Table of Contents
3 The Year in Review: Message from Evely Laser Shlensky, NACOEJ President Message from Barbara Ribakove Gordon, NACOEJ Founder and Executive Director
4 ETHIOPIA: Food, Education and Advocacy
6 ISRAEL: Limudiah: Intensive After-School Education Program
8 ISRAEL: NACOEJ/Edward G. Victor High School Sponsorship Program
9 ISRAEL: NACOEJ/Vidal Sassoon Adopt-A-Student Sponsorship Program
10 Statement of Financial Position
11 Statement of Activities
12 Thank You to Our Supporters
14 Board of Directors and Staff
The Year in Review
Message from Evely Laser Shlensky, NACOEJ President
For those of and North Africa in the 1950’s. He and programs are also uniquely valuable to us concerned my mother often accompanied those the larger Jewish community. The work with the refugees as they headed for Israel. I of NACOEJ is a tangible expression quality of guess one could say that accompanying of our deepest Jewish values. Our Jewish life endangered Jewish communities is my projects offer a vehicle for diaspora in the next ethical inheritance. Jews, including young Jews, to express generation- commitment to Jewish peoplehood and -and History moves on and the endangered to social justice. generations Jewish communities in need of after that— accompaniment have changed. Since I suggest that that the linkage of Jewish recent studies first I learned of the situation of the values with the needs of the Ethiopian that document increasing detachment Ethiopian Jews decades ago, largely Jewish community can offer to younger from Israel and the Jewish people among through the efforts of Barbara Ribakove Jews a potent means to invigorate their young American Jews give cause for Gordon, I’ve wanted to “accompany” relationship to the Jewish people and the soul searching. That searching can them in whatever ways I was able: state of Israel. Please consider directing galvanize creative responses to staunch through advocacy, education, visits and the young people in your life to our the distancing of young Jews from monetary contributions. Involvement website for projects in which they can Zionist commitment. with the plight of Ethiopian Jews has engage to aid this treasured community. become for me a means to contribute to In so doing, my experience, and that of I’m thinking about the growing my people and to Israel. my parents before me, suggests that they detachment of this generation in light may well encounter an avenue to attach of my personal history. I grew up in an My experience may have application themselves to Israel and to the people intensely Zionist home. Much of my to others looking to play a part in Israel. father’s philanthropic work focused on Jewish history. As critical as NACOEJ raising money to help “ransom” Jewish programs are to the welfare of Ethiopian refugees coming out of Eastern Europe Jews in Israel and in Ethiopia, those
Message from Barbara Ribakove Gordon, NACOEJ Founder and Executive Director
The past 12 fund at least one meal a day for children our 28-year history is replete with new months have age four through six, till they enter our challenges, obstacles, unexpected events, seen extraordi- school at age seven (Ethiopian practice) and economic disasters and miracles. nary changes, and get school lunches. in NACOEJ’s What remains constant? Our devotion to efforts on be- In Israel, though the economic crunch the community we serve, our ability to half of Ethio- has forced us to reduce the number of overcome difficulties and make the most pian Jews in high school and college sponsorships we of opportunities; our incredibly loyal Ethiopia and provide for Ethiopian students, and even supporters— and our endless search for Israel, and in to close some of our crucial after-school the funds we need to achieve our goals our own orga- education classes for younger pupils, for the world’s poorest, most isolated nization everywhere we work. we’ve been able to open one new after- and neglected Jews. By the time you school program in Jerusalem (special read this, a new change toward which In Ethiopia we’ve met major goals, funding was available), and beginning we have been working constantly may helping the JDC reopen their closed free to find some funds for reopening some have occurred: an Israeli government clinic for the Jews, turning our new little classes and starting new ones elsewhere. decision to speed up and complete the Jewish Day School (grades one through We will continue to seek new sponsors Aliyah of the Jews remaining in Gondar six) into an expanded facility that just for our really remarkable high school and may have been made. If it happens, we received a prestigious award as the college students. will enthusiastically move into a new, second-best private school in the Gondar exclusively Israel-based dimension; if it City area, and (thanks to a generous In the U.S. we’ve moved our New York doesn’t, we’ll keep trying. We’ll never grant from the UJA-Jewish Federation headquarters into cost-cutting space, give up. That’s unchangeable. of New York) reopening our Feeding created new, active Board Committees, Center to provide two excellent meals a and started considering our long-term day to children age three and under, and goals. to pregnant and nursing mothers. Now we’re working on a new challenge: to NACOEJ is accustomed to change;
3 ETHIOPIA: Food, Education and Advocacy ETHIOPIA: Food, Education and Advocacy Feeding Center Reopens! Current Population Being Fed in For many years in both Addis Ababa the Feeding Center: and Gondar, NACOEJ funded Feeding Centers, supplying nutritious, twice- • 445 children age three and younger a-day meals to the most vulnerable populations in the destitute Beta Israel • 18 pregnant women communities: children under the age of • 41 nursing women six, and pregnant and nursing women. The Addis community has long since • 450 children age four to six need reached Israel, but in Gondar the Feeding to be fed. (Children in Ethiopia do Center continued to do its life-saving, not start first grade till age seven. Our life-changing work until we ran out of pupils then receive school lunches in funds in 2008. Tragically, the Gondar the Beta Israel Community Primary Feeding Center closed in June 2008, School in Gondar.) causing great physical, mental and emotional anguish both in the population it fed, and in all of us who care about hungry Jewish women and children. Passover
