About Us
All Jews are responsible for one another.
- Talmud (Shavuot, 39a)
Our Mission
Friends of Ethiopian Jews supports grassroots Ethiopian-Israeli organizations working for equality, education, and employment for the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel. We strive to create and sustain advancement opportunities and community empowerment initiatives for the Ethiopian-Israeli community.
Our Vision
Friends of Ethiopian envisions a just and equitable society in Israel, in which all Ethiopian-Israelis have access to education and employment opportunities without fear of discrimination.
Our Approach
A Community Empowering Itself
We aim to support the creativity and ingenuity of the Ethiopian-Israeli community as they empower themselves. All programs, projects, and organizations supported by FEJ are led by Ethiopian-Israelis themselves.
Organizational Excellence
The grassroots programs we support are well-managed, financially sound, and effective.
Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency
Our organization manages contributions and awards with professionalism and transparency. We hold a platinum-level transparency score from Candid.
Our
Story
Friends of Ethiopian Jews, Inc. (FEJ) was founded in 1998 by veteran American Jewish activists who had long supported the Ethiopian Jewish community across Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, and Israel.
Many of our number were former members of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ), which played a key role in securing recognition for Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) in 1975 and facilitating their immigration to Israel during the civil war and famine that plagued Ethiopia in the 1980s and 1990s. AAEJ also helped organize the famous large-scale rescue airlift "Operation Solomon" in May of 1991. Following the completion of the Aliyah of Beta Israel, the AAEJ dissolved in 1993.
In Israel, the Ethiopian Jewish community faced new challenges as they integrated into Israeli society. In response to requests from community leaders, FEJ was established in 1998 to promote education, employment, legal aid, and advocacy. True to its mission, FEJ exclusively supports initiatives led by Ethiopian Israelis.
Today, as a volunteer-run nonprofit with minimal overhead, FEJ raises nearly $1 million annually to fund grassroots programs that empower Ethiopian Jews in Israel.
Read more about the history of American Jewish support for the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish) community on our AAEJ Archives webpage.
Our Board of Directors
Friends of Ethiopian Jews is led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, allowing us to maintain extremely low overhead and administrative costs.
Susan Pollack is the current President of FEJ and one of its co-founders. Susan is a human rights activist, program director, and development specialist who has worked on behalf of the Ethiopian Jewish community since 1981. Susan worked in Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, and Israel from 1981-1993 for the Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews (CAEJ) and the American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ), as Ethiopia Country Director during the worst crisis years. Susan went on to work on behalf of Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel for nine years, empowering young Ethiopian-Israelis through Yemin Orde’s acclaimed education and leadership programs. Susan holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, with specialties in Nonprofit Administration and Refugee Affairs. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.(Photo by Joan Roth)
Gerald Frim, Esq. is a Past President and one of the co-founders of FEJ. Gerry has worked with and for the Ethiopian Jewish community for over 20 years. Formerly on staff at the IAEJ in Jerusalem for 2 years, Gerry now works as an attorney in the Boston area at Klevan Law Office, P.C., concentrating in commercial litigation and insurance law. Gerry is a longtime member of the Ethiopian Jewry Committee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston. He received a B.A., M.S. in Education and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a BA in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew College in Boston.
Barbara Gaffin, FEJ Past President, is currently managing FEJ Donor Relations and serving as Program Liaison. Barbara is a decades-long advocate on behalf of Ethiopian Jews. With over 30 years experience working in Jewish community relations and public policy, some of Barbara’s previous positions include serving as Associate Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston and Congressional Liaison for the National Conference on Soviet Jewry in Washington, DC. Barbara also serves on the board of the North American Conference of Ethiopian Jewry and was the director of the American Friends of the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews. Currently, Barbara is Managing Director of Zamir Chorale of Boston.
William Recant, FEJ Secretary, was the Executive Director of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews from 1984—1993. Will is an experienced, effective advocate and expert in International Relations. From 1994 to 2021, Will worked as the Director for the International Development Program for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and oversaw programs in 12 countries. Will Recant holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University. His experience with the Ethiopian Jewish community includes work with Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel, the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, FEJ, and a host of other programs.
Peter Barrer, FEJ Treasurer, has been an advocate for the Ethiopian Israeli community since 1999. He has served as chair of the Ethiopian Jewry Committee of Boston’s JCRC as well as a member of the Ethiopian Jewry Committee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston. He received two degrees in Engineering from Cornell, built his career in energy engineering, and founded the energy efficiency consulting firm DMI which he sold in 2005 to free his time for volunteer work.
Diane Richler, FEJ Board member, has been involved with the Ethiopian Israeli community for almost two decades. She was a member of the CJP Ethiopian Jewry Committee, serving as Co-Chair. She is currently a member of the Shared Society Committee at CJP of Greater Boston. Diane has served on the boards of Boston’s Jewish Community Relations Council, Solomon Schechter Day School and the JCC. Diane received her MSW at University of Toronto, worked as a clinical social worker with families at risk.
Sivan Geffen, FEJ Board member, joined the Board after serving as FEJ’s Administrative Director for two years. She is a Jewish communal professional. Sivan holds a Master’s in Public Policy and a Master’s in Jewish Professional Leadership from Brandeis University and a B.A. in Psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She lives in Israel.
In Loving Memory
Nathan Shapiro (1936-2024) was the Founding President of Friends of Ethiopian Jews.
A lifelong advocate for the Ethiopian Jewish community, Nate began his journey as President of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ) from 1983—1993. Under Nate’s leadership, AAEJ provided relief, rescue, and advocacy on behalf of the threatened Ethiopian Jewish community in Ethiopia and Sudan, leading to the successful aliyah of the community. A great philanthropist, and a prominent member of the Chicago Jewish community, Nate's leadership is deeply missed.