WINTER 2017

Dear in Ramla because many of the children one of the towns I discussed (without there have parents who grew up in our naming it) in my Emergency letter. Members of Limudiot, and find they can help their the NACOEJ children just like other Israeli parents. I told you in that letter that this town has had a sudden influx of immigrant Family, Also, many upper-grade Ramla children families; most of the parents have no s this year ends tell us they can manage on their own now Hebrew; and the kids, spread around in and another and we're thrilled. Mission accomplished. a number of schools, seem completely A lost. We will try to find them. begins, I want to say In one Ramla school, though, we’ve right from the start that we've been been urged to stay at least for grades Of course, I am happy that we can blessed – always – with the most loyal one through four, and we will. And teach around 480 children like this supporters imaginable – you, with this some Ramla parents are asking us for little boy this school year. Lifeline in your hand, and so many a “parenting program” to help others like you – who have enabled us them help their kids – and we to do our work for Ethiopian Jews. have some money tucked away As I write this note, I don’t yet know for that. how many of you will have responded – But, in two other towns, we’ve or how generously – to the Emergency closed our programs for less letter about the Limudiah I sent you. happy reasons. We’ve worked But first reports are coming in and in one for 18 years, but have based on experience, I’m feeling good. never received serious funding from them, and the Ministry of If you haven’t yet sent your end-of- Education has urged us and all year gift, please do. Join the blessed other educational charities there folks making it possible for hundreds to “Walk out. They have plenty of of Ethiopian children in Israel to find a money to fund you!” But, I’d be a lot happier if the Ministry of place in our Limudiah classes. Education would match their praise of So, we (and others) have obeyed. If you’ve already done that, and you the Limudiah, and their urging of us to can still send something extra for the It doesn’t make us happy, and at least expand, with funding so we could do it. hungriest littlest ones still in Ethiopia, it one school principal recently phoned I’ll let you know if, when, and how we will help us feed them. our Jerusalem office in dismay, become able to take in more children wailing: “You mean you’re really this school year. Here’s where we not coming back??” stand with the I’m going to end this note with a look Limudiah now. In the other town where we around the world. closed, a new civil administration We’re not going insisted we must work in a new It’s not a pretty sight. What with floods to have as many way we consider bad for the children in Limudiah and hurricanes, wildfires and mass children, so we left. this school year shootings, with politics run amok, and tragic refugees everywhere, you and I, (2017/18) as last Happily, we’re still in Lod, all of us, must rightfully feel we have year. That’s partly Rishon LeZion, Kiryat Ekron, responsibilities in many places. We because we’ve cut Ramla and, in a very small way, back our programs just a few children, in Bat Yam, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

NACOEJ 255 W. 36TH ST. SUITE 701 NEW YORK, NY 10018 212-233-5200 FAX: 212-233-5243 EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.NACOEJ.ORG 2 NACOEJ HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SPONSORSHIPS CHANGE THE WORLD Mea Culpa from Barbara… have a mea culpa to make. investment, isn’t it? A kid who can ace a few sentences in each: her graduation tests, parents who II've been neglecting to remind “I hope that you will continue experienced “financial stability” – and to sponsor and give to more you about our sponsorship students siblings who got better parenting. in high school and college, and the people who need your help,” hundreds of others waiting, hoping, The second letter Karen showed me wrote Hywot, who is soon to praying to find a sponsor of their own. was from Michal Tegave, a nursing graduate from high school. student at Ben-Gurion University, to “Your sponsorship helps They matter, too. Very much! her sponsor, Sandy Gottstein. teenagers raise their grades and focus on their studies, instead Karen Gens, our New York Director of Michal told Sandy that her of thinking how to pay for Sponsorship Programs (and herself a generous sponsorship helps school…” long-time sponsor), just showed me her continue with her studies. a couple of letters from students to “I study during all the days “In the future”, wrote Michal their sponsors. One was from Hywot of the week,” she wrote, “and to Sandy, “I hope to be on the Guvena, in 12th grade in high school, I also work while I study to giving side rather than the to her sponsor, Ronald Hyman. provide for myself. Thanks to receiving one. May there be Hywot wrote that she wanted to your scholarship I can work more people like you to help thank Ronald “from the bottom fewer shifts and invest more those with little means.” of my heart. in the studies…that allows me Amen to that! to advance and succeed in the “Your sponsorship”, she future”. And let me not forget Hywot’s went on, “helped me and my remark that: “I believe that family both financially and She went on to say that her when a person sponsors, he or emotionally…You helped me get immigrant parents, who she is also rewarded and filled through the matriculation exam didn’t know Hebrew and had with satisfaction.” period with peace of mind… “difficulties” in adjusting to Israel, always encouraged Our sponsors say Hywot's right. “For the past three years, Michal and her siblings, “to my parents were relieved to So – if Hywot’s and Michal’s words, learn, acquire an education know that they will receive bring more sponsors to the high and succeed so we will have a help paying for my tuition schools and colleges where so many expenses…Thanks to the fact better life. bright young Ethiopian Israelis are that you made the financial “My mother,” she said, “has waiting and hoping to hear from you burden more manageable, my been raising us on her own – I will feel, thankfully, forgiven. parents were able to pay more because my father passed careful attention to my younger away, and she doesn’t have the Just contact Karen at 212-233-5200, ext. 230 or email her at education@ siblings, and experienced a means to help me…” nacoej.org  financial stability.” and she will help you. What touched me most, That’s a pretty good return on a $350 reading the letters, were An important article by our friend, MK Avraham Neguise, has appeared in "The Times of Israel". You can scan this QR code to access it on the NACOEJ website Congratulations to… or go to www.nacoej.org/llol-28. NACOEJ's new Board Chairperson Susan Giesberg England, to recover after WWII, and are awarded to and husband David Lappen on their son Joshua's outstanding young American scholars. Our heartiest having been named a recipient of the 2018 Marshall congratulations to Joshua's brother Michael; and of Scholarship to study for up to three years at Oxford course to Joshua (who used to sell his grandmother University, all expenses paid by the British government. Middie Giesberg's home-made brownies to his These extremely prestigious scholarships honor the elementary school classmates to raise funds for U.S. Marshall Plan which enabled Europe, including NACOEJ).

