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NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON ETHIOPIAN JEWRY

WINTER 2011 Out of Poverty – in One Generation? e recently reported that 72% of WEthiopian children in Israel are living below the poverty line; then along came another study that said that 65% of Ethiopian-Israeli children are living below the poverty line. That sounds hopeful. “But,” said Shoshana Ben-Dor, our Director of Israel Programs, “the poverty line is set so low that if you are a little above it, you’re still very poor. So the numbers don’t matter so much.” What does matter is getting up and out of Photo: Shmulik Klein poverty, no matter where the line is. If you listen to some people, you’ll hear that Ethiopian Israelis are not only poor, but going The Battle Over Ethiopian to be poor for generations to come, caught in what is called a “cycle of poverty”. Aliyah Moves to the Streets But that doesn’t have to be true – and in fact, for Ethiopian Israelis in NACOEJ n Sunday, November 27, 2011, Ethiopian Israelis marched in protest programs, just the opposite is often true: through the streets of Jerusalem, some of them angry, some in tears, a lot are making it out of poverty in just Omany carrying photos of family members whose aliyah was being delayed one generation! – perhaps for years – even though they had been approved to come to Israel. We have teachers in our Limudiah programs The barrier to their arrival wasn’t a religious question, family history, or even who were once pupils in those programs – politics. According to a government committee, headed by the Israeli Ministry of high school kids headed for good colleges Finance, as of January 1, 2012, there would not be any more room for newcomers even though their immigrant parents are in the Jewish Agency’s absorption centers where new immigrants spend their first on welfare or in low-level jobs – college years. graduates moving directly into professional Why not? Because money the government usually provided to buy immigrants careers. their first apartments had run out, so Ethiopians already in the centers weren’t Some are, or will be, making a lot of leaving. money; some may still need some help with So, the aliyah from Ethiopia had to be cut from 200 a month to 110 a month – CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

NACOEJ • 255 WEST 36TH ST. • SUITE 701 • NEW YORK, NY 10018 • 212-233-5200 • FAX: 212-233-5243 • EMAIL: [email protected] • WWW.NACOEJ.ORG 2 3 From CONGRATULATIONS TO… Esther Kasah, • Special NACOEJ friends, Zelda Stern and Blu Greenberg, LIMUDIAH: • NACOEJ former Adopt-A-Student, Knesset Member on being honored by JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Grade 4, Shlomo Molla, on being appointed Deputy Speaker Association, for their work to empower girls and women. Where Learning is Fun! Rambam School, of the Knesset, a great honor to him and the • Lauren Yoked, former Director of Donor Relations and Ethiopian-Israeli community, reflecting Shlomo’s years imudiah is a voluntary program: the children stay after school Lod, Israel Special Projects at NACOEJ New York, on her new position of important work in absorption, directing the Jewish Lbecause they want to, and of course, their parents want them Hi! as Associate Director of Development for American Friends Agency’s Ethiopian projects, and now as a prominent to, too. of Leket Israel – Israel’s National Food Bank. We hated to lose My name is Esther Kasah, Knesset member, committee chairman, and voice of A delicious, nourishing hot lunch is always a motivating factor. So Lauren, but we’re proud of her continuing commitment to and I am in the NACOEJ Ethiopian Israelis in the Israeli government. (See a is getting help with homework because in most Ethiopian homes, th help the poor in Israel. Limudiah in 4 grade in the note from Shlomo in a recent NACOEJ mailing.) the parents can’t help. Rambam School in Lod. I am very happy that you • Danielle Ben-Jehuda, on joining the NACOEJ New York • Rachamim Elazar, on being named as Israel’s next Most important, as the children start to learn successfully in are teaching us new things, and that you guide staff, in charge of Foundations and Donor Relations. Ambassador to Ethiopia. Rachamim, one of the Limudiah, they can also enjoy success in their regular classes. But us in our studies, and help us pass our tests. (She pronounces her name Daniella Ben-Yehuda.) Danielle earliest Ethiopian Jews to reach Israel, has been a they also like Limudiah, because as Esther Kasah says (see box, has a law degree and has worked for a legal defense fund, Also, I like the personal attention I get in the prominent leader of the community, a respected right) they “do fun stuff”. as well as for non-profit development. We’re delighted to Limudiah. Sometimes you do fun stuff with us, journalist, a broadcaster and producer of Amharic Our teachers are encouraged to use games, songs, stories, have her working with us now. outside of the classroom, like when we visit the radio programs, and an early advocate for the rescue colorful supplies and everything their own creativity suggests to • NACOEJ volunteer Karen Gens on being awarded a New York computer room. And I like Sarah, Miri, Revital, of the community in Ethiopia and for recognition of make learning (one-on-one or as a class) fun. Happy children like our teachers, and Shoshana. It is always great Jews who suffered as Prisoners of Zion in Ethiopia. 