In 2010, thanks to a generous grant Once again, we held the world’s largest from UJA-Federation of NY, we were Passover Seder. Approximately 6,000 finally able to reopen for a portion of people jammed into our synagogue space that population: the pregnant and nursing for candle lighting, matzoh eating, raisin women, and the most at-risk children, wine drinking, singing, dancing and age three and younger. Once again, after above all, experiencing the Hagaddah, In the Feeding Center this painful hiatus, at least some of the whose tale of leaving Egypt and reaching stunting and wasting of both body and the Promised Land stirs longing and hope in the Beta Israel community in Ethiopia. School Lunches mind, the weakened immune systems, the prolonged and frequent childhood illnesses, the unnecessary deaths, and the The Seder was led by Rabbi Menachem This year, NACOEJ continued to feed Waldman of the Israeli Chief Rabbis’ essential, nutritious school lunches to life-long debilitating effects of chronic malnourishment, have been mitigated. Committee on the Spiritual Absorption up to 1,000 destitute Jewish children of Ethiopian Jews and a contingent attending the NACOEJ Beta Israel As this is written, however, we still have of ordained Ethiopian-Israeli rabbis Community Primary School in Gondar, and teachers. The entire community— Ethiopia. Our well-balanced meals are a major problem. Children from age four through six, though slightly less including uncountable numbers of critical for the children, whose present excited children— went home at the end and future health, and mental and vulnerable than their younger siblings, were not being fed— again, for lack of with hand-baked matzoh for the whole physical development, are dependent week of Passover. upon adequate nutrition they cannot get funds. As painful as this is on a material level, the psychological pain— and at home. The lunches also enable them Now, if the final shouts of “Next year in to be alert and prepared to learn each day bewilderment— felt by these children, who have to accompany their mothers Jerusalem!” prove prophetic, the Seder of in school, rather than becoming lethargic 2011 will be one of the most memorable and even fainting from hunger in class. and younger siblings to the Feeding Center, and wait outside, hungry, while ever. A short time ago, we expanded the meals are being consumed inside, program to include modified Sunday is worse. Unbearable. We are now lunches for several hundred Jewish urgently seeking funds to provide those children who do not attend our school left-out children with at least one meal daily (they go to public schools offering a day. (We can not eliminate one of grades we do not cover) but come to our the daily meals meant for the younger school on Sundays for Jewish studies children, to cover the cost, because, and Hebrew language classes. A number according to our consulting doctors, of our regular students have begun to the younger children must be fed twice join these classes as well, improving to absorb adequate nutrition.) Perhaps their Hebrew and their knowledge of the by the time this report reaches you, traditional Jewish world they will find in those other children— future citizens of Israel. Israel— will also be receiving the food they need.
Making matzoh ETHIOPIA: Food, Education and Advocacy ETHIOPIA: Food, Education and Advocacy The NACOEJ Beta Israel Community soccer team that can compete in its local the end of the year pursuant to the Law Primary School in Gondar Little League, if we can afford a coach, of Return and other provisions of Israeli uniforms, and equipment. Law. Our school in Gondar has a long name and a short history—but it is doing Most important, the school is now Intensive negotiations with the Prime so well that it was recently named the in use every day of the week. On Minister’s office have been going on all second best private school in the Gondar Saturdays, when our Jewish pupils are year to obtain a government resolution City area! Considering that it is only two at Shabbat services and programs in the that would provide for the inspection years old, that most of the children never synagogue, the school is open to non- of the remaining 7,700 Beta Israel went to school before entering, that we Jewish neighboring children, who attend remaining in Gondar and bringing those teach a heavy-duty double curriculum classes and tutoring taught by our secular possessing the requisite maternal lineage. of full academics and full Jewish academic teachers. On Sundays, Jewish NACOEJ representatives have made studies/Hebrew language and that there children who attend seventh and eighth numerous trips to Israel in connection are 87 “private schools” in Gondar— it grades in local public schools, arrive for with these discussions which have taken is considered amazing. At a ceremony Hebrew lessons and Jewish studies. A place between representatives of the attended by some 3,000 educators, small lunch is provided for them, and for Prime Minister’s office, NACOEJ, the officials and others, our program director, the regular NACOEJ school students who Jewish Agency for Israel, the Chief Getu Zemene (below), received an come in increasing numbers to improve Rabbinate, the Public Committee for ovation, a handsome certificate and a their ready-for-Israel skills. Ethiopian Jewry (headed by Justice much appreciated gift— a radio cassette Shamgar), members of Knesset and recorder for the school. Aliyah Update community representatives. It is anticipated that the results of these Pursuant to a government resolution negotiations should be known in the passed in September 2008, a portion relatively near future. of the Jews remaining in Gondar were entitled to make