NACOEJ 255 W. 36TH ST. SUITE 701 NEW YORK, NY 10018 212-233-5200 FAX: 212-233-5243 EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.NACOEJ.ORG 3 NACOEJ HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SPONSORSHIPS CHANGE THE WORLD The Long, Long Lists We are oth our NACOEJ/Edward G. Victor High School Proud… Sponsorship Program and our NACOEJ/Barney &B Rachel Landau Gottstein Adopt-a-Student n 2010, we College Sponsorship Program (AAS) have long, wrote to you long waiting lists of young Ethiopian Israelis aboutI Dr. Avi hoping with all their hearts for sponsors. Yitzhak, a former AAS student who And for good reason. headed an IDF Our High School Sponsorship Program enables field hospital in Col. Dr. Avi Yitzhak (left) and Chief of Staff Gadi Ethiopian-Israeli teens to go to good local high Haiti following Eizenkot (right). Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit schools, rather than be separated from their the devastating was wounded in the Second families in lower-level, state-subsidized boarding earthquake that ravaged that Lebanon War, and as chief schools. country. medical officer for the Gaza The problem is that though the government Now Dr. Yitzhak, head of the Division during Operation covers tuition in local high schools, the schools Combat Medical Branch in the Pillar of Defense in 2012, he charge extra, compulsory fees for essentials like Medical Corps, is in the news saved the life of a wounded educational school trips, taking special courses, again and we are so proud. He Lieutenant Colonel. and other things Ethiopian families can’t pay for. recently became a Colonel in He is married, has four children A sponsorship enables an Ethiopian girl or boy to the Israel Defense Forces, the and lives in Beersheba. "I participate and learn “just like all the other kids”, first Ethiopian Israeli to achieve always felt the responsibility and (as Hywot says), takes a huge burden off the this rank. whole family. of representing the Ethiopian In conferring the rank, Chief community," Yitzhak told Israel Our AAS Program for college students lets a of Staff Gadi Eizenkot said Hayom in 2016. sponsor provide a modest but essential living that: "Every officer at this "I was the first student from stipend that covers students’ most basic needs for level represents over 20 food, rent, transportation, textbooks and more, the community to study years of service. Each one which government tuition grants do not provide. medicine in Israel and I believe, has a story. Nevertheless, ultimately, that everything is Most Ethiopian families cannot help their students Colonel Avi Yitzhak is a dependent on the individual financially, and too many have had to drop out ground-breaker." and the sky is the limit." of college for want of money for rent and food – Col. Dr. Avi Yitzhak was born in losing the opportunity to get the degree that will Both Dr. Yitzhak and his wife, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where change their lives. Zehava, were AAS students. he began studying medicine at By becoming a sponsor, you will shorten those 16 years old. Shoshana Ben-Dor, NACOEJ painful waiting lists and give another young Israel Director, has a quote He moved to Israel at the Ethiopian Israeli a chance to reach academic from him sitting on her desk: age of 19, mastered Hebrew success and a bright future. “One works hard, but there are in a year, and went on to get Please become a NACOEJ sponsor this school fruits". a degree in medicine from year. It’s not too late. Ben-Gurion University, during In regard to the help he Call Karen Gens at 212-233-5200, ext. 230 or email which time he also became a received from AAS, Dr. Yitzhak to [email protected] – and ask friends and medic and an officer in the IDF. has said: “I am one of them and family to join you as sponsors as well! I am not ashamed to say it.". He then enlisted as a battalion You'll change a student’s life – and yours will too. doctor in a special unit in the Mazel Tov Col. Dr. Yitzhak, Together, let’s shorten those sad waiting lists.  Paratroopers Brigade. He we are proud of you! 

