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...

The winners of Israel's largest award for social innovation, the Sussman-Joint Award 2022, were announced by the Joint (JDC) last week. There are three categories for this prestigious award:  one is work in mental health, another is projects that help women and girls in extreme situations, and the third is promoting economic stability and financial inclusion for populations living in poverty.  FE...

On behalf of Friends of Ethiopian Jews (FEJ) and the Ethiopian Jewish community and organizations in Israel, THANK YOU!  Thank you for your support in 2022 - for your concern, for your caring and for your commitment to helping Ethiopian Jews become self-sufficient and successful.     Thank you for all that you do, in all the various areas of your life. FEJ will continue - throughout 2023 - to a...

We greatly appreciate all our supporters this year. FEJ was able to "Hire Moshe Full-Time", i.e. provide the funds necessary to Tebeka Legal Aid to hire a second full-time attorney to defend the legal and civil rights of Ethiopian Israelis. We were able to sponsor a national conference in Tel Aviv honoring the Ethiopian Jewish heroes and activists of the Beta Israel Aliyah, strengthening the commu...

On November 30, 2022, Forum Yerusalem and Friends of Ethiopian Jews hosted a highly successful conference in Tel Aviv, “The True Story of the Beta Israel Aliyah – How Ethiopian Jewish Heroes and North American Activists Burst Open the Gates.” Honorees included 10 Ethiopian Jewish heroes and 10 North American activists who made the 1965-1993 Beta Israel Aliyah possible. The wonderful lineup of spea...

New, updated website that is easier to navigate, more videos and pictures, and a fresh new look into historic documents and photos.  Check it out at AAEJ Archives Online!