Aliyah. This decision was not implemented. As a result of intense efforts, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Eli Yishai agreed to inspect and bring those eligible. However only a portion of those who should have been inspected were inspected and as a result only around 1,100 people made Aliyah (through April) of an estimated 1,800 who should have been found eligible. An additional 200 made Aliyah under the We are greatly pleased, but not greatly Law of Return and other surprised. During the past year, Israeli provisions of Israeli law. visitors have been impressed by the children’s current acquisition of Hebrew, As a result of further and a Jewish Agency official was heard advocacy, Eli Yishai ordered to say that, thanks to their education, the Ministers back to inspect these youngsters would be much easier to the remaining 700 who absorb in Israel than their predecessors. are eligible under the 2008 decision. However, after they The school has grown, adding a fifth were inspected, the Interior grade and now a sixth, plus the additional Ministry refused to complete facilities (including a library and a the process that would allow small computer lab) mandated by the for their approval despite Board of Education for grades above having been provided with four. We were recently able to move the pertinent documentation children in fifth and sixth grades into over two years ago. Strenuous a full eight-hour school day, while efforts are currently being grades one through four remain on the made to have these people age-appropriate two-shift schedule. A approved and brought to large piece of land adjoining the school Israel. In addition, it is was granted by the government for a anticipated that another 120 A member of the Beta Israel community playing field, and we hope we can have a people will make Aliyah before waits to make Aliyah with her children.
5 Israel: Limudiah: Intensive After-School Education Program Israel: Limudiah: Intensive After-School Education Program
often could In Rishon LeZion, the new municipal not afford to elementary school division director buy.While the visited our Limudiah, accompanied statistics are by the department’s new head of improving, over evaluation. So impressed were they half of Ethiopian- with the program’s clear goals and Israeli families professionalism, that they asked still live below NACOEJ to raise funds for an additional the poverty line Limudiah at another city school. The (which itself municipality is also partnering by is very low). providing the program’s critically Children from important lunches. impoverished families, We also opened an additional Limudiah particularly in the Ramat Alon School in Rehovot, those who at the request of the municipality. It have recently replaced the Limudiah in the Smilansky emigrated School that recently closed because of from Ethiopia, the great reduction of Ethiopian-Israeli In the past ten years, the percentage of continue to struggle with Hebrew students there. (The Ethiopian children Ethiopian-Israelis eligible for Bagrut language, reading, vocabulary and math. who had been attending Smilansky (Israeli high school matriculation) They are often left frustrated, dejected now attend a new local school in their rose from 30% to 40%, representing a and socially isolated in their classrooms. own neighborhood.) gradual narrowing of educational gaps between them and their non-Ethiopian Without early intervention like that of the Challenges peers (of whom 58% are eligible for NACOEJ Limudiah, many risk being left matriculation). behind forever and relegated to a life of The global economic crisis continued to poverty. pose challenges to NACOEJ’s Limudiah We believe this is due, in no small part, program in 2009-10. As in the 2008-09 to the NACOEJ Limudiah: Intensive Achievements school year, we served about 300 fewer After-School Education Program, which students than in the period prior to the provides ten weekly hours of academic More than 85% of our Limudiah students recession. Despite this, we were able to help to Ethiopian-Israeli elementary attained average to high achievements secure funding to open the new Jerusalem school children (with one accredited in the 2009-10 school year, well above Limudiah, at the city’s request, under- teacher for every eight students). In the the national average for Ethiopian-Israeli scoring the continued recognition of the 2009-10 school year, the program’s 17th students, which is only about 35%. For program for its long-term effectiveness year of operation, 773 children in grades example, in the town of Nes Tziona in and impact on Ethiopian-Israeli students. one through seven, in eight cities and central Israel, over a third of the students towns across Israel, received specialized in the Re’ut School are Ethiopian-Israeli. assistance in reading, language, math Ninety-five percent of Ethiopian students and enrichment curriculum. They also there who participate in the Limudiah received much-needed homework help, had average to high achievements, which their parents are often unable to including many recent immigrants who provide. began the year with Hebrew language challenges and are “The Limudiah is a quality program still acclimating to a providing reinforcement of class study, new culture. homework and students’ social experience.” In Jerusalem, in Principal, Efrati School, Bnei Ayish (near Gedera) the fall of 2009, NACOEJ opened its newest Limudiah in A full stomach is a prerequisite the Brandt School,000 where 60% of to keeping any child focused on the 200 students are Ethiopian-Israeli. schoolwork. Therefore, hot lunches A remarkable 94% of our students had (often the only substantial meal Limudiah average to high achievements by the end participants eat during the day) were of the year. Most are from disadvantaged A student about to enter the Brandt School in provided. The children also received families who have been in the country for Jerusalem, where NACOEJ has opened basic school supplies which their parents 12 years or less. its newest Limudiah.