NACOEJ 255 W. 36TH ST. SUITE 701 NEW YORK, NY 10018 212-233-5200 FAX: 212-233-5243 EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.NACOEJ.ORG NACOEJ 255 W. 36TH ST. SUITE 701 NEW YORK, NY 10018 212-233-5200 FAX: 212-233-5243 EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.NACOEJ.ORG 4

“You came to this land as an immigrant. You became one of its defenders.”Israel Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan

“He put himself in front of guards who also gave their lives to protect the people of the terrorist. He stopped him, Har Adar. even as his own life was taken.” Solomon left behind a heartbroken girl friend who These words were spoken by called him, “…the best person I knew”. Speaking as Israeli Public Security Minister though Solomon was beside her, she said: “You never Gilad Erdan, at the funeral of complained. You were a warrior. A hero, my hero.” His Solomon Gavriyah, age 20. sister tried to speak for the grieving family at the funeral Solomon was an Ethiopian- but broke down in tears. Israeli border policeman who was killed by a terrorist this Member of Knesset Avraham Neguise said at the past September as he helped funeral that the people of Israel and the Israeli-Ethiopian defend the community of Har Adar near Jerusalem. community, “lost one of our great heroes”. Solomon, who came to Israel from Ethiopia as a child, Boaz Ellison, an EMT who has worked for 30 years for lived in Beer Yaakov with his family. Both he and his sister Magen David Adom, Israel's medical emergency service, attended our NACOEJ Limudiah program there. was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the terror attack. He treated the victims and later realized he had Solomon, who was posthumously promoted to Staff- treated Solomon the year before at the same place. Sergeant, was devoted to Israel with an unparalleled passion. “This is the first time that I have come across the same victim at different attacks,” said Ellison. “Last time, my Just a year before, he had been wounded in another treatment was effective but to my sorrow, this time, I was terrorist attack in the same area. Once he was healed, unable to save him.” he came right back to his former post, determined to continue to serve his country. NACOEJ mourns Staff-Sergeant Solomon Gavriyah, a true hero of Israel and the Jewish People.  He died a hero of Israel, alongside two security Don’t forget to consider leaving a bequest to NACOEJ in your will. It will carry your good work on behalf of Ethiopian Jews into the future, meeting the very real needs of this very special Dear Members… community of Jews. Thank you. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

have to respond to them, and, of course, we do. get much publicity. Many people barely know they exist. So if we don’t help them, who will? But, as you make your end-of-year decisions, I hope that like me, you will keep two special things in mind. One Let me close with this: All we truly need is for you is that where it comes to Ethiopian Jews, and especially to go on being your wonderful selves – as you have the children, hungry for learning, starving for food, every always been. With a heart full of love, thanks and penny makes a very big difference. hope, I send you my deepest good wishes for a better, happier, more fulfilling New Year. And the other is that, alas, our Ethiopian children don’t

LIFELINE • WINTER 2017 • ISSUE NO: 89 • LIFELINE IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES ANNUALLY.

NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE We’ve noticed recently... ON ETHIOPIAN JEWRY ...that some checks in response to Lifeline mailings have been made out to Lifeline. Unfortunately, we cannot cash BOARD CHAIRPERSON: Susan Giesberg TREASURER: Mitchell Kaplan checks made out this way, so please be sure to make out PRESIDENT: Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein SECRETARY: Sanford Goldhaber your check to NACOEJ. And thank you so very much for all you do to help Ethiopian Jews in Israel and Ethiopia. VICE PRESIDENT: Deborah Goldstein EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Barbara Ribakove

NACOEJ 255 W. 36TH ST. SUITE 701 NEW YORK, NY 10018 212-233-5200 FAX: 212-233-5243 EMAIL: [email protected] WWW.NACOEJ.ORG