Shotar The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Shevat 5745, February 1985 Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) we OPERATION MOSES Israel Emergency Rescue of the y on- Ethiopian Jews bur Egypt n a By Menachem Vinegrad e After 2000 years of separation from Yisrael have now made their way to Israel. Saudi Arabia World Jewry, the long hoped for return of Yet others, the old, the infirm, those in e Ethiopian Jewry has begun. Ethiopian the farthest flung reaches of an inaccessi- nd Jews have arrived in Israel after a long and ble country, are still entrapped by pover- dangerous journey, full of hope and po- ty and famine. tential. Although their difficult trip is be- The Beta Yisrael arrived in Israel emaci- hind them, their arrival in Israel signaled ated, in shock, dressed in the rags of Red Sea 0 of the beginning of another challenge ahead months of gruelling hardship. Yet they are of them, the challenge of their successful a regal people, many of them tall, with absorbtion into modern Israeli society. finely sculpted features. as Once a proud and noble people, half a They arrived from a stone-aged culture, million strong, they included nobles and never having known electricity or sanita- Sudan kings in their midst. tion-a faucet is a thing of wonder for Over the years, persecution and assim- them. They are mainly illiterate, speaking an ilation have drastically reduced their only Amharic. They must learn how to m- numbers to approximately 25,000. Of these hold a pen before they can learn to write. e remaining Ethiopian Jews, over half have The Israelis must treat diseases long now escaped drought, famine and civil since eradicated in Israel, including malar- Ethiopia al; war to find haven in the Promised Land. ia, tuberculosis, trachoma and leprosy. and They call themselves Beta Yisrael-the Doctors, nurses and medical facilities House of Israel. The Ethiopians call them must be provided on a large scale. The his Falashas-the aliens or invaders. For three Ethiopian Jews must be fed, housed. e hundred years these black Jews ruled clothed, educated and helped to enter the Ethiopia, until in 1624, their fortunes modern world. our- changed. They fought their last great bat- Within days they undergo a meta- tle, and were kings no more. Since then, morphosis. There is no more trace of the an despised and persecuted, they have inhab- rags in which they arrived. The look of be- r ited far flung mountains and valleys, wilderment on their faces has been re- in eking out a meager existence and praying placed by an expression of eagerness to for redemption. learn, to absorb knowledge, to adapt. re Their origins are obscure; some say There is much to learn. How to eat with Ethiopian Update: BBYO e, or they trace their roots back to Solomon knife and fork, how to use a bathroom, h and Sheba; others suggest that they are how to make a bed, diaper a baby. How to don from the lost tribe of Dan. Their Judaism use the abundance of water flowing from Embarks on Emergency is Biblical, pre-Talmudic, pre-Rabbinic, but the faucets. They must also learn what to tly today no one denies that they are true avoid-the cars rushing like monsters is Jews, who for centuries have yearned for a through the streets-most have never Campaign of a return to Zion. Now at last that return seen traffic before. e has begun. To undertake this Herculean task, Isra- uld Over the past few years, and in recent el has diverted millions of dollars from its S months and weeks, they have arrived in Is- already strained budget. The cost of the or rael. Their journey was frought with dan- initial investment needed to rehabilitate In direct response to the current situa- gency situation and give 100% to helping lood one Ethiopian Jew is estimated at $6,000. tion regarding Ethiopian Jewry and famine these people. I know that every BBG will gers both for the rescued and for their res- The whole operation-rescue and rehabili- in Ethiopia the B'nai B'rith Youth Organi- actively participate in this program be- cuers. zation has embarked on an emergency ed- cause we're helping our fellow Jews in a Over half the estimated 25,000 Beta Continued on Page 10 ucational and fund-raising campaign. time of need." Grand Aleph Godol Howard Cohen, In- According to the campaign guidelines, ternational N'siah Betsy Winnick, and In- chapters are encouraged to begin their in- Ethiopian Jews and Famine Relief: A ternational BBYO Director Dr. Sidney volvement by first conducting an educa- Clearfield are urging every BBYO chapter tional program on the Ethiopian situation. "How-To" Approach for Chapters throughout the Order to take part in this In addition to the "How-To" suggestions th- project. The monies from these efforts will listed in this issue of The Shofar, chapters uth then be slated for relief aid to provide will be able to utilize program pieces Inform your members of the plight of Ethiopian Jews through ser- food for the starving people in Ethiopia that are currently being developed for dis- tes mons, speakers, and other programs. Contact your BBYO regional offices and to assist the absorption and resettle- semination to the regional offices in the eate for the names of films to aid your educational efforts. ment efforts of Ethiopian Jews in Israel. near future. Once the educational program -Write to President Reagan and to your congressmen and senators To kick-off this emergency campaign, has been completed, chapters should ga- Howie and Betsy have authorized the im- then embark on their fundraising cam- roup urging the United States government to respond generously with emer- mediate release of $1,000 from the Inter- the gency relief for Ethiopia and other drought-stricken African countries. paign within their schools and commu- national Service Fund's Disaster Fund, to nities. Contributions from individual mem- he -Devote periodic Sabbath services and holiday observances to expres- be sent to the agencies who will channel it bers are also encouraged. set- sions of solidarity with Ethiopian Jews. Consider devoting a portion of for the relief and resettlement efforts. All monies raised must be sent to the on the Passover Seder for Ethiopian Jewry. Says Howie of the effort, "Both aspects International BBYO office for processing -Contact your local Jewish Community Relations Councils for updated of what we're doing, relief and resettle- to the respective agencies dealing with the the ment are extremely important in showing relief and resettlement efforts. Although ons information and material on the situation. that BBYO is concerned for all the peo- the actual proportion of funds to be sent solu- -Expand your efforts to include programming on world hunger. Con- ple of Ethiopia. Every chapter should do for hunger relief and for absorption and has tact your regional office for the names of organizations within your com- something to raise money, for this is a resettlement will not be determined until munity that can help you with your plans. time when BBYO should stand on the fore- the youth executive meeting in February, -Put information regularly in your Chapter, synagogue, school, or or- front of our Jewish community's efforts. chapters are urged not to wait and to be- Our Ethiopian concerns demonstrate so- gin campaigns immediately. its ganization's newsletter. cial action at its finest." All funds received by chapters will be ted -Organize a day/week/month-long awareness action time on Ethiopian And on the same note Betsy states, "I acknowledged as well through an honor ions Jewry for your synagogue/school/organization or community. feel good that as an international youth roll to be listed in future editions of The group we can come together in an emer- Shofar.