6 Israel: Limudiah: Intensive After-School Education Program Israel: Limudiah: Intensive After-School Education Program
2009-10 Limudiah Program Summary
City # of Schools Grades Served # of Students # of Staff Ramla 3 1-3 77 13 Lod 3 1-7 146 21 Rehovot 3 1-6 180 25 Rishon LeZion 1 1-6 142 20 Kiryat Ekron 1 1-4 39 8 Nes Tziona 1 1-6 43 7 Jerusalem 1 1-3 34 4 Gedera 3 1-6 112 15 TOTAL: 16 --- 773 113
Summer Programs NACOEJ’s Israel director, the school “I wish to thank NACOEJ for your The 2010-11 Limudiah was preceded principal, a Kiryat Ekron by NACOEJ’s Peachy Levy Back-to- Municipal Education important, multi-year contribution to School Summer Education Program in Department head, a advancing Ethiopian-Israelis in Ramla.” Lod and Gedera. Over the long summer parent representative holiday, when many students (not just and the NACOEJ Yoel Lavie, Mayor of Ramla Ethiopians!) are prone to academic community coordinator regression, 150 Ethiopian students were also in attendance. neighborhood of Bnei Brak, which has maintained and developed critical received an influx of new Ethiopian study skills through the Back-to-School Continuing the NACOEJ Limudiah families and urged us to open our program. They participated in two tradition, children in all communities first Limudiah there. We will begin intensive weeks of learning in August anticipated Passover with a model Seder. investigating fundraising possibilities for and as a result, returned to school in the Many of the children’s parents joined the 2011-12 school year. fall confident and ready to move ahead. the school celebrations. In an effort to Their teachers were delighted with the expose the broader student population to In two schools in Gedera, the fifth- and children’s progress. Ethiopian-Jewish customs and promote sixth-grade Ethiopian-Israeli students pride in the community’s traditions, were in the after-school PELE program 2009-10 Highlights some schools also marked the Sigd of the Israel Association of Community in school-wide ceremonies. Sigd is a Centers, one of our partners. That In a special project called Young religious holiday unique to Ethiopian program was recently discontinued by the Authors, Limudiah teachers encouraged Jewry, celebrating the return from the Absorption Ministry, and as a result the students to read, write and increase their Babylonian exile. It is now a national city has asked us to take on all Ethiopian vocabulary by assigning each student holiday in Israel. students in grades one through six, which the task of creating their own book. we plan to do. While challenging, the children looked Prospects for 2010-11 forward every day to writing their books Additionally, we will be opening three and received individualized instruction The Limudiah is now entering its 18th or four new programs in Beit Shemesh, from their teachers. In the project’s year of operation. While continued at the invitation of the local Ethiopian second phase, they edited and illustrated support has been secured for most community council. It will be funded their books. To mark the project’s sites, the re-opening of the Nes Tziona by the Jewish Federation of Greater completion, the children met celebrated program is in question. Washington, to whom we express our Israeli children’s author Datya Ben Dor thanks. and proudly exhibited their stories (see We were very pleased to achieve a first- photo, below). In addition to Ben Dor, time ever contract with the Ministry of Education in support of our programs in Lod, but bureaucratic difficulties are placing its execution in question. We are working to resolve this. Almost every city in which we operate a Limudiah has requested we add at least one additional program. In addition, we were recently introduced to a school in the very depressed Pardes Katz A student in our Limudiah enjoys a much-needed hot lunch.
