Ethiopian Jews Protest Racism in Israel

Many of us were alarmed and deeply troubled by the pictures and videos that flowed out of Israel recently showing thousands of Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) protesting racism in housing, employment, and education. They marched arm-in-arm with many white Israeli Jews pass the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding signs that said in Hebrew “End Racism!”

Shlomo Molla, a member of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) who is of Ethiopian descent, explained that while Israel should be praised for helping Ethiopian Jews return to Israel where they now number 120,000, Israel must not be allowed to ignore the racial barriers to full integration that  many Ethiopian Jews face. 

The Israelite Board of Rabbis is organizing a collective response that expresses our complete solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel who seek peace, justice, and equality. Leaders of the Beta Israel community in New York have planned an open forum at the Columbia University Hillel, Kraft Center,  on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 6:00pm.

Tebeka Legal Aid for the Ethiopian Israeli community
Rabbi Paris returns to Ethiopia

 Video Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpfDype_tW4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCJ4egOdWJg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63gMMsDOm8Y
Interview with Abraham Ford in Ethiopia by Monica Wiggins