Decades in Transition: A Lens on Ethiopian-Israelis

By Nate Lavey August 6, 2010

Irene Fertik is an American photojournalist who has been documenting the Ethiopian-Israeli community for the past 20 years. She’s captured the community’s highs and lows as they transition from an agricultural to an industrial society. Despite the immense challenges facing Ethiopian-Israelis, Fertik says the community is incredibly resilient, proud of their history and optimistic about the future. Her work will be on view at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue in Washington, D.C. throughout the month of September. She’s also compiling her photographs into a book that she plans to call “Tesfa to Tikva: From Hope to Hope.”

Her photographs are featured in the audio slideshow below:

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