7 NACOEJ/Edward G. Victor High School Scholarship Program
Great Gains years. For example, NACOEJ has given scholarships to hundreds of high school This year has seen students in Rehovot, including more than some good news about 300 this year alone. New figures show Ethiopian high school that 90% of Rehovot’s Ethiopian high students in Israel: school-age students now attend local schools, compared to 90% who were The Central Bureau sent to boarding schools ten years ago. of Israel Statistics of Significantly, last year 60% of Ethiopian published a report that high school students in Rehovot received showed that the drop- full Bagrut diplomas, higher than the out rate for Ethiopian national average of 55%. high school students in the 2007-08 and 2008- Challenges 09 school years was actually lower than With results like these, it is obviously that of other Israelis. very important to make NACOEJ/ Great Goals Just a few years ago Edward G. Victor High School the Ethiopian drop-out rate was more Sponsorships available to more and more For over a decade, the NACOEJ/ than three times the rate of the general Ethiopian-Israeli high school students. Edward G. Victor High School population. The new report also found But while in peak years, as many as Sponsorship Program has enabled that an increasing number of Ethiopian 1,500 students a year benefited from thousands of Ethiopian teenagers to high school students are earning Bagrut the NACOEJ scholarships, the program attend high-quality local schools instead (national matriculation) diplomas at a has not been able to maintain these high of being relegated to lower-level state- level that enables them to be accepted levels of inclusion. Due to the weak U.S. subsidized boarding schools. While into universities and colleges. economy, more than 100 students on our basic tuition in local schools is covered waiting list did not receive sponsorships by the government, schools charge Unfortunately, these gains are far from this past year. many additional compulsory fees that enough. Last year, only 36% of Ethiopian are beyond the means of most Ethiopian teenagers earned Bagrut diplomas, still immigrant families. NACOEJ high significantly below the Israeli average. school scholarships— routed through the Many of the successful students had The 2009-10 School Year: students’ schools— defray most of these help from NACOEJ sponsors. All young Ethiopians are eager to catch up with and • 994 Ethiopian-Israeli high school costs. As a result, more Ethiopian high students in 53 schools in 18 cities school students are studying at good local even surpass their peers, but they still received NACOEJ scholarships. schools and taking advantage of all the need help to do it at this crucial juncture. educational, cultural and social activities • 150 students in the program their schools offer. They receive an Great Results successfully graduated from high education that increases their chance of school. passing college entrance exams, which, A high percentage of NACOEJ- in turn, greatly increases the probability supported students study on a full • Funds received through the of good jobs in the future. matriculation track and the numbers program totaled $143,312. of those graduating with full 228 sponsors participated. matriculation has increased in recent
NACOEJ scholarships have been instrumental in enabling the following students (among thousands of others) to excel and serve as role models for the entire Ethiopian community.
Tzlil Leijashel to complete my math and Yaacov and is concerned about is the only physics studies successfully Temenu, helping others. Last summer, Ethiopian student so I can do just that.” She although a presentation on the dangers in her class also volunteers as a counselor only in of alcohol abuse made such at Omanuyot, for Hashomer Hatzair (a eighth grade an impact on him that he Ashkelon’s Zionist youth movement) in the ORT helped start a group called prestigious High School for and participates in a program Rehovot School, is already “Youth Against Alcohol and the Arts. Tzlil excels in both called “Salam to the World” serious about his future. In Drugs”. He is also an official her academic studies and her that brings together Israeli seventh grade he attended spokesperson for the “Say dance program at Omanuyot and Bedouin teenagers. an after-school program to No to Drugs and Yes to Life” and says, “My dream is to be improve his study skills. program. an architect, and I want Yaacov is one of ten children,
8 NACOEJ/Vidal Sassoon Adopt-A-Student College Sponsorship
