Help Provide Mental Health Counseling During Crisis War increases demand for life-sustaining needs and mental health care is among them. Over 80% of young Ethiopian Israeli men are serving in the IDF, doing their duty to defend Israel.  With so many serving, and with the constant anxiety and uncertainty, Ethiopian Israelis are under tremendous mental stress.  In addition, many Ethiopian Jews are new immigrants who don't yet speak Hebrew, or seniors who have never learned the language, making i...

Leadership and supporters of Friends of Ethiopian Jews (FEJ) are united in their solidarity with Israel during this horrific time. We pray for those families impacted by this war, and especially for the Ethiopian Israeli community. Ethiopian Jews serve in the Israeli military far beyond their numbers in the overall population. Although they make up only 2% of the Jewish population in Israel, their enlistment is very high. Over 88% of all Ethiopian Israeli young men serve in the IDF.During this...

As the Days of Awe close, we reflect on how dramatic and difficult this year has been.  In Israel, proposed governmental reforms have torn the country apart and another Ethiopian Jewish child – this time a four-year-old little boy – has been killed and the police have once again failed the community.   The turmoil in Israel is real and Ethiopian Jews are caught in the struggle.   Make no mistake.  They are on the side of democracy and justice. The Ethiopian Israeli organizations supported by ...

Rina Ayelign-Gorelik, CEO of the Association of Ethiopian Jews (AEJ) in Israel spoke recently at a rally following protests in Israel about the controversial judicial reforms as well as the killing of a 4-year old Ethiopian Israeli child by a hit-and-run driver.  Please watch this 2 minute video of excerpts from Rina's speech, as well as her compelling message below: And SUPPORT AEJ !    Ethiopian Jews still need your help! Click on the LOGO to watch the 2 minute video of Rina &nbsp...

The winners of Israel's largest award for social innovation, the Sussman-Joint Award 2022, were announced by the Joint (JDC) last week. There are three categories for this prestigious award:  one is work in mental health, another is projects that help women and girls in extreme situations, and the third is promoting economic stability and financial inclusion for populations living in poverty.  FEJ is very pleased to post that Asher Elias won the award in the third category for his work in assis...

On behalf of Friends of Ethiopian Jews (FEJ) and the Ethiopian Jewish community and organizations in Israel, THANK YOU!  Thank you for your support in 2022 - for your concern, for your caring and for your commitment to helping Ethiopian Jews become self-sufficient and successful.     Thank you for all that you do, in all the various areas of your life. FEJ will continue - throughout 2023 - to assist Ethiopian Jews to achieve equality, education and employment in Israel, as well as working to ...

We greatly appreciate all our supporters this year. FEJ was able to "Hire Moshe Full-Time", i.e. provide the funds necessary to Tebeka Legal Aid to hire a second full-time attorney to defend the legal and civil rights of Ethiopian Israelis. We were able to sponsor a national conference in Tel Aviv honoring the Ethiopian Jewish heroes and activists of the Beta Israel Aliyah, strengthening the community's presence, history and resolve in Israel today. Additionally, FEJ assisted every organization ...

On November 30, 2022, Forum Yerusalem and Friends of Ethiopian Jews hosted a highly successful conference in Tel Aviv, “The True Story of the Beta Israel Aliyah – How Ethiopian Jewish Heroes and North American Activists Burst Open the Gates.” Honorees included 10 Ethiopian Jewish heroes and 10 North American activists who made the 1965-1993 Beta Israel Aliyah possible. The wonderful lineup of speakers included FEJ President Susan Pollack and FEJ Board Member Will Recant, both of whom have worked...

New, updated website that is easier to navigate, more videos and pictures, and a fresh new look into historic documents and photos.  Check it out at AAEJ Archives Online!