.”  Isaiah 43: 5-7