in university life, and get current sponsors and recruit new ones. their degrees. NEW PROGRAM: Barney’s Books Student Successes In 2010, NACOEJ proudly introduced An increasing number an exciting new venture, at the initiation of undergraduate of long-time AAS sponsors Barney and students in the AAS Rachel Gottstein. The program, called program are qualifying Barney’s Books, provides children’s for the most demanding books to AAS students, who bring them majors in universities, home to read to their younger siblings, attending high-level encouraging them to learn to read. academic colleges and (Children’s books are very expensive in pursuing degrees in Israel, unaffordable to most Ethiopian fields such as computer families.) In addition to reading to and science, medicine, law, with their siblings, AAS students in Giving Students Opportunities engineering, physics and the program have read Barney’s Books chemistry. to children living in shelters and in For over twenty years, the NACOEJ/ NACOEJ Limudiah classes. Barney’s Vidal Sassoon Adopt-A-Student (AAS) The number of AAS students studying Books has already generated great College Sponsorship Program has for advanced degrees has grown. enthusiasm on the part of AAS students given Ethiopian college students the Almost a third of the students studying and children alike. support they need to make it through for advanced degrees completed their school. While the first three years of Master’s degrees in the 2009-10 school college tuition are covered by the Israeli year. AAS alumnae are entering virtually The 2000-10 School Year: every major professional field in Israel. government for some Ethiopian-Israelis, • 402 Ethiopian college students must pay for their own living In fact, this year three medical students graduated from the AAS program, students received AAS expenses, including rent, food, and sponsorships. transportation as well as expensive books the first group in over a decade. AAS and other educational supplies. sponsorships were especially pivotal for • 117 AAS students graduated. these students, whose intense schedules This places a heavy financial burden during medical school made it difficult • Funds received through the on Ethiopian-Israeli students, whose for them to work part time, even if jobs program totaled $384,428; parents are almost never able to help were available. 155 sponsors participated. them. In too many cases, students drop Challenges • AAS students studied in 6 out of college and settle for unskilled universities and 24 academic jobs to support themselves and help their The weak U.S. economy affected the colleges, 8 nursing schools, and 7 families. Without a college degree, these engineering schools. young Ethiopian-Israelis remain trapped ability of some of our sponsors to renew in poverty. AAS scholarships provide their support. Increasing costs of tuition, • 34 AAS students studied for Ethiopian college students with a modest educational supplies and living expenses advanced degrees; 13 have now monthly living stipend that makes it in Israel keep Ethiopian-Israeli college graduated. possible for them to attend Israel’s best students struggling to fund their higher universities and colleges, participate fully education. We make every effort to retain Spotlight on NACOEJ Adopt-A-Students making their mark in Israel and around the world:
Hadas Ethiopia and was one of only Germao Mengistu, a 2007 Nani Melaku won first place Malada- two Israelis chosen to take alumnus of the AAS pro- in a national drawing compe- Mitzri just part in a special program in gram, recently won first place tition held by Israel’s Student received her pediatric emergency medi- in a prestigious short story Authority for immigrant medical degree cine in Canada. While still competition held by Haaretz students. “More than from Ben- a medical student, she put newspaper. anything,” Nani says, “it’s Gurion University. Hadas’ together a Hebrew-Amharic important that my little interests extend through help- pocket dictionary for Israeli brother and sister are proud ing the Ethiopian community medical students, to help of me and won’t be afraid in Israel to global concerns. Israeli doctors improve com- to dream. After all, dreams Last year, Hadas served in munication with Ethiopian sometimes come true!” a hospital in Addis Ababa, patients.
9 Combined Statement of Financial Position
10 Combined Statement of Activities
11 Thank You to Our Supporters! Thank You to Our Supporters!
Institutional funding over $200: Selwyn & Barbara Karp Philantropic Fund Arthur & Edith Stern Family Foundation The Hodes-Rohde Fund Pinnacle Gardens Foundation Gottstein Family Foundation Savitt Family Foundation Congregation Orach Chaim W.F. Combined Jewish Philanthropies Harvey and Ruth Gelfenbein Charitable Trust The Jewish Reconstructionist Society of the N. Shore Peachy & Mark Levy Family Fund Philip Goldrich Living Trust Morton B. & Blanche S. Prince Philanthropic Fund Gerald M. & Carolyn Z. Bronstein Fund The Morris J. and Betty Kaplun Foundation The W. Fund Jewish Community Board of Akron, Inc. The Burton G. and Anne C. Greenblatt Foundation The DM Charitable Trust Moriah Fund Joseph Pomerantz Trust JDC-PACT The Vidal Sassoon Foundation Temple Beth El The Ted Arison Family Foundation Victor Family Foundation Richard and Barbara Braun Fund The Madav IX Foundation The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Tiferet Center The J & S Michaan Foundation Temple Sinai Boeing International Corporation- Israel, Boeing Company Paula & Jerry Gottesman Philanthropic Fund Charitable Trust Kopp Family Trust The Sobell Foundation Westchester Jewish Center The Abraham and Sonia Rochlin Foundation The Robert A. Sugarman Charitable Fund Glencore Society for