Stories and Pathways

By: Abby Mandel Intern, Nativ College Leadership Program Sometimes volunteering can seem overwhelming. But then, you experience its many rewards. Read about Abby’s journey with ENP at the ENP Scholastic Assistance Program in Beit Shemesh supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the BIG Corporation, and at the ENP Youth Outreach Center in Beit Shemesh supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington DC, its United Jewish Endowment Fund and Beth El Congregation.  One Sunday, about a month ago, I began my long bus adventure from Jerusalem to Beit Shemesh. I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into; I heard about volunteering with ENP from a friend on my gap year program, and on a whim, signed up. I knew no one else going, and had no clue how to get there. Honestly, it was impossibly easy to see my nervousness through my brave façade. After asking countless Israelis which stop is mine, and to warn me when it was time to get off the bus, ...

By: Penina Romanek Intern,  J-Internship Program I was once told, “The wisest teacher is forever a student.” As a social studies teacher, ENP has shown me the importance of this statement. When I decided to intern for ENP, I had no idea the extent of the difference it would make in my life or the new perspective it would give me. Not only are the Ethiopian-Israeli youth learning from me, but I am learning even more from them as Pirkei Avot states, “Who is wise? He who learns from every person.” I have gained so much from my time working with children at the youth centers and Branco Weiss High School in Beit Shemesh. It was this past week, though, that really opened my eyes and gave me so much strength.                 Last week, a mission trip from the Jewish Federation of Washington D.C. came to the youth center in Beit Shemesh. Micha Feldman, who was responsible for carrying out Operation Solomon in 1991 that brought Ethiop...

By: Destiny N. Dixon University of California, Berkeley ENP Rothberg International School Intern, Hebrew University of Jerusalem How can I forget October 9 th , 2013? I can’t. This was the day I experienced real Israeli love; my very first day volunteering with the Ethiopian National Project. I spent this day in Ashkelon with a group of wonderful Ethiopian women. I felt like I was around my mother and her sisters. I had the pleasure in helping them pick chili peppers and other spices and veggies from the community garden in order to cook a range of delicious original Ethiopian dishes. We enjoyed this food with other ENP volunteers, staff, and donors. IT was amazing. Although the majority of these women spoke Amharic, I felt the love as we converses in our limited Hebrew. We ate, laughed, ate some more, hugged, kissed, drank amazing Ethiopian coffee, and shared our desires. One of them even invited the volunteers and I to her home for a Shabbat dinner. Such genuine ho...