2011 Encore Fellowship. Karen is serving her fellowship at to learn, and keep coming back for more. And your support of HELP/PSI, serving as Marketing Director. And congratulations to see her. If you ask me who is the best teacher, He has now become the first Ethiopian Israeli to be the NACOEJ Limudiah program will help us create more and more I couldn’t say because they are all equally good. named an Ambassador. to us because Karen is still managing to give us one day a happy children who love to learn and who will succeed in school, week in our New York office! paving the way to bright futures. Esther

Caring for the Future Today… OUT OF POVERTY | CONT. FROM PAGE 1 THINGS WE LIKE ABOUT LIMUDIAH o each of you reading this Together we have achieved so much. their children’s education – but neither CHILDREN IN GEDERA, REHOVOT, RAMLA, AND KIRYAT EKRON Tnewsletter, we extend our thanks But there is still a great deal of work they nor their children will be “cycling for your unceasing generosity and to be done to ensure that this ancient poverty”. compassion. You are the backbone of community of Jews, many of whom are What makes the difference? NACOEJ’s ability to assist Ethiopian still arriving, can fulfill their dreams in We all know the answer: education. Jews. modern Israel. NACOEJ programs in Israel give, For those Ethiopian Jews who have As you continue your generous enhance, and enable education, and reached Israel, and for many born support of NACOEJ’s work today, we do it effectively. in Israel to immigrant parents, your ask you to give thought to extending At a recent Knesset meeting, support means the opportunity to your partnership into the future. someone complained that the achieve the education that will enable By remembering NACOEJ in your will, government doesn’t spend enough on them to forge productive futures. It you enable Ethiopian Jews who are still Ethiopian absorption. makes it possible for them to become on their way to Israel to get educational Knesset member and Deputy independent, to care for their families, opportunities when they arrive. You Speaker Shlomo Molla, himself an to be the kind of citizens of Israel they ensure that those already in Israel can Ethiopian immigrant, responded that want to be. achieve their tremendous potential. the government spends more on In a Limudiah class, there’s time In Limudiah, if you give an excited yelp when you Sometimes help comes from a friend A simple instruction in your will Ethiopian absorption than on any other to think through a problem, and get an answer, no one scolds you! who speaks both of your languages! someone to help if you get stuck. (Ed. Note: Sarah Getahun, once a naming NACOEJ can change the future immigrant group, but, said Shlomo, JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! junior counselor in our Back-to-School the money is not always well spent; it Join NACOEJ on Facebook and receive news about our for many Ethiopian-Israeli children and program in Ramla, is now a student- programs and updates of immediate interest relating families. On their behalf, we offer our should be “invested wisely in projects teacher at our Kiryat Ekron Limudiah. to the Ethiopian-Jewish community. profound gratitude. that encourage excellence”. Two Ethiopian-Israeli certified teachers Go to www.facebook.com and enter NACOEJ in the If you have any questions about Shlomo understands. He received are on our staff there, too.) Search bar to get to our page. Once there, please “Like” specific NACOEJ programs you may help from NACOEJ on his way up, and us by clicking the LIKE button. wish to designate, or just want to wants other young Ethiopian Israelis to And in Limudiah, have the benefit of our programs. you find out what Any questions? Please call Judy Dick at 212-233-5200, let us know your plans, please contact That’s what we want, too. And this your parents mean ext. 230 or email [email protected]. Danielle Ben-Jehuda at 212-233-5200, ext. 227 or email to dbenjehuda@ Lifeline is full of ways you can help when they talk so nacoej.org. If you have legal ques- Ethiopian Jews by supporting NACOEJ. wistfully about the “joy of learning”. LIFELINE • DECEMBER 2011 • ISSUE NO: 72 tions, please consult your attorney, Together, we’ll help more thousands Lifeline is published three times annually. accountant or financial advisor. Thank get up and out of poverty. NACOEJ • 255 West 36th St. • New York, NY 10018 you so much. Yes, in one generation! Sometimes a good buddy gives you a hand!