Education and Welfare Harris-Shapiro Family Philanthropic Fund The Ministry for Immigrant Absorption Stratton - Petit Foundation The Ministry of Education Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County The Municipality of Ramla Hamond Family Foundation The Municipality of Nes Tziona Vollmer Family Foundation The Municipality of Rishon LeZion Glickenhaus Foundation The Israel Association of Community Centers’ PELE Louis J. & Ruth G. Herr Foundation Program Michael & Deborah Braunstein Charity Fund Fabrangen Tzedakah Collective Goulston & Storrs Fiduciary Account Hyman & Esther Burstein Foundation Temple Shaari Emeth Nathaniel D. & Golda Berlin Charitable Fund The Markowitz Family Trust Lincoln Financial Group Virginia & Norton Sharpe Fund David & Edith Katz Philanthropic Memorial Fund Richard S. & Lois Gunther Family Foundation Milford & Lee Bohm Charitable Foundation Kavod The Skirball Foundation Kehillath Shalom Synagogue Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties Ebenezer Hilfsfonds Deutschland e.V. Alan & Myra Rosenberg Charitable Trust The Marian P. Gelfand Fund Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger Altronix Corporation The Litwin Foundation Kaiserman Company, Inc. Jewish Philanthropic Fund of Ellen & Marshall Cole Zoller Family Philanthropic Fund The Nathan & Helen Kohler Foundation Jacobson Charitable Foundation The Kline Family Foundation The Susan Klingenstein Fund Albert B. Glickman Family Foundation Temple Sinai Albert B. & Audrey G. Ratner Family Foundation Temple Emanuel Congregation The Charitable Lead Trust of Harry Stern Slocum Realty Corporation Pincus Paul Charitable Trust Kenneth A. Lattman Foundation, Inc. Rita S. Gold Foundation Abdela Foundation Webkinz Foundation Ronald J. & Carole A. Fox Fund The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation Wachter Family Philanthropic Fund The Halley & Ruth Anne Faust Family Fund Peninsula Temple Sholom Tides Foundation Edward and Phyllis Zissman Family Philanthropic Fund British Friends of NACOEJ Robin Family Fund Queens Village Jewish Center Altman - Aronow Charitable Foundation Alan & Jane Cornell Philanthropic Fund Temple Sinai Religious School Traditional Congregation of Creve Coeur Temple Isaiah Spicerack Rebecca Sparks Philanthropic Fund Morris & Sylvia Trachten Family Foundation Winer Family Fund The Anna & Emanuel Weinstein Foundation Jewish Federation of Fort Worth/Tarrant County United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Tikvah Trust Jeff & Doris Goldstein Family Philanthropic Fund CLSJ Foundation Adath Jeshurun Congregation Fain Malsky Charitable Foundation The Purple Lady/Barbara J. Meslin Fund Alan B. Slifka Foundation, Inc. West End Synagogue Hillcrest Jewish Center Amcha for Tsedakah Deborah & David Kahn Charitable Fund
12 Thank You to Our Supporters! Thank You to Our Supporters!
Institutional funding over $200: Selwyn & Barbara Karp Philantropic Fund Arthur & Edith Stern Family Foundation The Hodes-Rohde Fund Pinnacle Gardens Foundation Gottstein Family Foundation Savitt Family Foundation Congregation Orach Chaim W.F. Combined Jewish Philanthropies Harvey and Ruth Gelfenbein Charitable Trust The Jewish Reconstructionist Society of the N. Shore Peachy & Mark Levy Family Fund Philip Goldrich Living Trust Morton B. & Blanche S. Prince Philanthropic Fund Gerald M. & Carolyn Z. Bronstein Fund The Morris J. and Betty Kaplun Foundation The W. Fund Jewish Community Board of Akron, Inc. The Burton G. and Anne C. Greenblatt Foundation The DM Charitable Trust Moriah Fund Joseph Pomerantz Trust JDC-PACT The Vidal Sassoon Foundation Temple Beth El The Ted Arison Family Foundation Victor Family Foundation Richard and Barbara Braun Fund The Madav IX Foundation The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Tiferet Center The J & S Michaan Foundation Temple Sinai Boeing International Corporation- Israel, Boeing Company Paula & Jerry Gottesman Philanthropic Fund Charitable Trust Kopp Family Trust The Sobell Foundation Westchester Jewish Center The Abraham and Sonia Rochlin Foundation The Robert A. Sugarman Charitable Fund Glencore Society for Education and Welfare Harris-Shapiro Family Philanthropic Fund The Ministry for Immigrant Absorption Stratton - Petit Foundation The Ministry of Education Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County The Municipality of Ramla Hamond Family Foundation The Municipality of Nes Tziona Vollmer Family Foundation The Municipality of Rishon LeZion Glickenhaus Foundation The Israel Association of Community Centers’ PELE Louis J. & Ruth G. Herr Foundation Program Michael & Deborah Braunstein Charity Fund Fabrangen Tzedakah Collective Goulston & Storrs Fiduciary Account Hyman & Esther Burstein Foundation Temple Shaari Emeth Nathaniel D. & Golda Berlin Charitable Fund The Markowitz Family Trust Lincoln Financial Group Virginia & Norton Sharpe Fund David & Edith Katz Philanthropic Memorial Fund Richard S. & Lois Gunther Family Foundation Milford & Lee Bohm Charitable Foundation Kavod The Skirball Foundation Kehillath Shalom Synagogue Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties Ebenezer Hilfsfonds Deutschland