Tifereth Israel Congregation

Social Action at Tifereth Israel

By Claudine Schweber, co-chair

TI SA Committee, since 1969

If I am not for myself
     who will be for me?
     And if I am not for others,
     what am I?
     If not now, when?
     -- Rabbi Hillel

TI’s social action projects have been guided by the words and spirit of Rabbi Hillel. On June 14th,  there was a unique opportunity for us to connect with and support others: an evening devoted to the Ethiopian Jewish community in 1977 (Ethiopia) and in 2008 (Israel).  The enormous support of that evening has enabled us to assist two important projects: Tebeka, the Ethiopian-Israeli civil rights and justice organization (www.tebeka.org.il); and Neve Michael, an Israeli children’s home for at risk youth that includes many young Ethiopians. When Carolivia Herron visited Neve Michael in the Fall of 2008, the home had just received 35 Ethiopian girls who were being prepared, over several years, for a group bat mitzvah. The home also has an emergency intake system, and accepts children in crisis 24/7 (www.nevemichael.com).

Thanks to the work and photographs of Princeton Lyman, former Ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria, and Itzik Dessie, director of Tebeka, almost five dozen TI members, friends, and family gathered at the home of Michael and Lisa Kraft to see the photos taken by Ambassador Lyman when he was in Ethiopia courtesy of USAID in l977 and to hear his explanations; afterwards Mr. Dessie talked about and showed photos of, the situation in Israel today for Ethiopian immigrants. 

Ethiopia l977: We first encounter the Jewish community (Falasha) at the village of Ambobr, a small village about 10 miles from the main road. The photos show not only the village but also some children and we see a large star-of-David hanging from a child’s neck. Inside the synagogue, there’s an ark with a Torah that was donated by a New York congregation. Princeton points out that since the Ethiopians use a bible written in Gheez, the ancient language, the Torah is decorative. Photos of the school show children’s writings with Hebrew and western/English letters. Princeton tells us that the children also learn Amharic. We also see photos of teachers—in this case, they are arguing with an ORT official for a raise. It turns out that the Ethiopian government had closed the ORT project accusing them of helping with illegal immigration to Israel  Since ORT had been providing funds for the school, the school had closed. Ambobr also had a clinic with a paramedic which provided help to all.

Photo 1, Schoolwork Hebrew and Western writing, Ambobr, Ethiopia 1977

Three other villages are the focus of the photos and discussion: Teda, a small village three miles off the road that could only be reached on foot; Kosoye, a small settlement of one or two families; Durowha, a larger village five miles off the road. In Kesoye we see the photo of a woman who makes pots and has to walk about five miles to see them. She tells Princeton and colleagues that she and her son are tenant farmers, who must provide their own tools and give their landlord half the harvest; although tenancy was outlawed by this time in Ethiopia. If they had refused, the landlord would have forced her son into slavery. At Durowha, the population was caught in the crossfire between two anti-government groups - Falasha refused to join either one. At this point, the USAID and ORT staff must be accompanied by armed guards. As the staff eventually rode off into the sunset (literally), the ORT advisor promised to return to Durowha. 

Photo 2, Schoolwork Hebrew and Western writing, Ambobr, Ethiopia 1977

Israel 2008: The focus of Itzik Dessie’s presentation was the need for various support systems to enable the Ethiopian immigrants to successfully integrate into Israeli society. We see examples of young Ethiopian men and women who have become attorneys, working for civil rights organizations, corporations and other venues. We also see examples of poor living conditions and hear about the need for literacy, for community empowerment, legal rights and training to enable Ethiopian Israelis to undertake leadership positions in public, non-profit and corporate sectors. It should be noted that Itzik Dessie was the first Ethiopian Israeli to qualify as an attorney and he founded Tebeka in l999 as a way to help this community.

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TI’s forty year commitment to social action has included projects such as financial support for Tebeka and Neve Michael; involvement in civil rights in the l960s, l970s; being the first synagogue to offer bar-mitzvah to a member of the deaf community; leading the way for women on the bima; and ‘hands-on’ engagement with our local community via monthly projects such as the Martha’s Table Van Run, Luther Place shelter dinners, SOME Shelter casseroles; weekly tutoring for Sheppard Park Elementary School and overnights at Emory Church Shelter; annual programs such as the Winter Holiday dinner with Third Baptist Church, food deliveries at Passover and Rosh Hashona, clothing and food collections throughout the year- and more!

So, before you get too rested this summer, consider Rabbi Hillel’s question: If not now, when? and respond NOW! by joining us in one or more of these activities.