NACOEJ • 255 WEST 36TH ST. • SUITE 701 • NEW YORK, NY 10018 • 212-233-5200 • FAX: 212-233-5243 • EMAIL: [email protected] • WWW.NACOEJ.ORG NACOEJ • 255 WEST 36TH ST. • SUITE 701 • NEW YORK, NY 10018 • 212-233-5200 • FAX: 212-233-5243 • EMAIL: [email protected] • WWW.NACOEJ.ORG 4 5 HIGH SCHOOL/ADOPT-A-STUDENT High School Success Stories High School Kids Needing Sponsors TIGIST BITAU: They’re doing well in high school, that she applied to the Faculty of and they all have high school Dentistry rather than continuing in Hard Choices BAREKET She Wins Again! sponsorships from a NACOEJ sponsor music. More and more brilliant, talented, extraordinary girls and boys keep showing MELEDE: Remember Tigist, the (who prefers to remain anonymous). Music had been her great love as a up in the Ethiopian-Israeli community. We’ve made hard choices to present A Most Gifted little girl who made just two of their stories, so please remember there are more young people, just Tigist is too appreciative of the help young girl, and NACOEJ sponsorships Young Man big headlines when, in given by this generous sponsor to ask had helped her (and her talented as remarkable, needing help. Please become a sponsor. fourth grade, she won for anything special for herself. But younger sister Tzlil) to go to Ashkelon’s Bareket Melede, a a 2.5 km race in which we happen to know she does need High School for the Arts. Etti played A VERY SPECIAL FAMILY to Yaniv Gabai, Program Coordinator, very bright seventh- she had mistakenly been something important – the same the piano, sang in a choir that toured Tsega Melaku came to Israel in 1984, he was one of the highest achieving grader, has also been accepted to the put in competition with thing she needed (in a different size!) internationally, participated in a TV an ambitious teenager who knew her students in the program. He now outstanding Hebrew University High much older, bigger girls? back in fourth grade – a new pair of show, and flew to Munich to make mind and was determined to succeed. attends the prestigious Hebrew School in Jerusalem. It is a tremendous Tigist was in our Limudiah after- running shoes for her rapidly growing records, all while making top grades in A NACOEJ/Vidal Sassoon Adopt-A- University High School with the help of achievement for someone from an school educational program in Nes feet. physics and other academic subjects. Student sponsor helped her through NACOEJ high school sponsors Richard immigrant family. Ziona back then. Now she’s a high- And Herzl Petel, the director of the She once wrote to her high school Bar-Ilan University. She then earned Adelman and Loren Greenberg. Bareket’s parents cannot afford the schooler in eighth grade and, along Nes Ziona Sports Association, tells sponsor, author and “Purple Lady” an MBA from Touro College in Israel, But Immanuel has medical issues that costs involved. with nine Ethiopian-Israeli friends, she’s and is now the Director of Israel Radio, us that if Tigist is going to realize her Barbara Meislin, that, “The security have kept him out of school for some Bareket was born in Israel in 1999 to in the NACOEJ/Edward G. Victor High Channel 1, the first Ethiopian great potential, she will need extra situation in Israel is very bad. Playing time. After two years of Frehot and Satau Melede and lives in School Sponsorship Program in the support for training. helps me to go on and function.” to hold that position. wearing a brace for scoliosis, Eliezer Ben-Yehudah High School in the Jerusalem with his parents and his twin Would someone like to be Tigist’s Etti graduated high school with Tsega is also a single this year Immanuel had to sisters, Tal and Shachar. same town. special “sports sponsor” providing grades that entitled her to go to mom with two extremely have major back surgery. This past spring, then in seventh running shoes and/or some extra help college immediately, rather than do bright sons, Immanuel and During his long recovery When Bareket began kindergarten, grade*, Tigist competed in the national for training costs for a little “sports mandatory military service first, but Yonathan, whose high intelli- at home, Immanuel worked he spoke only Amharic, but he was track championships for Israeli schools great”? You can follow her career and decided to go into the military instead. gence calls for a specially hard to keep up. But now speaking Hebrew fluently in no time in the girls’ seventh-to-eighth grade meet her if you go to Israel. Please “I did this,” she explains, “because I good education for both. he needs to take the course and showing a talent for drawing before first grade. By second grade he group. see the contact