e.V. Alan & Myra Rosenberg Charitable Trust The Marian P. Gelfand Fund Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger Altronix Corporation The Litwin Foundation Kaiserman Company, Inc. Jewish Philanthropic Fund of Ellen & Marshall Cole Zoller Family Philanthropic Fund The Nathan & Helen Kohler Foundation Jacobson Charitable Foundation The Kline Family Foundation The Susan Klingenstein Fund Albert B. Glickman Family Foundation Temple Sinai Albert B. & Audrey G. Ratner Family Foundation Temple Emanuel Congregation The Charitable Lead Trust of Harry Stern Slocum Realty Corporation Pincus Paul Charitable Trust Kenneth A. Lattman Foundation, Inc. Rita S. Gold Foundation Abdela Foundation Webkinz Foundation Ronald J. & Carole A. Fox Fund The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation Wachter Family Philanthropic Fund The Halley & Ruth Anne Faust Family Fund Peninsula Temple Sholom Tides Foundation Edward and Phyllis Zissman Family Philanthropic Fund British Friends of NACOEJ Robin Family Fund Queens Village Jewish Center Altman - Aronow Charitable Foundation Thank you! Alan & Jane Cornell Philanthropic Fund Temple Sinai Religious School Traditional Congregation of Creve Coeur Temple Isaiah Spicerack Rebecca Sparks Philanthropic Fund Morris & Sylvia Trachten Family Foundation Winer Family Fund The Anna & Emanuel Weinstein Foundation Jewish Federation of Fort Worth/Tarrant County Amsegenalehu! United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Tikvah Trust Jeff & Doris Goldstein Family Philanthropic Fund CLSJ Foundation Adath Jeshurun Congregation Fain Malsky Charitable Foundation The Purple Lady/Barbara J. Meslin Fund Alan B. Slifka Foundation, Inc. West End Synagogue Hillcrest Jewish Center Amcha for Tsedakah Deborah & David Kahn Charitable Fund
13 Board of Directors and Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY BOARD
Jonathan Giesberg* Herbert Berman, Esq.* Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Rabbi Albert Plotkin Founding President Dr. Ernest Bloch Honorary Chairperson Gary Polland Gail Carp Rabbi Lawrence Raphael Barbara Ribakove Gordon Evelyn Deitchman* Cyrus Abbe Barbara Reader Founder & Executive Director Rabbi Jerome Epstein Hon. Gary Ackerman Seymour D. Reich Solomon Ezra Dr. Jacob Birnbaum Glenn Richter President Jeremy Feit Kathryn R. Bloom Irwin B. Robins Evely Laser Shlensky Joseph Feit Devorah Brooks Deborah Schiller Rosalimsky Barbara Gaffin Martin Chasin Menachem Rosensaft Tzvi Bar-Shai Middie Giesberg Rabbi Abraham Cooper Lesli Koppelman Ross Treasurer Richard A. Giesberg Marsha J. Croland Anita O. Rothfeld Rabbi Jeffrey L. Glickman Ed Eitches Dr. Joan L. Schiff Harlan T. Jacobs Sanford Goldhaber Rabbi Harvey Fields Rabbi Alexander Schindler* Secretary Deborah J. Goldstein Lucille Kuttler Geller Dr. Harris Schoenberg Rachel Gottstein Rabbi Lynn Goldstein Rabbi Allen Schwartz Faye D. Lieman Dr. Ruth Gruber Rabbi Dr. Irving Greenberg Allen Schwartz Board Chairperson Kenneth S. Kaiserman Eli Halpern Irving Shillman Abraham Katsman David Harris Monica Siegel Rochelle Larkin* Eve Hartheimer* Rabbi David Silber Peachy Levy Lynn Hazan Benjamin Susman Robert E. Lichtman Roger J. Herz Gary Tolchinsky Lindsey Mayerfeld David L. Hyman Albert Vorspan Barak Raviv Golda Kaufman* Rabbi Alfred Wolf* Roen Salem Jay Luger, D.V.M. Beth Wohlgelernter Vidal Sassoon Ruth Messinger Dr. Joel Wolowelsky Lisa R. Schachner Rabbi Craig Miller Murray Wood Sidney Stern* Michael Monheit Rabbi Ari Zivotofsky, Ph.D Richard Tell Hon. Daniel P. Moynihan* Dr. Judith Wolf Pesia Derin Paolucci * Deceased Caryn Huberman Yacowitz
STAFF
U.S. Staff Barbara Ribakove Gordon, Executive Director Orlee Guttman, Director of Operations Caroline Barg, Director of Communications Nelya Danielova, Office Manager Judy Dick, Coordinator of Educational Programs Gary Metzger, Director of Community Relations and Special Projects Miriam Weissman, U.S. Coordinator of Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning Lauren Yokèd, Director of Donor and Foundation Relations
Israel Staff Shoshana Ben-Dor, Director of NACOEJ-Israel Yehudit Abramson, Israel Coordinator of AAS College Sponsorship Program Leah Barkai, Israel Coordinator of High School Sponsorship Program and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning Marta Baynesay, Administrative and Accounting Assistant Yonatan Pulik, Translator and Grant Writer Alice Salem, Administrative Assistant to the Director Eti Shitrit, Administrative Director, Israel Kassahun Wondie, Coordinator of Outreach and Special Projects in Israel
2010 Annual Report designed and edited by Lauren Yokèd
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North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) 255 West 36th Street, Suite 701, New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-233-5200 Fax: 212-233-5243 Website: www.nacoej.org Email: [email protected]
Established in 1982, the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) is the only organization exclusively committed to the welfare of Ethiopian Jews in both Ethiopia and Israel.
NACOEJ is a registered non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status.