LIFELINE • NOVEMBER 2013 • ISSUE NO: 78 Lifeline Is Published Three Times Annually
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NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON ETHIOPIAN JEWRY FALL 2013 This article, written by NACOEJ President Rabbi Jerome (Jerry) Epstein, appeared in the “Jerusalem Post” on 9/1/2013, and has received a great deal of attention. OPERATION WINGS OF THE DOVE With regard to the Ethiopian aliyah, as arduous as the efforts of the past have been, they pale in comparison to the challenges we must now confront. peration Wings of the Dove was celebrated at Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday as the State of Israel and the Jewish OAgency proudly concluded their commitment to enable the aliyah of Ethiopian Jews. There is, for certain, a remnant of that community whose cases must be reviewed and others whose legitimate claims of hardship must be heard and resolved. But, we must not lose sight of the Celebrating the Special magnificent accomplishment that has been achieved. The North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry has also Holiday of Ethiopian Jews played a pivotal role in this aliyah narrative. It was NACOEJ that gain this year, thousands of Ethiopian Jews gathered mobilized the North American Jewish community to make the Ain Jerusalem to celebrate their unique Sigd holiday, aliyah of Ethiopian Jews a priority nearly three decades ago. commemorating the return of the Jews from Babylonian It was NACOEJ that helped inspire rabbis from various streams, exile, the re-giving of the Torah by Ezra the Scribe, and including the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, to agree that for the purposes the renewal of the Sinai covenant. of aliyah, Israel should consider the Ethiopian Jewish community And again, this year, NACOEJ-Israel Director Shoshana to be Jewish. Ben-Dor and partners taught the Sigd liturgy in the For most of these three decades, it was NACOEJ that ran the ancient Ethiopian Ge’ez language to Ethiopian and food pantries to feed the hungry. non-Ethiopian students at the Jerusalem site. An “experimental edition” of the Sigd prayer book with It was NACOEJ that created a “weaving business” to provide Shoshana’s transliterations and translations of the prayers work for the unemployed in Addis Ababa. And, it was NACOEJ was distributed. that built and ran the Gondar school. But there are some changes. Now that the Sigd is a We are proud of our accomplishments and those of the Jewish national Israeli holiday, Ethiopian Israelis feel secure Agency and the State of Israel. But believe it or not, as arduous as enough to argue about it. Some prominent Ethiopian the efforts of the past have been, they pale in comparison to the Kessotch (Ethiopian-Jewish religious leaders) complain challenges we must now confront. that the holiday that commenced with a fast in Ethiopia, Ethiopian children who have recently come to Israel enter school has become more of a social get-together than a day of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 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 or neglected. We have Adequate housing is a burning issue. succeeded in fostering When Ethiopians leave the absorption WINGS | CONT. FROM PAGE 1 the Ethiopian aliyah, centers, they are, indeed, granted at a severe disadvantage. but we can do more. stipends – either mortgages or rental Their education in Gondar was We must do more. allotments for housing. The rental not close to the level of their Unemployment and subsidies for five years permit them to peers in Israeli schools. They under- employment live modestly for the duration of the are struggling to learn a new in the Ethiopian com- grant, but they are then responsible to language. munity is stimulating carry the burden on their own. Unless They are struggling to learn poverty. Various reports they have been fortunate enough to Rabbi Jerome Epstein a new culture. And, they are indicate that 65% to obtain a reasonable job during that learning how to learn for the first time 72% of Ethiopian children live below period, they have no resources to pay in their lives. the poverty line. the rent and must move into even more inferior quarters. Because in many cases their parents Many are hungry – which impacts on do not have the educational skills to their learning as well as their attitudes Those who receive mortgages often help them, these children are often at a toward life. I have watched the children find that the only apartments they can disadvantage when compared to their in Limudiah programs voraciously eat afford are in substandard housing and Israeli peers. the lunch we give them as part of the in neighborhoods that do not inspire Their public school teachers strive program because for many it is the only upward mobility. to nurture their learning, but the balanced meal of the day. Then, with Perhaps