box for Judy Dick on didn’t feel ready for academic studies. With help from NACOEJ/ Israelis usually attend to was in a special program for very bright Again she won first place, defeating page 6. I wanted to complete my army service Edward G. Victor High School pass the required “Psycho- children and could choose the classes older and stronger competitors from all and learn more about myself.” sponsor Lois Levy, Yonathan metric” college entrance Editor's Note: This past November, Ethiopian he wanted. He chose English, math, over Israel!! women took first and second place in the 2011 has been able to attend a exam. It costs more than She served with distinction in the YONATHAN biology, gym, and computers! Tigist has been called a “sports New York Marathon. One day that may be Tigist Israel Defense Forces’ prestigious intel- good school and participate his mother can pay, but it crossing the finish line! MELAKU great” in Israeli newspapers, and was ligence unit, received commendations, in a basketball program for is Immanuel’s only hope of By third grade he was interacting highly praised by athletic trainers at and did learn more about herself. “My talented players. He plays getting into college now, as with university students who came the competition. They say it’s vital to ETTI military service period shaped and on the Hapoel Jerusalem he cannot serve in the Army to his class to work with the brightest do everything to help her develop as a LEIJASHEL: changed me. I learned a lot about the Youth Team and fits long with his back still healing. children. In fourth grade he was in a program for gifted children at David runner, and be a credit to Israel. A Tale of Two importance of maintaining Jewish practice hours in with his With help from NACOEJ Tigist just says: “I get a lot of com- tradition and the protection of the schoolwork. sponsors, the Melaku family Yellin Academic College of Education, pliments and my family is proud of me.” (or More) State of Israel.” In high school, with has achieved great success. taking science and biology. What Tigist is proud of is her eight Talents After the military, Etti got a high-tech sponsors from our High Might you be the person In fifth grade, Bareket entered the sisters and brothers. “I’m the youngest In 2011, 1400 job, but soon applied for dental school. School program sharing the to give this family member, Alberto program for exceptional at home,” she says, “and I love it when Israelis applied Etti says, “The arts have shaped my cost, Yonathan’s brother, a bright star of the future, children, learning biotechnology and they come home for weekends and for entry to the personality and caused me to be more Immanuel, participated in the helping hand he needs chemistry. In his spare time, he was now? Please contact Judy holidays and we have fun.” Hebrew Univer- intelligent and sensitive to my envir- the Alberto program for IMMANUEL playing soccer, reading extensively Dick (see the box on page 6). Seven of the Ethiopian-Israeli sity’s high-ranked onment. [But] I have also been very gifted students. According MELAKU and, starting in sixth grade, playing youngsters now in the Eliezer Ben- dental school. attracted to medicine and health. I knew guitar. Yehudah High School were in our Only 60 were that I wanted to work in those fields.” This ultra-bright boy, whose future As mentioned earlier, Immanuel and Bareket aren’t the only exceptional Limudiah program, which gave them accepted into the grueling six-year As a NACOEJ Adopt-A-Student spon- can be brilliant, urgently needs a Ethiopian-Israeli students who have been accepted to the Hebrew University a good head start on education. Four course – and Etti Leijashel, who had sor, Barbara Meislin will continue to sponsor now so he can attend the were also in our Bar/Bat Mitzvah been in the NACOEJ/Edward G. Victor help Etti. Given the serious dental High School. There are five more: Seniel Radai, Netanel Desta, Salomon Hebrew University High School where Twinning program, pairing them with High School Sponsorship Program as a problems Ethiopian Jews experience Shefferau, Hayele Tegenie, and Binyamin Guremu. They also urgently need his extraordinary talents will be American boys and girls. teenager, was one of them. when exposed to the sugar-rich Israeli sponsors. To sponsor any of these brilliant young people, see the box on nurtured. Please see the box on page 6 It came as no surprise that brilliant diet, Etti’s future career could help page 6 with contact information for Judy Dick. with contact information. *Some Israeli high schools begin in seventh grade. Etti was a winner – but it was surprising meet a great community need.

