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...

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, the...

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. ...

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 !    Ethiop...

Tebeka, an Ethiopian-Israeli legal aid organization, recently filed a successful lawsuit against a school that demeaned an Ethiopian-Israeli mother. This mother was told to either "prove" the Jewishness of her children or be denied enrollment in the school. Thanks to the lawsuit filed by Tebeka, she will be compensated 40,000 shekels after facing this humiliating experience. Read the full story h...

Friends of Ethiopian Jews (FEJ) extends a warm congratulations to our partner, Naftali Aklum, who has been named one of the 48 influential Israelis shaping Israel and the world by Israel21c magazine.  Naftali Aklum has created unique educational experiences, including lectures, workshops and tours, to bring the inspiring and incredible story of Ethiopian Jewry to the general Israeli public and ...

The Association of Ethiopian Jews (AEJ) has been fighting for civil and equal rights for Ethiopian-Israelis for years, particularly with regard to police violence and systemic racism against the Ethiopian-Israeli community. Shortly before Passover, AEJ Executive Director Rina Ayalin - Gorelik addressed a crowd of 170,000 protesters in Tel Aviv regarding issues of second-class citizens and the n...

Friends of Ethiopian Jews wishes you and your family a Happy Passover!  Recently, in Gedera, Friends by Nature brought Ethiopian Jewish culture to life with a celebration of Rosh Hodesh Nissan (the first day of the Hebrew month of Nissan). Participants gathered to bake Kitta (Ethiopian matzah), listen to music, eat and drink Ethiopian food and coffee, and tour Friends by Nature's gardens. ...

The proposed judicial reforms to Israel’s legal system have been a point of contention and fierce debate in Israel since the beginning of 2023. Additionally, new proposed changes to the Israeli Police command provide the political system with more power over the police command. Police policies, demonstration policies and licenses, and the decision whether to publish particular police commands woul...

Wuste Tzega provides the Ethiopian-Israeli community with a unique tool to combat the mental health crisis: culturally adapted psychotherapy, an approach that combines western psychiatry and psychotherapy with a traditional cultural lens. They have four clinics that provide this culturally adapted treatment for Ethiopian Israelis. On Sunday, March 19, Wuste Tzega opened a new therapists trainin...