Nate Shapiro passed away last week at age 88 in his native Chicago.  A true light in the world has gone out.    Nate was a life-long philanthropist, dedicated to the Jewish people, Israel and most of all, Ethiopian Jews.     He worked tirelessly for the release of Ethiopian Jews from Ethiopia during a harsh Marxist military regime, lobbied and advocated for the rescue from deplorable refugee camps in Sudan, and helped the community come down from Gondar to Addis Ababa in order for the Operation ...

This year, the annual Ethiopian Israeli national holiday of Sigd falls on the same day as American Thanksgiving - November 28, 2024.    The Sigd is a 2,000 year old Ethiopian Jewish holiday which became a national Israeli holiday in 2008, after years of advocacy by organizations such as the Association of Ethiopian Jews. Sigd is an Amharic word meaning “prostration” or “worship” and the holiday was traditional a fast day, followed by a feast that evening.  Today, Sigd is celebrated all over I...

Nafatli Aklum has been named No. 5 of the top 25 young Israeli visionaries by The Jerusalem Post and JNF.    Naftali is the founder and director of Naftali Aklum Educational Lectures and Tours, which teaches students, officials, tourists and the Israeli public about the long, rich heritage and traditions of the Ethiopian Jews.   Naftali Aklum Educational Lectures and Tours is one of the outstanding programs that Friends of Ethioipian Jews is proud to support. Naftali was born in Ethiopia in 1...

Long-time activist and advocate for Ethiopian Jews, Murray Greenfield, died on September 23rd at age 98, in Israel.   One of the very first American-Israelis to work for the release of Ethiopian Jews from Ethiopia and acceptance in Israel, Murry was known for his tenacy, dedication to social justice and strong convictions.   He was a proud Jew, a Zionist and Israeli.   Murray was one of the original board members of the American Association of Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ) in the 1970's and 80's, as wel...

Wuste Tsega 2023-24 Report Wuste Tzega, the Culturally-Adapted Psychotherapy Center, has been non-stop for the past 11 months.   Since October 7th, Wuste Tsega experienced a surge in demand for its services, assisting evacuees, injured individuals, soldiers, and civilians facing trauma.   Wuste Tzega launched the first hotline to provide counseling and support nationally in Hebrew and Amharic.  Director Yeshitu Shmuel has conducted dozens of trainings on trauma and stress management, delive...

This week we finally witnessed justice for young Ethiopian Israeli demonstrators to expunge criminal records who were arrested years ago, while protesting peacefully when Solomon Tekkah was killed by an off-duty policeman.   After years of advocacy by the Association of Ethiopian Jews (the AEJ), the Knesset approved the pivotal law to erase thousands of unwarranted criminal records of Ethiopian Israeli youths unjustly opened during protests against racism and over-policing. For years, Ethiopi...

Despite current conditions in Israel,  Friends of Ethiopian Jews recently hosted our annual gathering of Ethiopian Israeli leaders, activists and changemakers to discuss the most pressing issues facing the community today.    For the first time since October 7th, these leaders met in person (rather than on zoom) for a day of sharing, supporting, learning and analyzing the most pressing needs of the Ethiopian Israelis today.  The conference was held at the Beta Israel Village - one...

American Jews have been staunch supporters of the Ethiopian Jewish community for decades.  Large Jewish foundations, family foundations, schools, synagogues and 51 Jewish federations across the United States have assisted with helping the community survive in Ethiopia, the difficult and dangerous Aliyah, absorption in Israel and ongoing programs for equal rights, civil liberties, employment, education, advocacy and changing the public narrative about Ethiopian Israelis from victims to heroes. ...

The continuing crisis in Israel has brought distress, dislocation and sorrow to so many. As 2023 draws to a close, we wish to honor and remember those Ethiopian Israelis who have fallen since October 7th - soldiers, police and civilians. May their memories be a source of blessing and strength to us all. We stand with the community. In Memoriam. Major Moloken Tshuma from Ashdod, served in the Bekaa in reserve service since October 7th, and fell Dec 25th while performing his duties. He was bur...

In support of Ethiopian Israelis at this time, FEJ has begun an intensifed year-end campaign in support of programs assisting the Ethiopian Israeli community during the current crisis and trauma in Isarel.    The FEJ Year End 2023 paper letter  highlights the work of these innovative grass-roots programs that are assisting dislocated families, traumatized immigrants needing counseling, and providing meals, clothing, diapers and other much-needed essentials and information during this terrible ti...