Affairs Division PhotographyDepartment Photo: Tel Aviv University Development and Public GETAHUN: Yehudit is a committed young After elementary school, An Asset woman who did National Service as Natan had his pick of local high to Israel a volunteer in a daycare program for schools because his grades immigrant children with language, were so good. He chose a very AVIV GETAHUN knows why Israel emotional, and social problems. In demanding one with the high needs Ethiopian-Israeli social workers. the afternoons she volunteered with academic standards he wanted. With a little help from her friends at needy children in their homes. Far from RACHEL ASSEGIE Then Natan, already “giving NACOEJ, she intends to become one, and help other immigrants through the complaining about the emotionally BINYAMIN back” to his community, vol- draining effort, she says: “This was a GENETU unteered to serve as a junior difficulties she knows personally. very enjoyable period from which I got ASSEGIE counselor to younger children Aviv was born in Ethiopia 22 years a lot of personal satisfaction.” in NACOEJ’s Peachy Levy Back- ago, and spent four of those years in Now on track to become a lawyer, finished high school and is in the army, To-School summer educational Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, Yehudit is truly a shining example of is fascinated by languages. She already day camp. The kids loved him. waiting with her family for permission Ethiopian-Israeli young people making speaks Amharic, Hebrew and English. When Natan, who is religiously to leave for Israel. Young as she was observant, graduated from high then, she still remembers those years. A SINGULAR HONOR the leap in one generation from their To help the family cover the costs Natan, his wife Hodaya, and son Shilo with Shoshana Ben-Dor parents’ traditional rural life in Ethiopia of good education, both Rachel and (at right), NACOEJ Israel Director, in the NACOEJ Sigd tent school, he spent a year and a “Hard. Poverty, persecution and YEHUDIT KABADA is a bright, to academic success in modern, high- Yerushalem have had NACOEJ High where Shoshana teaches Ethiopian liturgy. half studying in a top-flight alienation plagued us,” she says, “but ambitious law student at Tel Aviv tech Israel. And, like many others, she School sponsors, Ken and Ruth Wallis. yeshiva before entering the we were determined to make aliyah – University and a recipient of a NACOEJ/ is doing so with the essential help of Israel Defense Forces in the high-risk and made it!” Vidal Sassoon Adopt-A-Student stipend Not long ago, Binyamin set his NATAN DASTA: Golani Brigade as a combat soldier. the NACOEJ/Vidal Sassoon Adopt-A- sights higher, enrolling in a prestigious The family started their new life in from Alan Sieroty. Growing Up with NACOEJ It’s often hard to keep track of our Student program. nursing degree program at the Israel in an absorption center in Haifa. She is also the first person in students during their years of army We offer Yehudit our heartfelt Hadassah Hospital School. With the The good-looking young man with Eighteen months later they moved to her extended family to study for a service, so when our Israel Director, congratulations on representing help of NACOEJ AAS sponsor Robert the big smile in this photo has literally an apartment in the city, with the usual university degree. Shoshana Ben-Dor, heard that Natan Ethiopian-Jewish students at the Gutman, he graduated this past grown up with NACOEJ. help from a government mortgage Dasta was on the office phone, asking Recently, Yehudit had the honor memorial dedication, and we look summer and has begun work as a program. NATAN DASTA, like his older sister for an AAS sponsor to help him through of speaking on behalf of Ethiopian- forward to her successful future as an nurse at Shaarey Tzedek Hospital in the Ashegaru, came to us while still a medical school at Hebrew University, Aviv had language difficulties Israeli students at the unveiling of a attorney. Geriatric Department. child in Ramla. In NACOEJ’s Limudiah in elementary school, but by high monument on the Tel Aviv University she was ecstatic – first to know that Binyamin is “so very grateful” that program, Natan stood out as bright, school was able to work as a teacher’s campus. Created by sculptor Ron THE ASSEGIES: Natan was safe and sound, second NACOEJ has helped him and his family. sociable, with every sign of leadership assistant