Age Old Connection Between Ethiopia and Israel

By: Ephrem Hawando

ENP Volunteer

The time that I spent with ENP`s after school program participants wasn`t the usual once a week volunteer day, but a unique opportunity to bring the beauty and wonders of Ethiopia with its diversity and the multifaceted historical and cultural connections of Ethiopia with Israel in to small class room of Gymnastic school. I am so glad to make this happen in front of charming Ethiopian-Israeli students and their teachers, representatives from the ENP and the school principals. The presentation was meant to motivate Ethiopian-Israeli students with their studies and enhance their full participation in the ENP`s after school program. The presentation was full of pictures showing Ethiopia`s fascinating historic, cultural and natural heritage sites, endemic wildlife, the archeological eight wonders of the world and the contrasting city and rural life. At end of the presentation, there was a participatory mini-discussion session with these students on some question that could widen their understanding. These include what things make an Ethiopian-Israeli student special, the connection to the whole Israeli society and to the family and culture from which they have come and where do the modern Israeli cultures fit in.  Students, teachers, school principals, and ENP representatives expressed their fascination about the unique diversity of Ethiopia and most significantly the bi-lateral Ethiopian- Israel age old historical and cultural connections through the Beta-Israel communities. I am hoping to repeat such inspiring presentations to other schools and motivate the Ethiopian- Israeli students achieve their full potential and integrating into the Israeli society.