the time has come for all challenges are frequently greater tears in my eyes, I have seen children those who are concerned about the than the system can handle. Various carefully pack a portion of the meal Ethiopian community to create a organizations have created out- so that they will have something to eat consortium for providing solutions that standing educational programs to for dinner. will ameliorate the housing crisis in an foster learning opportunities for these Families live in cramped conditions effective fashion. Together, we can do children. in neighborhoods in which poverty is more. We must do more. NACOEJ, for example, has established the norm. Because unemployment is Now is the time for celebration of our Limudiah programs after school for so high, there are too few models of achievements! We have accomplished several hours a day in a spectrum of success for children to emulate. The what many said would be impossible. communities. We guide students with culture of poverty becomes cyclical. We But our outstanding success must their homework and answer their need to develop training programs that now inspire further commitment to questions. We enrich their daily lessons. will help Ethiopians acquire skills that action. Without resolving the crises Yes, the programs exist – but there will equip them to enter the workforce in housing, education, and jobs, we are not enough. in Israel. Then we must provide the run the risk of creating a permanent And, because of a lack of funds, some right incentives to hire them and give under-class that will plague Israel for – too many – children are overlooked them on-the-job training. generations to come. n SIGD | CONT. FROM PAGE 1 Congratulations to… prayer and repentance in Israel – with political speeches and vendors selling food • NACOEJ Office Manager Nelya and drink. Danielova and husband Yuriy Others are urging that Sigd should be a more universal day of prayer for Jews Danielov, on the marriage of their everywhere. daughter Rita to Yan Kusayev. Shoshana points out that the Sigd liturgy includes aspects of the High Holidays, Congratulations also to Rita’s Tisha B’Av, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and Shavuot, which all Jews can relate to. brother Salomon. And Rabbi Yosef Hadane, Chief Rabbi of the Ethiopian-Israeli community says, “Our forefathers in Ethiopia always prayed to return to Jerusalem…We are here, but the vast majority of the Jewish nation is still in the Diaspora. This day and these prayers are very important for the ingathering of the exiles…I would suggest that LIFELINE • NOVEMBER 2013 • ISSUE NO: 78 Lifeline is published three times annually. Jews around the world adopt this.”* NACOEJ • 255 West 36th St. • New York, NY 10018 As if in response, this year two Sigd celebrations were held in New York City, attracting not only Ethiopian-Israelis here, but many Americans fascinated by an ancient Jewish ritual born in Africa. n *Quote excerpted from “The Gift of Sigd”, by Shai Afshai, Voices of Conservative/Masorti Judaism, Fall 2013. NACOEJ • 255 WEST 36TH ST. • SUITE 701 • NEW YORK, NY 10018 • 212-233-5200 • FAX: 212-233-5243 • EMAIL: [email protected] • WWW.NACOEJ.ORG 3 Three NACOEJ Heroes Condolences to… • NACOEJ Director of Whose Work Lives On… Development and Donor Relations hese three NACOEJ heroes had would cover. Like Evelyn, he answered the Danielle Ben-Jehuda on the important things in common. They were students’ letters. passing of her beloved father, T Jehuda Ben-Jehuda, of Metar, Israel. all Jews wanting to help those in need. All One of Jerry’s students invited him to her made a huge impact on the Ethiopian- wedding in Israel. By then Jerry needed a • NACOEJ Education Coordinator Jewish community. Sadly, all are gone, but walker. But he went to the wedding, where Karen Gens on the passing of her their work lives on. the bride asked her “American grandfather” beloved father, George W. Gens, What they didn’t have in common was to join her for the first dance. The bride, of Coconut Creek, Florida. money. One was a retired teacher living on Jerry, and his walker danced together. He • The family and friends of a pension, one was a retired businessman called it ”a night of supreme joy”. After Dr. Joan L. Schiff, curator of the living comfortably, and one was very rich. Jerry passed on, the group was continued NACOEJ Ethiopian artifacts and member of our Advisory Board. Evelyn Deitchman was the retired by friends. teacher. For over 20 years, she administered Lloyd Rigler was the very rich man. He the Adopt-A-Student Sponsorship Program had a foundation which usually sponsored as a volunteer in the NACOEJ New York the arts and environmental issues – but Rabbi Ovadia Yosef office. She corresponded with hundreds the plight of Jewish children in Ethiopia On October 7, 2013, hundreds of sponsors via hand-written notes and tugged at his heart.