in a program for preschoolers. Arad, the monument memorializes that he had been accepted into a very A Family Affair For this hardworking father and his abilities – and an extraordinary aptitude selective program at a top-ranked She graduated high school with full thousands of Ethiopian Jews who set BINYAMIN GENETU ASSEGIE was two daughters, NACOEJ sponsorships for picking up the general knowledge university – and also because, like the matriculation and did National Service out for Israel but never arrived. born in northwestern Ethiopia. As a have been essential to their progress which so many Ethiopian immigrant devoted family member he is, he was in a hospital and as a camp counselor. Yehudit’s grandfather was one of child, he was a shepherd and helped toward successful futures and financial children lack, and which our Limudiah coming to NACOEJ for the helping Now at Haifa University, she wants those. He and Yehudit’s grandmother his parents in the fields. But they saw independence. program works hard to supply. hand he needed. to qualify for admission to the Faculty left Ethiopia in 1984. As Yehudit said that he was exceptional, and made Natan is married (he describes his of Social Work so that she can turn in her speech: “They left their home… sacrifices to get him an education. wife, Hodaya, as "the most wonderful her own experiences into a career for the dream of walking in the streets At 12 Binyamin began elementary woman in the world") and has a one- of helping immigrants with all the of Jerusalem. My grandfather was 75 YOU CAN CHANGE A school an hour’s hike away from his and-a-half-year-old son, Shilo. Like professional skills and knowledge she when they departed and he managed village. Later he went to the nearest YOUNG PERSON’S LIFE most of our medical students who are can absorb. to get across the desert, but died in a high school – 93 miles from his family. To sponsor any of the young married with children, Natan really refugee camp in Sudan. The sculpture If you would like to provide a modest He then went on to the Gondar College people featured in this issue needs two sponsors to help the family honors his memory and the memory of stipend that will help this loving young of Medical and Public Health Sciences. of Lifeline, or other equally survive. We have one splendid sponsor woman get her degree, please consider others who died along the way.” for Natan, and we're eager to find an In 1997 Binyamin and his wife sponsoring her. (See the box on page 6 Yehudit’s parents also left Ethiopia deserving Ethiopian Israelis equally splendid partner-sponsor. To Yekebe made aliyah together, and for contact information.) in 1984, a year of famine. They married in high school or college, establish a beautiful relationship with Binyamin earned a teaching certificate in Israel, where Yehudit, the oldest of please contact Judy Dick at this terrific family, please see the box Editor’s note: Those “hard” years in Addis at the David Yellin Academic College of seven children, was born. The parents on page 6. Ababa are also fresh in our memory at Education. [email protected] or NACOEJ, as we were there too, doing had to cut short their ulpan (Hebrew Editor’s note: We have written before about Binyamin and Yekebe have two [email protected], or call everything in our power to assist the language) studies to support their Natan’s sister Ashegaru, who also grew up daughters, RACHEL and YERU- 212-233-5200, ext. 230. struggling community to survive and live growing family. After serving in the with NACOEJ. To update you, Ashegaru in dignity until they could leave for Israel. SHALEM. Both girls have their sights army, her father found work as a forklift Please refer to the Lifeline Judy Dick, Director of Educational Programs, has graduated as a registered nurse from Social workers who remember those days, operator, and her mother cared for the set on productive futures. Rachel, when you contact Judy. NACOEJ-New York with Vered Wuvshet, a student Shaarey Zedek Hospital with the help of an speak Amharic as well as Hebrew, and know children, also taking jobs whenever who loves animals, wants to be a in Pharmacy at Ben-Gurion University who is AAS sponsor. We do treasure this family, first-hand the difficulties of absorption for THANK YOU! sponsored by Barney and Rachel Gottstein. possible. veterinarian. Yerushalem, who just all of whom “give back”. Ethiopian immigrants, are an asset to Israel.

