‘The Ethiopian Jews of Israel: Personal Stories of Life in the Promised Land” (Jewish Lights Publishing), a new book of interviews conducted by Len Lyons and containing photographs by Ilan Ossendryver, explores the complexities of the modern Ethiopian-Israeli experience. For years, thousands of Ethiopians waited to be airlifted to a land of milk and honey, only to learn that Israel’s milk is sometimes spoiled, its honey bittersweet.
Now, students, professionals, kessim (high priests), artists and soldiers speak of leaving behind an ancient life of farming and shepherding, and of being thrust into bustling modernity. Though they broach painful issues — second-class status, illiteracy, professional integration and the search for acceptance — the book celebrates their achievements. Most remarkably, even after encountering disapproval of their kessim and rituals, Ethiopians feel a deep love for Israel, where they can be openly Jewish, have choice in matters of religion and are presented with better professional opportunities. Lyons feels that Ethiopians, in this land that has both saved and rejected them, are “undergoing a tug of war internally,” as they try to reconcile their worlds of old and new.
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Isral's acceptance of Ethiopian Jews shows how unfair is the charge that Israel is racist. Considering that Israel is a modern state and that the Ethiopians come from one of the most primative places on earth, the integration of Ethiopian Jews into Israeli life is remarkable.
Is it racist to call Ethiopia "primitive"? Or did he mean the whole continent of Africa?
To receive home to Israel is to bring with it hope and knowing you have a home, and love all around you to you and your family. One should never accept less. But you, yes you,must appreciate and bless the life you live. Intelligence, hard working, without raciscm, bittotry, and exploitation of others have no place in this world.
Why does this article not mention that World Jewry paid almost $4,000 per person ransome that the Sudan charged to allow them out of Ethiopia. That was in 1991 $$$. The Jewish World paid to bring black people into their country so they could practice their religion and live as free people in a modern world. It cost Israel Millions upon millions of dollars to interface them into the modern world. They were living over almost 2 thousand years behind the modern world. Please verify your articlesa and facts before posting them. Anyone can find anything, in mass quantity, about any eithnic or religous group by just searching. Verification is another issue.
What funding organizations have been established or are established to aid the Ethiopians? What type of organizations have they established?
When are we going to tell the truth the white jews are not th e true jews
they should not have left their country of origin in the first place. I as an ethiopian feel deeply soory for the loss!