About Us

Friends of Ethiopians Jews, Inc. (FEJ) was started by members of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ) and other veteran activists dedicated to assisting the Ethiopian Jewish community.  FEJ all-volunteer leadership today includes:

Nathan Shapiro, FEJ President Emeritus and Founding President.   Nate first helped Ethiopian Jews  as President of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ) from 1983—1993.  Under Nate’s leadership, AAEJ provided relief, rescue, and advocacy on behalf of the threatened Ethiopian Jewish community in Ethiopia and Sudan, leading to the successful aliyah of the community.   Nate holds a degree in Economics from Northwestern University and is the Founder and President of SF Investments in Highland Park, IL.  A great philanthropist, Nate is prominient in the Chicago Jewish community.  (photo by Asher Elias)

Susan copy 3Susan Pollack is the current President of FEJ and one of its co-founders.   Susan is a human rights activist, program director, and development specialist who has worked on behalf of the Ethiopian Jewish community since 1981. Susan worked in Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, and Israel from 1981-1993 for the Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews (CAEJ) and the American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ), as Ethiopia Country Director during the worst crisis years.    Susan went on to work on behalf of Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel for nine years, empowering young Ethiopian-Israelis through Yemin Orde’s acclaimed education and leadership programs. Susan holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, with specialties in Nonprofit Administration and Refugee Affairs.   She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.   (photo by Joan Roth)

 Gerald Frim, Esq. is a Past President and one of the co-founders of FEJ.  Gerry has worked with and for the Ethiopian Jewish community for over 20 years. Formerly on staff at the IAEJ in Jerusalem for 2 years, Gerry now works as an attorney in the Boston area at Klevan Law Office, P.C., concentrating in commercial litigation and insurance law.  Gerry is a longtime member of the Ethiopian Jewry Committee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.  He received a B.A., M.S. in Education and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a BA in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew College in Boston.

Barbara Gaffin, FEJ Past President, is a decades-long advocate on behalf of Ethiopian Jews. With over 30 years experience working in Jewish community relations and public policy, some of Barbara’s previous positions include serving as Associate Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston and Congressional Liaison for the National Conference on Soviet Jewry in Washington, DC. Barbara also serves on the board of the North American Conference of Ethiopian Jewry and was the director of the American Friends of the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews. Currently, Barbara is Managing Director of Zamir Chorale of Boston.  Watch a November 2020 Tribute to Barbara, here.

William Recant, FEJ Secretary, was the Executive Director of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews from 19841993 and is an experienced, effective advocate and expert in International Relations.   From 1994 to 2021, Will worked as the Director for the International Development Program for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and oversaw programs in 12 countries. Will Recant holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University. His experience with the Ethiopian Jewish community includes work with Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel, the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda, FEJ, and a host of other programs.

Peter Barrer,  FEJ Treasurer, has been an advocate for the Ethiopian Israeli community since 1999.   He has served as chair of the Ethiopian Jewry Committee of Boston’s JCRC as well as a member of the Ethiopian Jewry Committee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.  He received two degrees in Engineering from Cornell, built his career in energy engineering, and founded the energy efficiency consulting firm DMI which he sold in 2005 to free his time for volunteer work.

Diane Richler, FEJ Board member, has been involved with the Ethiopian Israeli community for almost two decades as a member of the CJP Ethiopian Jewry Committee, serving as Co-Chair.  She is currently a member of the Shared Society Committee at CJP of Greater Boston.   Diane has served on the boards of Boston’s Jewish Community Relations Council, Solomon Schechter Day School and the JCC.  Diane received her MSW at University of Toronto, worked as a clinical social worker with families at risk.

Michelle Spivak Melinger, FEJ Managing Director, is a communications strategist with experience directing national campaigns and large-scale projects for both government and NGOs, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Jewish Youth Philanthropy Institute and the Jewish National Fund, among others. Michelle also spent 10 years working in broadcast and print media as a news reporter/anchor, talk-show host, and marketing/advertising manager.