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.

Friends of Ethiopian Jews (FEJ) has been assisting Ethiopian Israelis for the past 25 years, identifying the most effective and impactful programs created and run by Ethiopian Israelis themselves, such as Tech Career, the Assocation of Ethiopian Jews (AEJ), Tebeka, Friends by Nature, Forum Yerusalem, Olim Beyahad and others.

Now, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has published an in-depth report about current programs in Israel for Ethiopian Jews, in which their Task Force identifies specific issue areas for Jewish Federations to consider focusing their funding –   Employment and Advocacy.   The report recommends four Ethiopian Israeli organizations working in these areas as outstanding in their fields.

FEJ is thrilled that three of the organizations are ones that FEJ has supported for years, and that we also highly recommend:   Tech Career -Technology Training for Ethiopian Israelis,  Olim Beyahad, and the Association of Ethiopian Jews (AEJ).      In addition, Tene Briut ( a health advocacy organization) is also recommended.

An excerpt from the report reads:

 Olim Beyahad aims to increase the employment rate among Ethiopian Israelis by
promoting their integration into the Israeli workforce and providing equal
opportunities for suitable employment.

 Tech-Career strives to break employment barriers for Ethiopian Israelis and open
windows of opportunity for socio-economic mobility, by paving the way into the
competitive and lucrative hi-tech industry.

 

 Association of Ethiopian Jews (AEJ) advocates on social and policy issues, racial
equality, civil and human rights, improved perceptions, and better policies for
Ethiopian Israelis.

 

 Tene Briut is dedicated to advocating for and improving the health of the Ethiopian
Israeli community.

Read the full JFNA Task Force report, HERE.

Donations in support of these outstanding organizations may be made directly thru FEJ, HERE.