Changing the Narrative – Yona Bogale and the Prisoners of Zion

Last year, Yossi and Ruti Turetsky published a ground-breaking comic book for adolescents called “The Journey to Ethiopia in the Footsteps of Beta Israel" bringing the story of Ethiopian Jews into the mainstream of Jewish history and curriculum taught in Israeli schools.   It was a smash success, and they are now working on Book #2 - the history of Ethiopian Jewish leader Yona Bogale and the many Ethiopian Jewish Prisoners of Zion. Now Yossi and Ruti need your help to get "Yona Bogale and the...
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Pnina Tamano-Shata Becomes Israel’s First Ethiopian-Born Cabinet Minister

Congratulations to Pnian Tamano-Shata on her appointment as Minister of Aliyah and Klita! FROM THE ALGEMEINER: “I am excited and proud to take on the role of minister of aliyah and integration,” Tamano-Shata told Israeli daily Maariv. By Benjamin Kerstein, The Algemeiner MK Pnina Tamano-Shata was set to become the first Ethiopian-born Israeli cabinet minister after she was appointed to head the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration by Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz on Thurs...
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COVID Crisis Impact on Ethiopian Israelis

If there was ever a time to give, it's now.   Please keep reading and DONATE to support the work of AEJ and other Ethiopian Israeli groups. The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the Ethiopian Israeli community hard - exposing the gaps between Ethiopian Jews and other Israeli Jews in the standard of living and access to resources in Israel today.     Read this excellent piece by Shlomit Bukaya, CEO of the Association of Ethiopian Jews (AEJ) May, 2020 As Israel slowly returns to some kind o...
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How are Ethiopian Israelis Doing in The Corona-Virus Crisis?

We hope you and your families are staying well and safe during this unprecedented crisis. It is a difficult time, full of uncertainty and anxiety. Please take care and stay safe. Many nonprofits are struggling to stay afloat and keep their programs open, especially those serving vulnerable populations such as Ethiopian Jews. We thought you might like an update on how various Ethiopian Israeli groups are coping, and how you might help:...
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Police, Racism & Israel

A must read piece by Micha Odemheimer: I was wrong, and my Ethiopian-Israeli friends were right The vicious kind of racism I thought didn't exist in Israel is endemic, especially among police. A ray of hope can be found in Ashkelon Click HERE to read the original on The Times of Israel website MAR 2, 2020, 7:07 AM by Micha Odenheimer Mea Culpa. I plead guilty. It took the Kiryat Malachi police department to thrash me into confessing. Over the past six months, since Solomon Teka, a...
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Israeli Pres. Rivlin, others sign Anti-Racism Pact

Rivlin, dignitaries sign anti-racism pact Police frequently apprehend Ethiopian youth for no plausible reason, and trigger-happy officers have been known to shoot and even kill Ethiopian young people. By GREER FAY CASHMAN Reprinted from The Jerusalem Post FEBRUARY 2, 2020 19:15 President Reuven Rivlin surrounded by the signatories who convened at the President's Residence on Sunday, to sign an anti-racism pact initiated by Israelis Against Racism, February 2, 2020   (photo credit: M...
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Shlomit Bukaya, AEJ CEO, has Op-Ed in JTA

Association of Ethiopian Jews (AEJ) CEO Shlomit Bukaya had an op-ed published by JTA last week, which was picked up by numerous Jewish publications around the United States.   Here is her insightful piece, as seen in the St. Louis Jewish Light:   Ethiopian Jews still fighting for inclusion in Israel By SHLOMIT BUKAYA Dec 5, 2019 Ethiopian-Jewish women pray in Jerusalem at the Sigd holiday overlooking the Temple Mou...
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