WHAT’S IN A BATTLE | CONT. FROM PAGE 1 or even stopped altogether. On October CONDOLENCES TO… NAME? 1, 2011, the rate of aliyah was indeed • NACOEJ Advisory Board member reduced. If the lower rate continues, it Marsha Croland, and Marsha’s A lot, if it’s on a would add at least an extra year onto the mother Jeanne Croland, on the NACOEJ program. three-year aliyah the government, the loss of Robert Croland, Marsha’s Agency, and NACOEJ had agreed to back dear brother, Jeanne’s beloved Naming a NACOEJ program in in 2010. son. The Croland family have been Israel is a beautiful way to honor dear friends and supporters to family, friends, or departed ones, But according to some Jewish Agency officials, in fact there would be many NACOEJ and the Ethiopian-Jewish or to perpetuate your own name hundreds of beds available on January 1, community for many years, and as one who cares about fellow 2012, certainly enough to continue the established the first Ethiopian Jews in the Promised Land. aliyah at a rate of 200 a month for many synagogue in Israel, in Beer Sheva, We are proud to list the following months. And indisputably, many beds through NACOEJ. Our hearts are named programs assisting were available on October 1, 2011, the with the whole Croland family. Ethiopian Jews in Israel: date the aliyah was reduced. • UJA-Federation of New York • Vidal Sassoon So why has the aliyah rate been cut? President John Ruskay on the loss of his beloved mother, Edith Adopt-A-Student Honestly, we don’t know. An even Neidenberg. John’s compassion (college sponsorships) better question is why the aliyah rate is not being increased to the rate of 300 and support for Ethiopian-Jewish • Vidal Sassoon Soccer per month, the rate which prevailed families has warmed our hearts, (middle/high school soccer) for almost a decade in the past. At that and now our hearts go out to him, • Edward G. Victor High School rate, certainly sustainable, all of the Jews wife Robin, and the whole family. Sponsorships would be out in a year. • The family, friends, colleagues, • Rachel and Barney Gottstein We have been told that the Jewish and students of Dr. Howard M. Limudiah Literacy Agency Board has passed a resolution Lenhoff, and especially to the that the aliyah should be completed Ethiopian-Jewish community, at • Barney’s Books on schedule – in three years, not four the loss of a most devoted friend. (for AAS students to read – which would be impossible at 110 a Howard Lenhoff, in addition to to pre-schoolers at home) month. his extraordinary achievements in • Morris and Sylvia Trachten So the battle goes on, while thousands science, music, and scholarship, Girls’ Empowerment of Ethiopian Jews, fully approved and was a leader in the American (HaMeiri School, Lod) longing to join their families in Israel, live Association for Ethiopian Jews. He • Peachy Levy Back-to-School in fear and uncertainty in mud huts in considered the rescue of Ethiopian (summer educational Gondar, while the months roll by, famine Jews as one of his greatest joys. We extend our warm sympathy day camp) stalks some regions of their country, and the next rainy season and the malaria to Howard’s wife Sylvia, daughter • Teichman Family season that follows, lie ahead. Gloria, and son Bernard. Limudiah Class • The family of Hanan Porat, a (following one class as Mitzvah Projects! Knesset member and strong they progress, Yeshurun and compassionate supporter of School, Rishon LeTzion) ave a Bar or Bat Mitzvah coming Ethiopian Jews and their aliyah. up? Or an engagement, wedding, or New naming opportunities H Our hearts go out to his wife, any other life cycle event? A wonderful children, and grandchildren. available (see reply card way to celebrate is to establish a special for two of them): Mitzvah Project on the NACOEJ web • Limudiah School Lunch site and help Ethiopian Jews achieve Sefer Torahs Wanted • Limudiah Schools/Classes successful futures. Just go to www.nacoej.org and click Sefer Torahs are needed in Israel for Ethio- • Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning on Mitzvah Projects in the top right hand pian congregations. To make arrangements, To discuss, please contact corner. Or call Judy Dick at 212-233- contact NACOEJ past-Vice President Sanford Danielle Ben-Jehuda at 5200, ext. 230 or email mitzvah@nacoej. Goldhaber at [email protected] or org. You can create your own custom staffer Danielle Ben-Jehuda at 212-233-5200, 212-233-5200, ext. 227 or project on-line at no charge and see your ext. 227 or email [email protected]. email [email protected]. thermometer go up as gifts come in! Thank you so much.

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